ALEXANDRIA, Va. — January 10, 2020 — Balfurd Inc., of Tipton, Pa., recently achieved Clean Green re-certification. Founded in 1927, Balfurd is a family-owned laundry providing services across Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. This re-certification reflects its continued dedication to operational efficiency and sustainability.

Balfurd first earned the Clean Green Certification in 2012. Companies that have earned this certification adhere to TRSA-designated water and energy use thresholds and deploy best management practices (BMPs) consistent with the ASTM International environmental laundering standard. Paris Companies’ customers can be assured their uniforms, towels and other reusable linens are washed, dried and finished with processes that maximize sustainability and reduce greenhouse emissions. Clean Green certified operations demonstrate significant commitment to conservation and green operations through these BMPs:

• Recovering heat from drained hot water and heat dispersed from the process of warming water;
• Recapturing drained water from rinses for reuse;
• Using environmentally friendly detergents;
• Removing solids and liquids from wastewater;
• Solar energy and energy-efficient lighting;
• Recycling programs;
• Re-routing trucks to save vehicle fuel; and
• Spill prevention plans.

The Clean Green certification is valid for three years at a time. TRSA inspects laundry facilities seeking certification and approves documentation of their water and energy use and BMP deployment through production reports they submit to auditors during the inspections. TRSA’s certification management protocol includes auditor training by the association’s inspection program administrator.

Clean Green aligns with the ASTM International standard, Guide for Sustainable Laundry Practices, which recognizes key criteria for the certification as universal indicators of maximum sustainability in commercial laundry work. ASTM’s review of TRSA BMPs verified these as the most effective and practical techniques for a laundry to achieve green objectives.

TRSA members prompted development of the standard, which was vetted in the sustainability subcommittee of the ASTM Committee on Textiles. Top technical experts, scientists and environmental professionals from outside the linen, uniform and facility services industry reviewed the BMPs. ASTM is the global leader in developing and delivering voluntary consensus standards unparalleled in building consumer confidence in product and service quality.

“I applaud Balfurd for their sustainability efforts and maintaining the highest standards in their production and delivery operations,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “Meeting all the criteria for certification is not easy, but they are committed to industry-leading processes and technologies.”

Posted January 10, 2020

Source: TRSA

WASHINGTON — January 10, 2020 — After a year of fluctuations driven by the uncertainty of the trade war with China, volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to return to its usual seasonal patterns during the first few months of 2020, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“We’ll be more confident after we see the Phase One agreement signed, but right now 2020 looks like it should be back to what used to be normal,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “We’ve been through a cycle of imports surging ahead of expected tariff increases — some of which got delayed, reduced or canceled — and falling off again afterward. That’s not good for retailers trying to manage their inventory levels or trying to make long-term business plans. And tariffs are never good for consumers, businesses or the economy.”

“It is not surprising that even the Federal Reserve suggests that the impact of the trade war has a negative impact on the U.S. economy,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said, citing recent government data on declines in industrial production and increases in inventory-to-sales ratios. “This combination of reduced output counterbalanced by increased inventory underlies the uncertainties of the tariff wars.”

President Trump is scheduled to sign a “Phase One” partial trade deal with China on Wednesday. In announcing the deal, the administration said it would lower tariffs that took effect in September and canceled another round that was set to take effect December 15, but others remain in effect.

U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.67 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units in November, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was down 11.2 percent from October and down 7.5 year-over-year. With on-again, off-again progress on trade negotiations reported throughout the fall and other factors affecting shipping, an expected surge ahead of the canceled December tariff increase did not materialize. TEU is one 20-foot-long cargo container or its equivalent.

December was estimated at 1.7 million TEU, down 13.4 percent from unusually high numbers seen in December 2018, when retailers had frontloaded imports ahead of a scheduled January 1, 2019, tariff increase that was ultimately postponed.

While numbers for the full year are not yet final, estimates indicate that 2019 came in at 21.6 million TEU, a 0.9 percent decrease from 2018 but still the second-highest year on record. Imports during 2018 hit a record 21.8 million TEU, partly due to frontloading ahead of anticipated 2019 tariffs.

January is forecast at 1.8 million TEU, down 5 percent from January 2019. February is forecast to be down 4.9 percent year-over-year at 1.54 million TEU but March is expected to be up 5.2 percent at 1.7 million TEU, with both swings tied to fluctuations in the Lunar New Year calendar and related factory shutdowns in Asia. April is forecast at 1.78 million TEU, up 2.1 percent year-over-year, and May is forecast at 1.87 million TEU as summer merchandise arrives, up 1 percent year-over-year.

Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by the consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Port of Virginia, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Miami and Jacksonville on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast. The report is free to NRF retail members, and subscription information is available at NRF.com/PortTracker or by calling (202) 783-7971.

Posted January 10, 2020

Source: National Retail Federation (NRF)

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — January 10, 2020 — TRSA’s yearly Human Resources, Safety and Production/Plant Tours summits are slated for the week of May 12-15 at the Embassy Suites Atlanta Airport. Owner/operators, executives and specialists in these areas should plan now to attend one or all three of these events to gain cutting-edge intelligence, plus peer networking opportunities in each of these critical areas of your operations.

The action will begin on May 12, with the 4th Annual Human Resources Summit. Here, attendees will get the latest information on key issues, including recruitment/retention challenges, how to deepen employee engagement and more.  For example, keynote speaker Chip Madera, a motivational and performance strategist, will address issues including strategies for accelerating customer satisfaction, delivering results in times of radical change, exploring beliefs/actions needed to inspire your team and more. You’ll also get the lowdown on worksite health clinics, strategies for onboarding hourly employees, how to navigate rules for employee accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and more. Beyond that, a series of Facilitated Roundtables will encourage HR specialists and key managers to exchange ideas on what works and what’s needs to work better in terms of personnel practices and results.

To learn even more, stay on through May 13 for TRSA’s 9th Annual Safety Summit in the same location to experience a keynote address by widely recognized safety expert Karen Czor on how you can empower employees to develop a culture of safety in their workplaces. You’ll also learn about the added benefits of improved safety that can enhance productivity and employee satisfaction. Other topics will include a focus on dealing with OSHA inspectors, This session will address how your company can prep for a surprise inspection with no surprises for regulators! Safety & Health Director Stephen Jenkins of Cintas Corp. also will present insights and information on how you can implement a strategy for reducing injuries in your plant and gathering information on developing an in-plant ergonomics program. Breakout sessions will consider related safety issues, including how to protect drivers, fall-prevention protocols, machine safeguarding, TRSA’s new Safety & Health Certification program and more. You can mull all these topics and more during peer-to-peer roundtables where you’ll exchange views on a wide range of safety-related topics.

Those attendees who also have an interest in plant operations will want to stay in Atlanta through May 14-15 for TRSA’s Annual Production Summit & Plant Tours. Keynote presenter Carl Smith of the Kevin Eikenberry Group will provide tactics for cultivating a healthy workplace culture. Ideas up for discussion will include how to recognize what works and what doesn’t in developing a results-oriented culture, plus strategies for building mutual respect and a vibrant workplace atmosphere. General sessions will consider these and other issues, such as effective communications with team members, addressing the most common potential hazards, violations that are most likely to draw OSHA penalties and more. Facilitated small group discussions will give you a chance to brainstorm with industry colleagues on where and how you can make improvements that can spur gains in growth, plus improvements in employee morale. A closing panel will address strategies for training front-line supervisors, a skillset that can have a huge impact on the growth of your business. Finally, on May 15 you’ll experience tours of three Atlanta-area plants: Alsco, Inc., NOVO Health Services LLC, and Tingue, Brown & Co.

Each of the programs outlined above will happen in one week, at one central location. All three will include not only educational programs, but also networking breaks and nightly receptions that will offer attendees additional opportunities to learn from peers. Put it all together and that translates to a great return on investment in education for key managers, executives and owner/operators. What’s more, attendees who specialize full-time in human resources and/or those attending the HR Summit for the first time can qualify for 50% or even 100% rebates on their registration fees. Other incentives for early registration apply as well. To learn more, visit www.trsa.org/hrsummit, www.trsa.org/safetysummit or www.trsa.org/productionsummit. Additional TRSA professional-development events can be reviewed at www.trsa.org/calendar.

Posted January 9, 2020

Source: TRSA