A moment for celebration

In 2023, Nedlin achieved two major milestones: B Corp certification and the opening of the new Nedlin Healthcare facility. These accomplishments followed years of preparation and their impact will resonate for years to come. However, there is little time to pause. With ongoing market and societal developments, Stef and Luuk de Win are already focused on the future.

It was indeed a special moment. On September 21, 2023, King Willem-Alexander opened Nedlin Healthcare's new laundry facility, hailed as the most sustainable laundry in Europe. Directors and owners Stef and Luuk de Win stood by his side as guests and employees witnessed the bright, clean production environment appear at the press of a button. Among the white laundry bags hanging from the ceiling, there was one in orange.

The management and employees had worked towards this celebratory moment for years. Now, it was time to pause. "As an entrepreneur, you're always focused on tomorrow," says Luuk. "So, it's important to properly mark something that everyone has put so much energy into. We truly enjoyed that moment together, and secretly, I still do."

B Corp

Luuk and Stef are equally proud of another milestone. In May 2023, Nedlin achieved B Corp certification, the international standard for companies making a positive impact on people and the environment. Interestingly, the certification was based on data from existing laundries; the significant savings from the new Healthcare laundry were not yet included in the assessment.

Just like the grand opening, the B Corp certification signifies not an endpoint, but a new beginning. Luuk states: "The essence of B Corp is continuous improvement. When you start afresh, as we did with our new laundry, you can make substantial strides. But we're far from done. Innovation is ongoing, and that's how we intend to keep it."

New ambitions

The B Corp certification is the proof for customers that Nedlin stands out from other laundries. And for Stef and Luuk, it confirms that their sustainable plans have been on the right track for years. "In 2018, we developed a Sustainability Program outlining our sustainability ambitions until 2030," Stef explains. "With the new construction, we have achieved 95% of those ambitions. This shows that sustainability is truly ingrained in our DNA. What the government tries to enforce through regulations, we do voluntarily."

Technical Feat

With its responsible choices and tremendous efficiency in processes and installations, the new construction is a technical and sustainable achievement. Stef says, "Processes are more digitized, allowing us to better manage them. This enhances the quality and reliability of our deliveries." Moreover, control over the process is strengthened further. In the new laundry, not only clothing but also a portion of flat linen is equipped with RFID chips.

"Hospitals utilize a pool of linens. We always see a gap between what we deliver and what we receive back," Luuk explains. "By chipping part of the linen, we can track its usage. This way, we know: we've received everything back from this customer, and this customer still has linen in stock."

Sustainability efforts

This laundry aids customers in sustainability by employing the most sustainable washing processes and ensuring control over products. They also brainstorm alternatives. "Consider healthcare," says Luuk. "When discussing sustainability in hospitals, waste is a key topic. We can provide products that hospitals can reuse instead of disposing of. It's not an overnight change, as each product is tied to a complete logistics system. But we see it working well."

Stef and Luuk also collaborate eagerly with other leaders. "For instance, with the Cibutex cooperative, focused on circular textiles," Luuk adds. "In flat linen, this approach is quite advanced. However, clothing is more complex. The blended yarns used in most clothing are challenging to recycle. This means we need to work backwards in the supply chain. While we don't manufacture clothing ourselves, we can partner with garment manufacturers or suppliers committed to recyclable yarns."

In transportation and machinery, Nedlin consistently collaborates with partners at the forefront of their fields. This, too, aids customers in achieving their sustainability goals, especially as organizations begin reporting the entire chain's CO2 emissions. "Through strategic procurement, we can mitigate part of the emissions," Luuk notes.

People

Stef and Luuk plan to use the coming months to further promote B Corp. While the certification is well-known among sustainability pioneers, many others are still unfamiliar with it. In 2024, they aim to collaborate with their team on a new sustainability program, setting fresh goals and ambitions.

Their focus will extend beyond energy and water to emphasize people. Despite the presence of advanced hardware and software in their state-of-the-art laundry facilities, it's the people who make it all happen. Over the next few years, they intend to prioritize the development of their staff. Stef emphasizes the need to establish a new equilibrium together, amidst the aftermath of COVID-19, substantial growth, and the operational demands of the new Healthcare facility.

Foundation

With development programs and in-depth projects, the focus in the coming period is on building stable, engaged teams. This helps both now and in the future. Because when employees are so enthusiastic that they want to grow within the company, it lays an 'extremely solid foundation' for the future.

In addition, the Hospitality laundry is being revamped. "In 2018, Nedlin Industry in Hoensbroek was renovated. The experiences we gained there, including with clothing chips, laid the groundwork for the construction of Nedlin Healthcare's new facility. Now, we are looking at how we can apply these learning experiences to Hospitality." The process begins with an upgrade of the work environment to align it with the other laundries.

Crowning achievement

Despite their 'miles ahead' lead over competitors, Stef and Luuk are already making new plans. "There's always room for improvement," says Stef. "Technologies are constantly evolving, bringing new opportunities and possibilities. Challenges that couldn't be solved yesterday might be answered tomorrow." And yes, "you have to be a bit unconventional" for that.

Raised with the idea that running such a business should be a true passion, Stef and Luuk took over from their father, Erik de Win, at the end of the 1990s. It was their grandfather, Jeu, who started the laundry in 1952, and Erik expanded it into a company with three locations.

Erik was also closely involved in the development of the new laundry. Stef and Luuk refer to it as 'the crowning achievement' of his work. After the opening, they organized a farewell for him. Stef explains, "We felt it was important to pause and reflect on what he meant to the company."

"He officially retired years ago, but unofficially he's still here every day," Stef laughs. And that's a good thing. "When we discuss new developments or decisions we need to make, the different generations bring different perspectives together. Our father has seen it all. 'Just do it,' he says. We influence each other in a positive way."

Every day better

Just like their father did, Stef and Luuk remind the next generation that they must first find their own path. If they ever want to join the company, Luuk thinks that's "simply wonderful." For now, the current directors are passionately committed every day to improving. They work with a team of ambitious employees. As Stef puts it, "When you are ambitious yourself, you naturally attract ambitious people around you. You inspire each other."