CHICAGO—As part of Cintas Corporation’s ongoing effort to increase its sustainable offerings, the company has introduced a new eco-friendly apparel option for banquet staff. The new single-breasted tuxedos for men and women are partially composed of recycled polyester fibers woven from recycled plastic bottles. The tuxedos are also machine washable, eliminating the use of harsh dry cleaning chemicals.
“Saving the environment is important to our company and our customers, so we are delivering the products to help them do just that,” said Todd McKeown, vice president of Hospitality at Cintas. “Our previous tuxedo was dry clean only. This new option not only helps reduce environmental impact, but it also saves hotels the expense of dry cleaning.”
The tuxedos feature a 23 percent recycled polyester/77 percent polyester blend. To develop recycled polyester, plastic bottles are diverted from landfills, broken down into polyester fiber and woven into wearable fabric. About six bottles are recycled in the construction of each tuxedo.
Cost Savings Potential Significant
After use, wearers can simply throw the tuxedos into normal washers and dryers, eliminating the need for dry cleaning services. This reduces the use of harmful dry cleaning chemicals which could potentially be released into the environment. It also saves hotels money—as much as $1,000 per employee annually.
The new tuxedo incorporates modern styling and a sleek look. Both the men’s and women’s collections feature fully lined jackets with two-button closures, upper left chest welt pockets and center back vents. The pants include built-in waist extenders hidden in the waistbands, flat front styling and front quarter pockets.
“This is another product in the continuing evolution of our sustainable apparel options for hotels,” said Kristen Sharp, director of Design & Merchandising, Cintas. “We want to equip our customers with sleek, modern looks that not only help make wearers feel good, but also help reduce costs.”
Cintas currently offers eco-friendly apparel options for every hospitality department, including suiting, blouses and casual options.
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