• Write your Senator

What You Can Do to Promote Reusable Textiles  

By Howard Zins
ARTA Legislative Director

Members of ARTA can proactively advance the use of reusable textiles with a number of strategies. This includes the use of ARTA’s recently introduced brochure and support of our organization’s legislative agenda. They way you and your organization choose to advance the use of reusables will vary from one organization to another, but here are some of the options from which ARTA members may choose.

1. Train Your Staff
As a first step, if you have not already done so, arrange to review ARTA’s new, color brochure with key personnel in your firm. Your sales and marketing staff are in a unique position to carry this knowledge to customers. In addition, others in your organization may also benefit from understanding the many values of reusable textiles as outlined in the new brochure.

2. Send the Information to Customers
A mailing of the ARTA brochure to key healthcare organizations is an excellent strategy to promote the concept of reusables. A cover letter summarizing the highlights of the brochure should accompany the mailing and emphasize the cost and environmental advantages of reusable textiles. A follow-up call and visit to the institution for further discussions on the opportunities reusables offer is the next step. 

3. Seminars and Meetings
As a follow up to mailings, arrangements can be made for seminars or informational discussions with customers. Through this strategy, the information outlined in the brochure can be emphasized with key personnel within various healthcare organizations.

The meetings can vary from informal discussions, to a Power Point presentation. In any event, be certain to bring a copy of the ARTA brochure for each meeting participant.

For discussions with hospitals and other healthcare institutions, the AHA/EPA agreement, “Hospitals for a Healthy Environment,” should be emphasized. The reality that a 33% reduction in waste must be achieved by 2005, and 50% by 2010, is a key factor which underscores the opportunity to replace single-use disposables with reusable healthcare textiles.

4. Join Meetings on Capitol Hill
In addition, member firms can participate in ARTA’s next “March on Washington,” (tentatively scheduled for May 2006). Meetings with your congressional representatives and senators are an opportunity to let Capitol Hill staffers understand the many advantages of reusable textiles. In particular, at a time when congress continues to struggle with extremely tight budgets, the many cost saving advantages of reusables can show the way for directing Medicare and Medicaid programs to positive steps that not only limit increased spending, but improve the nation’s environment.

5. Letters to Washington
For those members who may not be able to join ARTA’s meetings on Capitol Hill next spring, a letter writing campaign to your legislators is a good alternative. For member firms with offices in numerous states, letters can go to many legislators. With each letter outlining the value of reusable textiles, include a copy of ARTA’s new brochure to reinforce the facts stated in the cover letter.

Member firms can select those actions that represent the best fit for each specific organization. None of the suggested approaches require major expense, but all permit individual ARTA members to assertively spread our industry’s positive message in new directions. Together, ARTA’s members can promote the interests of the textile maintenance industry and the benefits of reusable textiles to our greater society.

ARTA’s Legislative Agenda

ARTA Legislative Director Howard Zins and Executive Director Bill Carroll coordinate ARTA’s lobbying activities; please contact them with any questions you may have about scheduling meetings with legislators.

The following is a summary of ARTA’s legislative agenda for 2005.

• Healthcare Costs – Continue to aggressively inform all contacts on Capitol Hill that reusable surgical and incontinence healthcare textiles offer our nation an opportunity to control these accelerating costs.
• Environmental Protection – Related to the preceding point is the EPA/AHA agreement calling for a 33% reduction in hospital waste by 2005. Decision makers in Washington should be made aware of the opportunity for all hospitals to utilize reusable textiles as an important step to meet the commitment of the agreement.
• Medicare – In addition to the previous two factors it is important to emphasize that Medicare and other healthcare programs can save taxpayers money and also diminish the incidence of painful, and costly to cure, bedsores for the elderly confined to bed.
• Campaign Finance Reform – This remains an issue that ARTA should urge Congress to expand. Well-funded disposable product manufacturers continue to influence legislation through large contributions. ARTA will urge our nation’s leaders to significantly limit financial support of legislators by corporations and individuals. The message ARTA brings to this debate is that decisions and actions of our legislators should be based on factual data and not upon fundraising activity.
• ARTA Supports OSHA – OSHA’s position on an Ergonomics Industry Guideline is supported by ARTA. Some legislators continue to urge that OSHA institute an Ergonomics Standard. ARTA opposes this latter view, as it would be more costly to manufacturers, with no benefits to workers who are already covered through the industry guidelines.
• The Small Business Health Fairness Act – This act is supported by ARTA. The Association Health Plans (AHPs) outlined in this legislation would provide small businesses the opportunity to band together through professional associations to purchase more affordable health insurance programs.
• Environmental Protection – The environmental and health benefits of reusable textiles, relative to single-use disposable items, should be stressed to legislators and their respective staffs. Reusable healthcare products don’t require medical waste incineration or transportation to and placement in waste landfill sites.
• Employment and Jobs – The fact that the reusable textile sector employs American workers, some of whom have limited skills, should be emphasized. This point is especially significant, during the present time, when many jobs are being lost to low-wage foreign locations.

For more information or to forward any additions to ARTA’s legislative agenda, please contact Howard Zins at hzins@arta1.com.