At Ecolab, this transition is built on a comprehensive approach that combines technical expertise, chemical innovation, process engineering and digital tools to help industrial companies reduce, reuse and recycle water at every stage of their operations. This is the 3R approach: first reducing consumption at source, then reusing water within industrial processes and, as a final step, recycling it. 

A partner to Blanchisserie de Paris since its creation, Ecolab supports the company in its drive to optimize water and energy use. Together, they show that it is possible to combine industrial performance, cost control and resource preservation. 

During Produrable 2026, we asked Nicolas Joyeux, co-founder of Blanchisserie de Paris, a few questions about the ambitious water reduction, reuse and recycling programme the company has undertaken with Ecolab’s support. 

1. Why have you made water a strategic priority for your business? 

Because water is at the heart of what we do. An industrial laundry uses large volumes of water every day to process linen. Very early on, we understood that limiting this consumption was an economic, environmental and operational priority. 

Today, the issue goes far beyond the cost of water. We operate in a context where this resource can become limited depending on the season or the location. For an industrial company, that raises an essential question: how do we secure business continuity tomorrow? 

2. In practical terms, what have you put in place to reduce your water consumption? 

With Ecolab, we first worked on optimizing our washing processes, in particular by gradually replacing 80°C cycles with 40°C washes thanks to new chemistry solutions that maintain the same level of hygiene and quality. 

Ecolab also supported us in installing new equipment to reduce our water consumption and then reuse water within the washing process itself. At our Grigny site, we have introduced systems to recover, filter and recirculate wash water so it can be reintroduced into certain stages of the process. 

Beyond the equipment, we also benefit from continuous monitoring through Ecolab's digital tools, which analyze our water, energy and product consumption in real time. This allows us to quickly identify deviations, detect potential anomalies and continuously improve our performance. 

It is this combination of chemistry expertise, engineering, data-driven monitoring and on-the-ground support that has enabled us to accelerate our move towards more circular water management. 

3. When can we start talking about water circularity? 

Circularity begins when you no longer simply reduce consumption, but reuse water several times within the industrial process. 

At our newest site, we already recover part of the water used, filter it, store it and then feed it back into the washing cycle. We are now working on the next step: advanced water recycling, with the aim of reusing up to 80% of the water. 

That shift from a linear model to a circular model is precisely what changes the equation. 

4. What results have you achieved? 

When we started, water consumption in the sector could reach 10 to 15 litres per kilogram of linen processed. Through process improvements, new washing solutions and equipment that allows water to be reused, we gradually reduced this to around 3 litres per kilogram at our first sites. 

Today, at our newest site in Grigny, which combines water reduction and reuse, we have already reached levels between 2.5 and 2.7 litres per kilogram. The next step is to deploy advanced water recycling so we can go below one litre per kilogram of linen processed. 

By comparison, the average consumption of laundries in France is still around 6.5 to 7 litres per kilogram. This shows how significantly circularity levers can transform the water performance of an industrial site. 

Beyond the savings achieved, we have also strengthened the resilience of our sites. As water restrictions become more frequent, having lower consumption and reuse capabilities becomes a real competitive advantage. 

5. So, is circular water already an industrial reality? 

Yes, clearly. 

There is still progress to be made, but the technologies exist, the solutions are available and the results are measurable. The question is no longer whether water circularity is possible, but how to accelerate it. 

Companies that act today will be better prepared for tomorrow's constraints. Water circularity is not only an environmental project: it is a project of performance, resilience and competitiveness.  The example of Blanchisserie de Paris shows that water circularity is no longer a future vision, but a concrete solution to strengthen companies' resilience, performance and competitiveness. 

Whatever your sector, Ecolab can help you identify opportunities to save water, energy and costs, and build a roadmap tailored to your challenges. The question is no longer whether circular water is possible, but where to begin.