German cleanliness is almost as legendary as German thoroughness. At the end of the sixties things were particularly clean: the White Giant and the washerwoman Klementine entered the market. “Giant washing power” had to have a means, and “not just clean, but pure” had to wash it. No thought was given to environmental pollution and ecology. That should be different today. Not only in private households, but also in professional laundries. That’s what Lidia Zoumis wants. But she still seems to be relatively alone in her industry with this idea. In any case, the 52-year-old, who founded the sustainable, ecological laundry “Zer-O-Wash” in Geretsried two years ago, reports that she is rather ridiculed by her colleagues. But now she and her small business on Handelstrasse in Geretsried are among the three finalists for the German Sustainability Prize 2024.
Small but mighty: The beads help save detergent and water.
(Photo: Hartmut Pöstges)
Zoumis studied industrial engineering and was most recently employed by the Wolfratshausen seal manufacturer Eagle Burgmann. During Corona – when delivery and collection services were booming – the idea of a collection and delivery laundry matured in her mind, she says. At the same time, she learned about a type of washing machine that until then only existed on the Anglo-American market. These machines, she explains, require 50 percent less energy, 50 percent less detergent and 70 to 80 percent less water. The trick is to use nylon polymer beads. There are a million of these absorbent beads in the machine; They are applied to the laundry under pressure together with water and detergent. Zoumis explains the new process very clearly: “The laundry is not bathed, but showered.” The effect is not just more environmentally friendly cleaning. The laundry also comes out of the drum less damp and almost wrinkle-free, meaning it needs to be dried and ironed less.
With two of the modern machines that she had to procure from the Czech Republic and a number of other equipment that laundries need, Zoumis set up her own business. A risk? “I just dared,” says the mother of three sons laconically. Her husband supported her anyway.
Of course, the Geretsried company uses ecologically degradable products; It also uses “green electricity” and obtains green gas from the Munich municipal utilities. Zoumis has two electric cars for her pick-up and delivery service, which she charges using her own photovoltaic system. And she is already full of anticipation of a new technology that can be used to filter microplastic fibers from laundry. Their website states: “We are a sustainable company where we always work with the aim of raising awareness and protecting the environment. That’s why all the initiatives we carry out have an ecological connection to our planet.”
Mustafa Omid is an employee of the sustainable laundry. Behind him hangs a picture of Otto Rothe, who photographed cleaning products under a microscope in polarized light and is currently exhibiting at the Quartierstreff on Johannisplatz.
(Photo: Hartmut Pöstges)
Zoumis is not only proud that she is now one of the finalists of the German Sustainability Award in the “Health and Social Affairs/Personal Services” category alongside the winner Stadtwerke München and the Berliner Bäder-Betriebe. For them, it is also a yardstick in an industry in which there are currently no standards or benchmarks for ecology and sustainability. The prize, which is awarded by a foundation, counts Zoumis’ laundry as one of the “role models of sustainable change in Germany”.
The 140 jury members, it goes on to say, “used expertise, a sense of proportion and courage to choose those companies that, in their view, are leading the sustainable transformation in their industries this year.” Zer-O-Wash is recognized as a regional, sustainable laundry that wants to be a reference for all of Germany. The concept is holistic, climate-friendly, innovative and resource-saving.
At the Handelstraße location, right next to Neuer Platz, Zoumis has few walk-in customers, but there are loyal regular customers, especially older people, who are particularly happy about the delivery service. She also washes clothes for commercial customers, including a golf club, hotels and Lebenshilfe Geretsried. With her workload, she says she still has “room for improvement.”