A Laundry Project Designed by Workers

In Ecuador’s floriculture sector, workers often juggle long workdays with the added task of heavy household chores. Handwashing clothes is a common burden for the majority of female workers of the farm who do not have a washing machine, a time-consuming task that uses up precious hours at home. Through a needs assessment, workers at Floranation, a flower farm in Latacunga, Ecuador, identified access to laundry services as a priority project. Driven by collective decision-making, the local Fair Trade Committee invested $95,500 USD of Community Development Funds to bring this vision to life. Blanca Carrera, a packing house worker at Floranation, shared: "There were coworkers who washed clothes in the river or on the wash stone. We did not have time on weekends for our children. We could spend up to a full day washing." The on-site facility now serves around 300 people. The daily logistics are simple and highly effective. Workers drop off their laundry before their shift begins and collect it, clean and folded, at the end of the day. One employee was hired using Fair Trade Premium funds to manage and operate the facility. Floranation contributes to the project by providing water, electricity, and private security. This service fundamentally improves the workers' quality of life by returning hours of lost time. With laundry handled during the workday, employees have much more time for family and rest. Reflecting on the personal impact, Blanca noted, "I save time and water." The project also champions sustainable practices. By replacing river washing with a centralized system, the farm actively prevents local water pollution. The facility exclusively uses biodegradable detergents and features a dedicated water treatment system that safely processes wastewater before releasing it into nearby gardens. Ultimately, this modern facility proves how worker-led investments can create lasting social and environmental benefits.