Rickard Vinde, a teacher at Solna Gymnasieskola, is awarded the Textile Service Industry Sustainability Prize 2026. With solid experience and great commitment, Rickard builds bridges between education and working life through his belief in the importance of school for a sustainable society.
The Textile Service Industry Sustainability Award is awarded by the Swedish Textile Service Association in cooperation with Ecolab. This year, a role model from the world of school is being recognized. Rickard Vinde builds bridges and constitutes his own bridge between education and working life by initiating and coordinating guest lectures and study visits. Through diverse experiences, the students gain both real-world knowledge and deeper insight into sustainability issues.
The laundry and textile service industry has been one of many that has lectured and combined theory with concrete experience as part of Rickard's ambition to bring everyday knowledge about the work, challenges and visions of companies into the education. Thus, strengthening students' motivation, employability and interest in contributing to a more sustainable business world.
Rickard is also a strong advocate for business involvement in schools, for example through Ung Företagsamhet (UF). Through mentoring and support for UF students, he contributes to developing young entrepreneurship, responsibility and innovation skills – important building blocks for a sustainable future.
– Through his commitment, his ability to collaborate and his conviction about the importance of school for a sustainable society, Rikard is a very worthy recipient of the Textile Service Industry Sustainability Award, says Michael Sandin, chairman of the Swedish Textile Service Association.
The prize money is 5,000 kronor, which each winner has the option of donating. Rickard has chosen to give this to The Storytelling Ministry Foundation.
Former laureates
- 2025 Christer Bäcker, energy expert, and Lars Larsson, entrepreneur Hemrex in Ystad.
- 2024 Susanne Beskow and Caroline von Post, entrepreneurs in the upcycling company Beskow von Post with a focus on workwear.
- 2023 Anders Thorgaard, entrepreneur, visionary and owner of the textile service group Textilia.
- 2022 Jonny Hägerström, CEO TvNo, and Henry Eskola, National Key Account Manager at Scandbio.
- 2021 Peter Streijffert, contractor at Lindbytvätten on Öland.
- 2020 Jonas Olaison and Lena K Wiles, sustainability managers at Textilia and Elis respectively.
- 2019 Schlemon Athoraya, contractor Örebro-Tvätt, and Kent Pettersson, contractor KåPI Tvätt in Bengtsfors.
- 2018 Carl-Johan Björkman, entrepreneur Mr. Björkmans Entrance Mats.
- 2017 Pia Bergman, national coordinator against serious financial crime at the Swedish Tax Agency.
