The Standard Issue 4 2023

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CLEANING UP THE INDUSTRY: HOW THE CLEANING INDUSTRY CAN REACH NET ZERO. Similar to several sectors, the cleaning industry has seen sustainability transition from a 'nice to have' to a core imperative to retain growth and customer engagement. Companies now seek higher service standards, genuinely environmentally sustainable products, and quality environmental data; all while maintaining competitive prices. While these challenges may appear formidable, addressing them unveils genuine opportunities for business growth and transformation within the industry. And in doing so, we contribute to a greener, fairer, and more sustainable planet. Our partners at Planet Mark organised a roundtable featuring seven cleaning industry leaders and suppliers: Regular Cleaning, City West Support Services, DOC Cleaning, NuServe, Property Support Services UK, City & Essex, and Wessex Cleaning. Together, they delved into this emerging trend, exploring how companies in the sector are meeting the demand for sustainability and sharing valuable insights for others embarking on their sustainability journeys. Here's what they uncovered. COSTS Given the ongoing cost of living challenges in the UK, it's no surprise that, like consumers, businesses are searching for ways to minimise costs. Striking the right balance between providing quality, safety, and sustainability while reducing costs and minimising the use of harmful chemicals is undoubtedly a challenge. However, it remains a crucial focus for any brand aiming to transition towards more sustainable practices and meet consumer demand. Although innovation may initially come with additional expenses, finding greater efficiencies can be truly transformative. PURCHASING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS Plastic gloves, seemingly small, cast a large shadow on cleaning expenses and environmental concerns. <strong>The</strong> Plastic Waste Makers Index reveals alarming figures, with 139 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste generated in 2021, setting a historic record. Naturally, balancing effectiveness and sustainability is crucial here. While potato starch gloves have been explored, they lack commercial suitability. Carbonneutral, biodegradable gloves like Back to Market's exist but often at double the price. Addressing this issue could require crosscorporation collaboration, increased distribution, composting investments, and the promotion of reusable options and PSA certification to drive cleaning brands closer to a net-zero future. WATER USAGE Along with gloves, water usage will become a bigger sustainability issue for cleaning brands in the future. Here are some key solutions that could transform how cleaning companies use water more sustainably: • Communicating advice to cleaners, such as flushing at the end of the shift and not with every bucket, is a great way to make positive changes immediately. • Renovating and retrofitting buildings with new technologies will help to measure the carbon emissions from water usage, as well as compare consumption and treatment. • Charitable water donations could be made, with the amount of water used in a given year matched and donated back to third-world countries. In turn, this enhances social value. • Gathering figures from manufacturers and the rest of the production chain on the water used to assemble products will create a clearer picture of a brand's environmental impact. • Incorporating progressive, waterconscious products into a brand's cleaning lineup, such as Solupak, can be invaluable. This soluble sachet stops tonnes of water from being shipped around the country. THE STANDARD
AI AND ROBOTICS REPLACING PEOPLE Every forward-looking cleaning brand must remain ahead of industry advancements. While technological progress is undeniable, automation doesn't provide a solution for all challenges. Future clients will seek harmony between technology and human expertise while considering the consequences of carbon, energy, and water usage. Additionally, numerous cleaning brands aspire to attain B Corp certification, and innovation plays a pivotal role in this process. <strong>The</strong> latest automated innovations in the cleaning sector aren't designed to replace workers, who are still very much needed. However, the benefits of automation from a social and environmental standpoint are undeniable, including lower water usage (4l for 650sqm of the floor is one brand's goal) and further efficiencies in time and cost. Here are some further examples of the radical innovations that are developing within the cleaning industry: • Stabilised Aqueous Ozone and probiotic cleaning products • Biodegradable, pre-dosed soluble cleaning solution sachets • Automated robots or 'cobots' (collaborative robotic cleaning) DATA Without data, enacting meaningful change in the right places is almost impossible. Cleaning brands should be gathering data and understanding supply chain emissions as much as possible, with lifecycle assessments and dream scenarios for the future. Many cleaning manufacturers do not track data on CO2, which can make gathering information on emissions and backing up green claims even tougher. Challenging manufacturers with detailed surveys is the best way to hold them accountable and collect those vital statistics. COMMUNICATING POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE Raising awareness serves as the cornerstone of progress. Integrating the communication of environmental action changes into your sustainability strategy is essential but often complicated by the complexity of a product's environmental claims. Clients may struggle to grasp the environmental impact of certain products, especially when cost considerations dominate their choices. Educating them on the long-term value of environmentally friendly options is challenging but increasingly vital as environmental awareness grows. Effectively conveying sustainable practices to employees, from optimal product usage to scheduling, remains a further challenge. Addressing these challenges, Planet Mark specialises in supporting its members and partners to communicate sustainability to its stakeholders, aiding them in comprehending the financial and societal consequences of their choices. FOR THE FULL REPORT, VISIT THE PLANET MARK'S WEBSITE AT: WWW.PLANETMARK.COM 24 | 25
Page 1 and 2: THE TITLE, STANDARD SUB TEXT 1St Pa
Page 3 and 4: THE CHAIRMAN'S HELLO: STARTING WITH
Page 5: ELEVATING THE UK CLEANING INDUSTRY
Page 8 and 9: AWARDS SUCCESS! Every year the BICS
Page 10 and 11: AMAZING AWARD WINNERS! THE CHAIRMAN
Page 12 and 13: THE STANDARD
Page 14: CHARITY CHAMPIONS BY SOO BARTHOLOME
Page 17: Tools like Whiz provide immediate f
Page 20 and 21: THE LATEST UPDATES FROM SAVEFAST TR
Page 22 and 23: TORK OFFICE HYGIENE PACKAGE TM IMPR
Page 26 and 27: MY CAREER IN CLEANING MBICSc, JAMES
Page 29: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY: MUSCU
Page 33 and 34: CHEMICAL FIRST AID AT WORK The Heal
Page 36: A NEW WAY TO SPRAY A PRACTICAL ALTE
Page 40: THE STANDARD CONTACT US: TEL: +44 (

The Standard Issue 4 2023

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