The Standard Issue 4 2023

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. The 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