February/March 2022

The pan-European magazine for the professional cleaning sector

FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2022

HEALTHCARE

BUSINESS

SPECIAL REPORT

What are the priorities?

Taking care of yourself too

The evolution of scrubber dryers

Page 21

Page 37

Page 40

The finalists in the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards have been announced Page 3

CONTENTS

February/March 2022 | Vol.30, No.1

BUSINESS

SPECIAL REPORTS

37 Taking care of business, and you

21 Healthcare priorities A look at the key requirements of every healthcare cleaning regime.

Hartley Milner on the personal toll the past couple of years has taken on business owners.

03 News

27 Aiming for the net What does being ‘net zero’ actually mean and how achievable is it?

8

EFCI news

40 Are you ready for evolution?

Cleaning is changing, so how is this driving scrubber dryer development?

13 European reports

45 His, hers and theirs Will gender neutral washrooms soon become the norm in our society?

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Editor Michelle Marshall Features Writer Ann Laffeaty Advertisement director Chris Godman Advertisement sales executive Laura Bell

Circulation Marie Payne

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European Cleaning Journal is published six times a year by Criterion Publishing Ltd. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in European Cleaning, Criterion Publishing Ltd and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Copyright for all material published in European Cleaning remains with Criterion Publishing Ltd and its agents.

ISSN 0968-901X ©Criterion Publishing 2022

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NEWS & EVENTS

Latest News & Events from ECJ

European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2022 finalists announced The finalists of the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2022 from European Cleaning Journal have been announced.

Following a record year for entries across all 10 categories, 39 leading service providers and manufacturers have made the shortlist.

After almost two years away due to the global pandemic, the awards are set to return this spring, and with some outstanding achievements on the shortlist, it promises to be an inspirational evening.

From sustainability and innovation to the leaders and rising stars of the industry, the winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony and gala dinner on April 28 at Hotel Le Plaza in Brussels.

With over 160 entries, the judges have now selected their finalists in the 10 categories: Best Use of Smart Technology

by Service Providers • Climex • Leviy in partnership with Alpheios Belgium • Principle Cleaning Services & Drop Marking • Principle Cleaning Services & Landsec at Dashwood House • Sasse Facilities Management Investment in Training • Breedweer Facilitaire Diensten • Derrycourt Cleaning Specialists • Markas • Momentum Support Excellence in ClientContractor Relationships • Atalian Servest with LNER • Incentive FM with Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre • JPC by Samsic with Broadgate • Momentum Support with Brown Thomas Dublin • Sodexo with Queen’s Hospital Start-Up of the Year • ICE Cleaning • Sensosan

• TRU Sustainability - Best Practice • Care • Cleanology • Essity • Momentum Support • Rubbermaid Commitment to Diversity • Breedweer • CSU • Markas Austria Best Initiative Raising the Profile of the Cleaning Sector • ANIP Confindustria • Leviy in partnership with Alpheios Belgium • Nviro • Unger Germany Technological Innovation of the Year • Gaussian Robotics • LionsBot Leader of the Year • Siva Kugathas, Servicemaster AAA • Dominic Ponniah, Cleanology • Neil Spencer-Cook, British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) • Brian Warren, Nviro Rising Star • Martina Alexandrino, Principle Cleaning Services • Mattia Capozzi, Markas • Jade Collazo, Cleanology • Zach Corbett, Momentum Support ECJ editor Michelle Marshall said: “We are delighted to be back for 2022 and with a record year for entries. It was an incredibly difficult job for our judges to narrow down to a shortlist but we feel our finalists really deserve recognition for their dedication and commitment to our industry over what has been a challenging few years on the frontline.

“After almost two years apart,

Les finalistes pour les Prix européens de propreté et d’hygiène 2022 ont été annoncés. On connaîtra les gagnants lors d’un dîner de gala à Bruxelles le 28 avril. 653

we look forward to bringing the great and the good of the cleaning and hygiene industry back together again in April to celebrate our finalists and reveal our well-deserving winners.”

The awards were launched by ECJ and are organised by EMG. Even if you are not a finalist, or did not enter this year, the award ceremony and gala dinner offer an unrivalled opportunity for networking with people from leading businesses and organisations in the cleaning and hygiene industry.

Judges include ECJ editor Michelle Marshall, industry expert Lynn Webster, EFCI president Juan Díez de los Ríos

de San Juan, and industry expert Frank Veneman, who all donate their time to supporting the event.

This year’s headline sponsor is Boma. Other sponsors include Kärcher, Interclean, Ceris Burns International, Jangro, Greenspeed, Truvox International, Vectair Systems, i-Team, Tork and Vermop.

Media partners are Tomorrow’s Cleaning, GSA and Services.

For further information visit www.echawards. com or contact awards@ europeancleaningjournal.com Follow the awards on Twitter @ECH_Awards and #ECHAwards2022.

EVENTS April 28

November 16-18

European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards

ISSA Pulire Clean Africa

Brussels, Belgium www.echawards.com

Lagos, Nigeria issapulirecleanafrica.com

May 10-13

March 14-16 2023

Interclean Amsterdam

The Cleaning Show

Amsterdam, Netherlands www.intercleanshow.com

London, UK cleaningshow.co.uk

September 14-15

May 9-11 2023

ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo

ISSA Pulire

Sydney, Australia issacleaninghygieneexpo.com

Milan, Italy www.issapulire.com

October 10-13

September 19-22 2023

ISSA North America

CMS

Chicago, USA www.issa.com

Berlin, Germany www.cms-berlin.de

October 18-19

October 16-19 2023

Forum ISSA Pulire

ISSA North America

Milan, Italy www.forumpulire.it

Las Vegas, USA www.issa.com

To have your event included in the Events section, contact ECJ via email at: michelle@europeancleaningjournal.com

Die Finalisten für die ersten European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2022 wurden bekanntgegeben.

Die Gewinner werden am 28. April im Rahmen eines Galadiners bekanntgegeben.

Sono stati annunciati i finalisti dei riconoscimenti European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2022. I vincitori verranno annunciati durante la serata di gala che si terrà a Bruxelles il 28 aprile.

February/March 2022 | ECJ | 3

NEWS

Cleaning staff facing ‘burnout’ due to severe staff shortages Industry leaders have warned that cleaning staff in healthcare, hospitality and other parts of the sector are facing burnout because of increased workloads due to the Covid-19 pandemic and severe staff shortages.

The extra procedures and protocols put in place during the pandemic to protect people’s health along with the current severe staff shortages in the sector, compounded by staff absences due to winter illnesses and the disease itself, and increasing numbers of personnel leaving the industry, have all put enormous pressure on staff.

The situation is so serious, and so widespread, that the British Cleaning Council (BCC) has called

for urgent Government help.

Delia Cannings, BCC deputy chair said: “We are starting to see the cracks in the healthcare sector, with shortcuts, slipups and accidents increasing.

What can we do if we can’t get the staff? We are not miracle workers, we simply cannot keep this pace up. The health and wellbeing of our workforce is at stake here.

“Fractures are appearing from all sides. Very few staff are available, the labour market has almost dried up. Agency staff where available are not adequately trained.

“Staff are taking on extra duties and managers are rolling up their sleeves to help with the

Des responsables de notre secteur ont lancé un cri d’alarme devant le risque que des agents de nettoyage soient frappés de burnout en raison de l’augmentation de leur charge de travail par suite de la pandémie et de pénuries de main-d’œuvre.

4 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

practical cleaning aspects yet are still unable to fill the gaps as well as manage and audit the cleaning service effectively.

“Many long-standing cleaning operatives with years of experience are choosing to leave the profession citing their roles as undervalued and the risk factors as too high.

Undervalued “This is not sustainable and will impact on people’s physical and mental health. We are seeing cases of staff turning to alcohol and substance abuse, and anxiety, depression and domestic abuse are all rising.

I fear we will see colleagues burning out in the longer term.”

Chairman of the BCC Jim Melvin

Branchenführer haben davor gewarnt, dass Reinigungskräfte aufgrund der erhöhten Arbeitsbelastung durch die Pandemie und des ernsten Arbeitskräftemangels ein Burnout erleben werden.

echoed Cannings’ sentiments.

“Throughout the sector our people have been undervalued by a Government which says they are low skilled and won’t recognise them as key workers.

“Cleaning and hygiene personnel are skilled in their own right and are proud to play a vital role as a first line of defence against coronavirus by keeping buildings hygienically clean. But it is becoming more difficult to maintain the standards required because of staff shortages.

“We desperately need the Government to help otherwise the public’s health will be put at risk and more of our staff will pay the price by burning out.“ britishcleaningcouncil.org

I leader del settore hanno avvertito che il personale addetto alle pulizie ha problemi di esaurimento causato dalla mole di lavoro sempre maggiore dovuta alla pandemia e alla grave carenza di forza lavoro.

NEWS

Sodexo and OCS form pan-industry Modern Slavery Council In the UK, facilities services providers Sodexo and OCS have joined forces to spearhead the creation of a new council comprising of 19 organisations to form a cross-industry group to tackle modern slavery, supported by government.

The new service and infrastructure modern slavery council will work together to eradicate risk, remove the crime and support the victims of modern slavery through supply chains.

Sodexo had been working with OCS since the middle of 2021 on the idea and presented the proposal at a webinar on the subject held by the Business Services Association (BSA) in

December 2021 with speakers from government and industry including Sodexo and Serco.

The BSA has supported Sodexo and OCS in the formation of the council with one of the key aims of the group to create a playbook for the industry which will incorporate the rules by which organisations should work to.

The group will also work to raise awareness within the industry, markets and communities as well as share best practice to mitigate the risks relating to modern slavery.

Madeline Lodge, modern slavery lead, Sodexo UK & Ireland said: “We are committed to tackling modern slavery and by bringing together a collective

Au Royaume-Uni, les prestataires de services Sodexo et OCS se sont unis dans une action visant la création d’un groupe interprofessionnel de lutte contre l’esclavage moderne.

body of organisations we are looking to ensure standards are set and maintained. This is a hugely important area; modern slavery can take many different forms including forced labour and servitude. It is estimated that at any given time over 40 million people worldwide are in modern slavery and the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem.

The power to make change “We are thrilled to have so many organisations join this Council and look forward to working with all in an open and collaborative manner to address

this important issue. Working together we have the power to make real change.”

Steve Caddell, procurement director at OCS added: “As a family owned, people centred business, we at OCS place the highest priority on human rights, in particular, modernday slavery. We continue to work tirelessly to eradicate this from our supply chains, increase standards and drive genuine social change. As such, we are committed to working across the sector to bring together fellow industry leaders and specialists to make a real and tangible difference.”

Special report on hygiene in healthcare starts on page 21

In Großbritannien haben sich die Dienstleister Sodexo und OCS verbündet, um die Schaffung einer neuen, branchenübergreifenden Gruppe zur Bekämpfung moderner Sklaverei voranzutreiben.

Nel Regno Unito, la fornitrice di servizi Sodexo e la OCS hanno unito le forze per guidare la creazione di un nuovo gruppo intersettoriale per affrontare il problema della schiavitù moderna.

February/March 2022 | ECJ | 5

NEWS EXTRA

Stock and supply strategies for a safe and sustainable future ordering well in advance to ensure they have stock when needed and minimise the need for reactive purchases.

This change in purchasing behaviour has highlighted the importance of continual development to our range and an overall longer-term focus on being resourceful. Our recent efforts in our SKU rationalisation and consolidation project, for example, will allow us to stock higher quantities of a rationalised number of lines, thus offering customers better reliability in their supply of products.

Changes in legislation

As Covid restrictions start to ease internationally and across Europe, businesses and local authorities alike will be re-evaluating their product requirements to meet increased demand. Planning ahead remains vital, emphasises Henry Lee, sales director of Cromwell Polythene, in this exclusive piece for ECJ. The increase in demand we are currently seeing is struggling to be met due to widespread, global supply chain disruption.

Container and HGV driver shortages across Europe, as well as raw material and energy price increases, coupled with ongoing Coronavirus struggles, are all continuing to make their mark. These factors are forcing organisations to revisit their purchasing strategies and implement more reliable and well planned purchasing decisions.

Stock control and purchasing decisions Never have so many businesses had to adjust, improvise, and innovate so rapidly, changing how they operate in many ways. We have

recognised that Stock Keeping Units (SKU) Proliferation is becoming more of a focus for more of our customers.

Cromwell can be considered by all of its trading partners as an extension of their own warehousing and stock management facilities. By adopting a cooperative, proactive approach in understanding our customers’ ongoing stock requirements however, we have been able to establish more efficient ordering profiles for each account. By making best use of full pallet quantities – or at least full layer quantities of goods – those customers ordering in such denominations are seeing higher volumes arrive at their depots with fewer individual consignments, without putting undue pressure on their own warehousing. Time saved when checking goods in, putting them away and in dealing with all the ancillary administration and paperwork is improved.

Having good control of stock is key to being able to fulfil your business functions.

Organisations should factor in the ongoing disruption when planning their purchasing,

Il incombe à toutes les entreprises de relever les défis continus que l’évolution des chaînes d’approvisionnement leur impose. Elles doivent repenser leurs stratégies d’achats et tout planifier bien à l’avance, écrit Henry Lee, de la société Cromwell Polythene.

6 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

From the April 1 2022, the Plastics Packaging Tax will apply to plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into, the UK which contains less than 30 per cent recycled plastic. Organisations should engage with their suppliers to check whether their products are affected by this tax or not. Those products containing less than 30 per cent recycled content will see an additional £200 (€240) per tonne added to the cost of their materials.

Economic and environmental benefits Sensible levels of product ordering can have economic and environmental benefits as this reduces unnecessary journeys, saving on additional deliveries and reducing additional CO2 emissions. Responsible suppliers should also aim to avoid wasteful over-packaging and avoid switching from plastic packaging to alternative mistakenly greener materials, such as glass or cardboard.

Using these materials can lead to increased CO2 emissions throughout the supply chain due to the energy required in manufacturing and the extra weight of material.

Choosing the right products

Alle Unternehmen müssen sich fortgesetzt an die andauernden Herausforderungen im Zusammenhang mit der sich wandelnden Lieferkettenlage anpassen.

Einkaufsstrategien müssen überdacht werden und vorausschauende Planung ist unverzichtbar – schreibt Henry Lee von Cromwell Polythene.

is an important decision.

Has it been designed with sustainability in mind and how will it impact the climate and environment? Will it do the job to a high standard? This has economic repercussions, as if it is not effective, there will be increased wastage and costs. Finally, does it comply with industry regulations?

This is vital from a health and safety perspective, which were particularly highlighted during the on-going pandemic.

International standards Unfortunately, continued demand for essential items has led to some companies offering products that have no guarantee of meeting industry standards, being fit for purpose or don’t hold reliable green credentials.

Businesses should ensure they are purchasing products which have independently audited quality hallmarks including European Standards (EN) and the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) quality management standards.

In the UK, the Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) Accreditation scheme for plastic refuse sacks ensures they are fit for purpose and that the dimensions and count of products are as indicated on the label, ie, ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box.’

Check for memberships and accreditations with independent, industry organisations.

Close trading relationships We all need to continue to adapt to the ongoing challenges and evolving supply chain landscape. Partnering with good distributors and manufacturers that have a strong collaborative approach, large inventories and are supported by long standing trading relationships can make purchasing an easier and hasslefree process. www.cromwellpolythene.co.uk

Tutte le imprese devono continuare ad adattarsi alle sfide in corso nel panorama della filiera in continua evoluzione. Le strategie di acquisto devono essere riviste e pianificare in anticipo è fondamentale. Ce ne parla Henry Lee della Cromwell Polythene.

EFCI NEWS

2022 - EFCI looks ahead to challenges and opportunities

Juan Díez de los Rios, president of EFCI, looks ahead to the association’s activities for 2022, representing the contract cleaning sector at EU level.

Dear colleagues, I am happy to address you in this first EFCI contribution to the ECJ in 2022, a year that we are convinced will still show the resilience and strength of our industry, despite the continuous challenges that we inherit from 2021.

Among others we see across Europe the increasing problematic of staff shortages, the increasing regulatory pressure and what I like to call “dictatorship of price”. Despite all this, our sector continues to grow across the continent, and the recognition that it has received through the pandemic puts it even more in the spotlight. We have, therefore, a unique opportunity to advance in the deserved recognition that shall imply enhanced staff attraction and retention, an

adequate valuation of quality over price in the selection of our services and of course, a better dialogue with policymakers, who shall better take into account our suggestions and needs in their legislative developments.

All the above, evidently, shows the need for strong industry associations, both at national and European level.

Well-functioning national and European associations are not only stronger in lobbying and communication, but also a great place for knowledge sharing. I am grateful for the strong cooperation that we are achieving within the EFCI, which this year will implement further and relevant actions to the benefit of the sector across Europe. In 2021 we happily welcomed the UK Cleaning & Support Services Association (CSSA) into our membership, and we are looking forward to continuing to welcome the associations from those countries which are not yet members of our European federation. Moreover, very soon we will present a renewed format of our EFCI Circle, that intends to serve as a platform for networking and cooperation between companies and sectorrelated organisations.

The increased relevance and recognition of our sector

Juan Díez de los Rios, président de l’EFCI, anticipe les activités en 2022 de cette association représentant la propreté professionnelle au niveau de l’UE.

8 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

highlights the need for joint advocacy on the pressing topics we face. Only at EU level, in 2022 the sector faces important challenges, such as the revision of the future of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue, the final stages of the discussions on the proposals for a directive on adequate minimum wages or pay transparency, or the many developments regarding sustainability that will impact cleaning activities. In addition, we look forward to the publication of the results of the SK-Clean project, the first EU-funded project managed by the EFCI on its own, that will be a great basis for recognition of training and digitalisation in the sector.

I am looking forward to

Juan Díez de los Rios, der Vorsitzende des EFCI, des Verbandes, der die Reinigungsbranche auf EU-Ebene repräsentiert, gibt einen Überblick über die Aktivitäten im Jahr 2022.

continuing to work for the sector at EU level with all my colleagues and peers. I am convinced that, through continuous strong cooperation, we will be able to turn the many challenges 2022 will bring into opportunities for the development of the sector’s full potential in the coming years.

I hope to see you soon, in person, at the events and meetings we will organise this year. We are also looking forward to welcoming the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards to Brussels in April, as an event that will enhance the recognition of the sector at the heart of the EU. With this programme ahead of us, undoubtedly, it is time to work!

Juan Díez de los Ríos EFCI president

Juan Díez de los Rios, presidente di EFCI, l’associazione che rappresenta il settore del cleaning professionale a livello dell’UE, guarda al futuro delle attività dell’associazione per il 2022.

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NEWS

Hotel cleaners reveal items left behind in rooms Guns, cash and drug paraphernalia are among the items to have been found by hotel cleaners and other staff members after guests have checked out.

And the more unsavoury items left behind include dirty nappies, skin flakes and nail clippings.

A discussion began on Reddit when hotel workers were asked about the most unusual items they had found in rooms after guests had left.

One staff member claimed to have uncovered a gun stashed beneath a mattress, while another recalled the time when a Las Vegas high-roller left

$328,000 in cash in the safe in his suite.

Other odd finds included a 1970s photo album, a purple lightsaber, a porn film on an SD card, a car’s licence plate and hundreds of live crickets.

Ask no questions Drug paraphernalia was a common find, with one cleaner claiming to have found more than a dozen needles under the bedskirt, and another discovering “a literal crack pipe in the freezer”.

The worker added: “I was told to never ask questions and to just throw away any drugs we found.”

• Le personnel de nettoyage et autres travailleurs de l’hôtellerie ont découvert des armes à feu, du numéraire et toutes sortes de drogues dans les chambres de clients après leur départ.

• Le groupe néerlandais de services d’installation Vebego a repris le groupe allemand Hectas, actif dans le même domaine.

10 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

One cleaner found a thick layer of nail clippings lining the bottom of the ice bucket, while another discovered that the en suite bath had been filled with dirty nappies.

And one staff member spent a week cleaning a room where the carpet permanently seemed to be coated by flakes of skin from wall to wall: “Every day I’d vacuum it up and every day it would be back again,” claimed the Reddit user. “I thought I was going insane.”

Why it’s vital to take care of your own health when running a business - page 37

• Schusswaffen, Bargeld und Drogenutensilien befinden sich unter den Gegenständen, die vom Reinigungspersonal und anderen Mitarbeitern in Hotels nach dem Auschecken der Gäste gefunden wurden.

• Die niederländische Facility Management-Gruppe Vebego hat die in Deutschland ansässige hectas group erworben, die ebenfalls Facility Services bietet.

hectas bought Dutch facilities management group Vebego has acquired hectas group, based in Germany - which also provides facility services. “Vebego’s aim is to join with the hectas group in expanding activities in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands,” explained Giuseppe Santagarda, Vebego Group ceo.

“All contracts of employment and business operations will be maintained.”

Markus Breithaupt, hectas chairman added: “In Vebego, we have the perfect partner for the healthy expansion of our group.

Both our colleagues and our customers will benefit.”

• Armi, denaro e attrezzature per la droga sono fra gli oggetti che sono stati trovati degli addetti alle pulizie degli hotel e da altro personale dopo che i clienti avevano lasciato le camere.

• Il gruppo di gestione delle strutture olandese Vebego ha acquisito il gruppo hectas con sede in Germania che anch’esso fornisce servizi

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LATEST: NORWAY

Asthma risk from cleaning products ECJ’s Lotte Printz on a study from Norway suggesting children whose mothers work with cleaning products have a high risk of having asthma.

The risk of children developing asthma, or other respiratory conditions such as wheeze, increases by as much as 71 per cent if their mothers have been exposed to large amounts of cleaning products and disinfectants in their jobs. Even years before conception.

That’s the gloomy conclusion of a study done by Norwegian researchers Cecilie Svanes and Gro Tjalvin at the University of Bergen, published in the journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology late last year.

This is the first human study addressing offspring respiratory health effects as a result of mothers’ exposure to cleaning products and disinfectants prior to or around the time of conception or during pregnancy.

Two studies Based on two international studies, Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) and Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia (RHINESSA), the two Norwegian researchers examined data from 3,318 adult participants from the latter and their mothers who had been exposed to indoor cleaning agents for six months or longer.

The mothers had all worked as either cleaners, healthcare workers, cooks, hairdressers, or the like.

“It is well established that workers who are directly exposed to cleaning products and disinfectants are at a risk for respiratory symptoms and asthma. In addition, it has been suggested

that exposures related to cleaning activities may constitute a risk to long-term respiratory health,” the paper says.

But why these products affect respiratory health is still not fully understood.

Rise in cases Research that examines offspring’s respiratory health have also been scarce. Despite the fact that cases of childhood asthma have increased substantially since the 1980s.

The reasons for this increase remain largely unknown, but with this study Cecilie Svanes and Gro Tjalvin are suggesting that it may be down to chemical exposures affecting future parents’ somatic and germ cells, thus having an impact on the children’s health through germline cell exposure.

While the results of the study are of course worrying, this research also indicates that there seems to be no increased risk of developing asthma, had the mother started working in the said occupations and been exposed to those indoor cleaning agents after the child was born.

Whatever the reasons and their findings, the two women researchers stress that: “Considering the potential implications for a vast number of women in the childbearing age using cleaning agents, and their children, further research is imperative.”

For more on this: https://www. jacionline.org/article/S00916749(21)01399-3/fulltext

Tickets are still available for the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2022 gala dinner in Brussels on April 28. Visit echawards.com to find out how you can join the celebration Dans son reportage de Norvège, Lotte Printz rend compte d’une étude indiquant que les enfants de mères travaillant avec des produits de nettoyage risquent plus que les autres de souffrir d’asthme.

Die ECJ-Korrespondentin Lotte Printz berichtet über eine Studie aus Norwegen, die nahelegt, dass Kinder, deren Mütter mit Reinigungsprodukten arbeiten, ein höheres Risiko haben, Asthma zu entwickeln.

La corrispondente di ECJ Lotte Printz ci informa su uno studio effettuato in Norvegia che indica che i bambini la cui madre lavora con prodotti per la pulizia sono a rischio più elevato di sviluppare l’asma.

February/March 2022 | ECJ |13

LATEST: GERMANY

LATEST: FRANCE

Largest workforce in Germany

A new cleaning service model

Katja Scholz, ECJ reporter, on latest industry data.

Christian Bouzols reports from France on a cleaning company doing business differently post-Covid.

The sector report from the contract cleaning trade appeared at the beginning of the new year – with facts, figures and trends regarding the skilled trade with the largest workforce in Germany: 27,545 firms with just under 665,000 employees and a turnover of over €19 billion - this is contract cleaning trade Germany.

Dynamic growth In the current sector report, the development of the contract cleaning trade is compared to that of all the other skilled trades in Germany. This shows that in the last 14 years, jobs with mandatory social security contributions rose by just short of 48 per cent in the contract cleaning trade, whereas in the skilled trade sector as whole, the rise was only 15 per cent. Just under 24 per cent of all new jobs with mandatory social security contributions in the trade sector as a whole were created in the contract cleaning industry.

One reason for this is no doubt is the complexity of this field of work: from traditional routine cleaning through glass and façades to hospital and industrial cleaning, the work is both diverse and of tremendous social relevance. And the contract cleaning trade, with its sector pay scheme and the collective wage agreement, is a very attractive employer: the number of part-time jobs has been declining for years, the universally binding minimum industry wage has existed for decades now – and the aim is that entry-level wages should remain above the legal minimum wage in the medium term.

Integrated role The contract cleaning trade offers people of all ages, regardless of background, level of education or previous experience, opportunities for employment. Generally speaking, the En Allemagne, le nettoyage professionnel est le métier à la force de travail la plus nombreuse du pays. Katja Scholz, correspondante d’ECJ, en examine les statistiques.

sector is an employment creator for people who, according to statistics, experience particular difficulty in the German employment market. Just under 57 per cent of those employed in contract cleaning at present have no vocational qualifications, whereas in the economy as a whole there are 22 per cent.

“We in the contract cleaning trade can offer a low-threshold entry via the field of routine cleaning,” explains Christopher Lück, BIV director of policy and communications. “The second career path is via a professional training or apprenticeship programme, in order to learn the trade from the bottom up and then later possibly to earn the title of master craftsman or set up their own business.”

Dominant trends No sector can ignore digitalisation and sustainability anymore – they are the future drivers and represent progress and change.

In the contract cleaning trade we are increasingly concerned with developing concepts for waste prevention, energy efficiency and CO2 reduction – and also for sustainable mobility. In fact, 84 per cent of companies with access to one or several electric vehicles state that the acquisition has proved its worth.

Progressive digitalisation is also changing the industry: for example, robots – for cleaning inaccessible parts of a building or for nocturnal rounds in shopping centres - are becoming increasingly important. It is in fact private companies which score points with their innovative ideas and drive progress forwards. However the sector report also shows contract cleaning will for the foreseeable future remain a ‘people business’ - as only three out of 10 activities can be automated.

Digitalisation simply underpins the processes and contributes to the efficiency of the work.

Die Vertragsreinigungsbranche ist der Handwerksberuf mit der größten Arbeiterschaft in Deutschland. Die ECJKorrespondentin Katja Scholz wirft einen Blick auf die neuesten Zahlen.

16 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

Il mercato delle pulizie commerciali è il settore specializzato con la forza lavoro maggiore in Germania. La corrispondente di ECJ Katja Scholz prende in esame i dati più recenti.

“My problem with Covid isn’t as bad as my problem with home working. Some of my clients are cancelling their business leases and this is hurting us quite badly because a large part of our portfolio is comprised of people involved in event organisation.

That’s why the partnership we’ve arranged with Airbnb last spring is so important. It has enabled us to spring back into the B to C (business to consumer) sector by developing a completely new model.” This is what Chrystèle Gimaret, founder and chairwoman of Ekoklean, a business originally launched in 2005 under the name of Artupox, had to say about the exhilarating prospects of her new venture.

Chrystèle Gimaret, a pioneer in green cleaning who also launched a sister company in Quebec a year ago, has now kicked off with Ekoklean on Demand, an on-demand cleaning service for private customers. Working initially with the 700,000 hosts of the Airbnb platform in France, the company is also reaching out to private customers and will eventually work with business customers as well. Its services are quite simple to use. All the customer needs to do is to load the app on their smartphone (or via the company’s website) and programme various types of cleaning services. These can be one-off or recurrent, and will be billed at €30 an hour, although the actual cost will be only €15 an hour thanks to tax refunds applied to personal services in France.

Cleaners won’t be ‘uberised’ In Chrystèle Gimaret’s mind, her offering is quite similar to Uber’s but there’s a small difference: “I definitely won’t uberise Rapportant de la France, Christian Bouzols explique le nouveau modèle d’affaires qu’une entreprise de propreté a été amenée à adopter par suite de la Covid.

my agents, she insists. “This model has already been tested unsuccessfully in the USA a few years ago by Amazon, which was underpaying its cleaners, all of them independent workers.”

As regards Ekoklean on Demand, it is paying its cleaners between €12 and €14 an hour net. In order to ensure their loyalty, he company offers them the choice of being selfemployed or employed under an open-ended contract.

“We select them, we train them online for free and let them adapt their activities to their own time schedules by allowing them to accept assignments or not. This new business model should attract students, mothers living alone and other people who need to supplement their income. We also work closely with the “un jeuneune solution” (one youth, one solution) project that has been launched under the Relance (economic recovery) programme.

Ready to move into B to B Ekoklean on Demand is already working in 200 French cities and should soon cover the whole country, mainly thanks to the partnership with Airbnb. At the end of 2021, it had 20,000 clients. The company is also thinking of moving into the B to B (business to business) sector.

This will involve some changes to the way it works. The prepayments currently required by the app will be replaced by monthly invoices at different rates while preserving the flexibility of on demand cleaning services. “We want to enable business customers to not commit themselves to multiyear contracts while abiding by those green commitments at the heart of our business,” says Chrystèle Gimaret in conclusion.

Aus Frankreich berichtet Christian Bouzols über ein Reinigungsunternehmen, das aufgrund von Covid ein völlig neues Geschäftsmodell entwickelt hat.

Dalla Francia, il corrispondente Christian Bouzols ci parla di una impresa di pulizia che ha sviluppato un modello aziendale completamente nuovo a causa del Covid.

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HEALTHCARE HYGIENE

Healthcare priorities CLEANING A HEALTHCARE FACILITY can involve a juggling act on the part of the janitorial staff. Cleaning teams need to be able to balance various conflicting priorities when deciding how to tackle a specific task. For example, the elimination of germs and viruses obviously needs to be close to the top of the list in any healthcare facility in order to reduce the risk of cross-infection. But personal safety is also important, which means harsh, germbusting cleaning products that emit strong fumes should preferably be avoided because these could pose health risk for patients, staff and cleaners.

State-of-the-art machinery sometimes needs to be deployed in healthcare facilities in order to blitz the aforesaid germs.

But any machines need to be sufficiently quiet in operation so as to avoid disturbing the patients. And of course, keeping down costs must always be a consideration in a state-run healthcare facility.

So, how do cleaning solutions manufacturers come up with products and systems that successfully balance all these priorities?

Kärcher trainer Klaas-Matti Nolte confirms that several problems converge in the healthcare sector. “Firstly there are many people occupying a relatively small space in a hospital, most of whom are likely to be ill – and this of course means they are likely to spread pathogens,” he said. “At the same time, their immune systems will potentially be weakened.”

Quiet, unobtrusive cleaning systems that will not disturb the patients are a definite priority in any hospital, he says.

“Patients will recover much more quickly and easily when they feel appropriately comfortable, so it is important to use quiet devices and cleaning methods – ideally ones that won’t compromise on efficacy,” he said.

“Quiet devices also have the advantage of extending the cleaning window since they can be used at night as well as during the day.”

According to Nolte, powerful cleaning

agents and disinfectants should only be used in the recommended doses. “There are legal guidelines that prescribe which surfaces need to be disinfected and how, and when it comes to strong detergents and disinfectants the principle that applies should be: ‘as much as necessary’ and ‘as little as possible’,” he adds.

While minimising costs is important in any state-run facility, he believes that health preservation should be the ultimate goal. “In any case a hospital will certainly not benefit from an increase in nosocomial infections, so the priority should always be to prevent the spread of microorganisms as far as possible in the first place,” he said.

Cleaning should achieve the desired effect within a good cost-benefit ratio, adds Nolte. “Sometimes a simple procedure will be sufficient,” he says. “However, cleaning processes will inevitably be more complex and time-consuming in areas such as operating theatres.

Simple procedures “Since these spaces need to be made quickly available for the next patient, all cleaning procedures should be kept as simple as possible. Features such as tankrinsing systems and machines that offer easy accessibility for cleaning the tanks are important here. But it can be difficult to strike a balance between all the different requirements.”

Kärcher offers a range of machines and equipment designed to meet the demands of healthcare facilities including quiet scrubber driers in various sizes and that incorporate configurable equipment.

Germ-busting power is crucial – but it is not the only consideration to bear in mind when it comes to hand hygiene, according to GOJO’s managing director Chris Wakefield. “Formulations should also be kind to skin due to the high frequency with which healthcare workers need to clean their hands,” he said, Skin irritation is a growing problem in healthcare settings, he says, as well as being one of the biggest barriers to hand

Hygiene, efficacy, safety, costeffectiveness - what should be the chief requirements of a healthcare cleaning system?

Ann Laffeaty considers the main priorities of any healthcare cleaning regime and asks providers about the types of products and systems they offer that can successfully fulfill them.

hygiene. “Besides being painful, damaged skin also poses a significant infection risk because the sufferer will be more likely to pick up an infection,” he said. “And this will then be more easily spread to surfaces and to other people because it becomes harder to remove germs from all the cracks and flakes in the skin.”

GOJO offers Purell Advanced Hygienic Hand Rub which incorporates moisturising agents to reduce skin discomfort.

According to Wakefield factors such as healthcare-associated infections, the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of so-called ‘superbugs’ are a perennial worry. “And of course the added risk of Covid-19 needs to be taken into account, so it is clear that good surface and hand hygiene practices are vital,” he said.

All soaps and sanitisers need to be powerful enough to kill germs while also being fit for purpose in healthcare settings, says Wakefield. “Hospitals should seek out products that conform to the EN 1500, EN 14476 and EN 12791 hospital norms because these will provide assurance that they are safe for use in healthcare settings,” he said. “It is also important to check contact times, since a shorter contact time will allow users to benefit Continued page 22

February/March 2022 | ECJ | 21

HEALTHCARE HYGIENE Healthcare priorities (continued) support patient well-being, and all cleaning staff should be equipped with the right tools for the task,” she said. “In fact, the use of the correct cleaning techniques coupled with an understanding of how these contribute to patient safety has become a more important topic than ever before.”

Essity offers Tork Interactive Clean Hospital Training in multiple languages to support hospital cleaning regimes. According to Remijnse, it is important to maximise all available resources in any healthcare environment. “For example, data-driven cleaning can improve the effectiveness of existing resources,” she said. The company’s Tork Vision Cleaning is claimed to be able to reduce dispenser checks by up to 91 per cent and cut the number of cleaning hours required by 20 per cent.

Key objectives

from the full germ-killing power of the product.”

And he adds that another priority to consider is all hand hygiene products should be made readily available and be easy to use. “According to guidelines, point-of-care products should be within arm’s reach of where patient care or treatment is taking place and should not involve the healthcare worker having to leave the area,” he said.

Delicate balance Effective hand hygiene and cleaning solutions in healthcare facilities are critical to improving the quality and safety of care, according to Essity’s communications director Renée Remijnse. And while efficacy is key, she says it is important to balance effective hygiene practices against the potential overuse of powerful chemicals.

“Microfibre cloths are an ideal surfacecleaning solution for healthcare environments as these may be used with water alone, providing an efficient solution whilst helping to avoid the use of harsh chemicals,” she said. Essity’s Tork Microfibre Reusable Cleaning Cloth and Tork Microfibre Disposable Cleaning Cloths can be used Pour nettoyer un établissement de santé, il est nécessaire de satisfaire à différentes priorités. Bien entendu, il est prioritaire de combattre les microbres, mais si les produits de nettoyage sont trop puissants, ils risquent de compromettra la sécurité des agents de nettoyage et des patients. Dans les établissements de l’État, il importe aussi de contenir les coûts et de réduire autant que possible le bruit et la visibilité des systèmes de nettoyage afin de ne pas déranger les patients.

22 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

either dry or in conjunction with cleaning solutions, sanitisers or disinfectants, while according to Remijnse they can remove 99.9 per cent of microorganisms from surfaces including Covid-19 and C.difficile.

As far as hand hygiene is concerned, she believes the use of extra mild products can help to build hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers. “If the product is pleasant to use as well as being effective it will be adopted more widely,” she said. “Harsh soaps and detergents on the other hand could harm the health of the skin, leading to skin issues such as dermatitis – which in turn could result in staff absenteeism.”

She adds that in her view, good healthcare begins with good cleaning and hygiene regimes. “Quiet hand hygiene dispensers in patient wards will help to

So what is the top priority in terms of healthcare cleaning? The views of all commentators are aligned.

“The elimination of any microorganisms along with the prevention of the spread of germs should be primary objectives in any healthcare cleaning and hygiene regime,” said Kärcher’s Klaas-Matti Nolte.

Essity’s Renée Remijnse agrees, adding that reducing the risk of healthcare associated infections should be a key priority in hospitals. “HAIs lead to longer hospital stays, lower bed availability, higher costs and an increase in mortality,” she said.

And GOJO’s Chris Wakefield concurs that preventing the spread of germs is undoubtedly the highest priority when cleaning in hospitals.

“Healthcare facilities require the highest levels of hygiene and cleanliness in order to protect all sick and vulnerable patients along with visitors and healthcare staff,” he said.

Interclean Amsterdam will take place from May 10-13, a welcome return for the exhibition which was last held in 2018. The April/May edition of ECJ will feature a comprehensive preview.

Beim Reinigen einer Einrichtung des Gesundheitswesens müssen mehrere Prioritäten gegeneinander abgewogen werden. Während es offensichtlich wichtig ist, die Verbreitung von Krankheitserregern zu verhindern, muss gleichzeitig berücksichtigt werden, dass zu starke Reinigungsprodukte die Sicherheit von Patienten und Reinigungskräften bedrohen könnten. Darüber hinaus müssen in staatlichen Einrichtungen die Kosten niedrig gehalten werden, und alle Reinigungssysteme müssen leise und unauffällig sein, um die Patienten nicht zu stören.

Fare le pulizie in una struttura sanitaria richiede il destreggiarsi tra le varie priorità. Mentre è ovviamente vitale prevenire la diffusione di germi, se i prodotti di pulizia sono troppo forti possono mettere a rischio la sicurezza dei pazienti e degli addetti alle pulizie. Anche i costi devono essere tenuti bassi in qualsiasi struttura gestita dallo stato e tutti i sistemi di pulizia devono essere silenziosi e non ostruttivi per non disturbare i pazienti.

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PRODUCTS: HEALTHCARE HYGIENE

• Sous la désignation 2in1, Diversey propose un désinfectant des mains et de surfaces en un seul conditionnement.

• La SG 4/2 Classic est un nouvel appareil de nettoyage à la vapeur signé Kärcher comportant un rangement pour accessoires.

• GOJO Industries-Europe a introduit les lingettes antimicrobiennes Purell pour mains et surfaces.

• Bei Des 2in1 von Diversey handelt es sich um einen Desinfektionsreiniger für Hände und Oberflächen in einem Produkt.

• Der SG 4/2 Classic ist der neue Dampfreiniger von Kärcher, der Stauraum für Zubehörteile bietet.

• Neu von GOJO Industries-Europe sind die antimikrobiellen Hand- und Oberflächendesinfektionstücher Purell Hand & Surface Antimicrobial Wipes.

• Des 2in1 della Diversey è un disinfettante per mani e superfici in un unico prodotto.

• SG 4/2 Classic è il nuovo erogatore di vapore della Kärcher dotato di spazio per tenere gli accessori.

• La novità della GOJO IndustriesEurope sono i panni Purell Hand & Surface Antimicrobial Wipes.

24 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

Single product

Steam clean

Des 2in1 is a hand and surface disinfectant from Diversey that comes in a single, easy-to-use product. It can used for disinfection of surfaces and objects such as light switches, door handles, lift buttons, supermarket trolleys and baskets, and washroom taps and handles.

Using the same product for two key infection prevention processes offers a number of benefits says Diversey. There is no need to switch between different products, and replacing two products with one can also be more economical while simplifying purchasing and supply chain operations.

The low viscosity makes Des 2in1 suitable for a wide range of dispensers and devices. The formulation contains over 70 per cent alcohol and comes in 750 ml ready-to-use spray bottles and five-litre bulk containers. www.diversey.com

The SG 4/2 Classic is a new steam cleaner from Kärcher comprising a water tank, steam generator and storage space for accessories in a compact, practical package. Weighing 7.5 kg it is easy to transport and the clear control panel makes it simple to use.

The water tank holds two litres and four-bar pressure makes for efficient cleaning without using any cleaning agents. The VapoHydro function flushes stubborn dirt away with hot water.

The steam cleaner case has a carrying handle and there are castors on the base for easy transport between locations.

Two storage nets on the outer

sides of the case are ideal for storing the power cable and any wet cleaning equipment after use. Accessories include steam scraper and flat brush, point jet nozzle or hand nozzle and microfibre cleaning cloth. www.karcher.com

Antibacterial wipe New from GOJO IndustriesEurope are Purell Hand & Surface Antimicrobial Wipes.

They can be used for sanitising hands, general surfaces, and food-contact surfaces.

The wipes are kind to skin and deliver against EN1500 hand hygiene standards. They destroy 99.99 per cent of the most common germs that may be harmful.

No rinsing is required and no residue is left after use. Available in four sizes: 100, 200 and 270 count canister, and a 450 count bucket. www.gojo.com

PRODUCTS: HEALTHCARE HYGIENE

Hygiene mop

Training and tech

Greenspeed says it’s the magnetic seals on its Click’M C range of mops that makes cleaning of all types of floors more efficient and hygienic. The operator slips the frame into the pocket of the microfibre mop, presses the handle down and the magnetic fastening immediately locks the mop into place.

Essity offers a number of digital options specifically designed to support those working in healthcare. Tork Clean Hands Training, for example, invites users into a digital world where they are confronted with a series of scenarios in which hand hygiene needs to be carried out.

Tork Vision Cleaning is also a digital solution, claimed to reduce dispenser checks by up to 91 per cent and cut the number of cleaning hours required by 20 per cent. It digitalises cleaning schedules, allowing cleaners to tick off each washroom cleaning task on a smartphone as they complete them.

And Tork Interactive Clean Hospital is an interactive training and support package that incorporates modules on daily cleaning in occupied patient rooms plus discharge cleaning protocols. Each module is focused on learning by doing

When cleaning is complete, the operator presses the green button with their foot to release the frame and slides the used mop into the laundry bag without touching it.

Every mop designed for Click’M C has four integrated colour tabs so each can be identified by area of use. Seven different mops are available for the system. www.greenspeed.eu

and is available in more than 15 languages besides English. tork.co.uk

Hand protection Semperguard nitrile gloves help to protect operatives from hazardous substances and biological elements.

For staff working in the cleaning sector it recommends Semperguard Sapphire blue and Semperguard Cobalt blue which protect against substances used in cleaning products.

Semperguard Xpert is a thicker glove offering chemical protection and greater wall thickness, while Semperguard Xtension comes with a longer cuff. www.sempermed.com

• Le système à balayage magnétique Click’M C de Greenspeed se signale par ses effets hygiéniques dans des applications en milieu hospitalier.

• Essity propose des lingettes, serviettes et savons pour les mains à usage hospitalier, assortis de la formation requise.

• Die Nitrilhandschuhe Semperguard von Sempermed sind Kategorie III PSA und schützen gegen Viren.

• Das magnetische Moppsystem Click’M C von Greenspeed bietet optimale Hygiene für den Einsatz im Gesundheitswesen.

• Essity bietet Desinfektionstücher, Handtücher und Handseifen für Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens – in Verbindung mit relevanter Schulung.

• Die Nitrilhandschuhe Semperguard von Sempermed sind Kategorie III PSA und schützen gegen Viren.

• Il sistema mop magnetico Click’M C della Greenspeed vanta massima igiene ed è adatto per le strutture sanitarie.

• La Essity propone panni, asciugamani e saponi per le mani adatti per l’uso negli ambienti sanitari e inoltre offre il training pertinente.

• I guanti in nitrile Semperguard della Sempermed sono DPI della categoria III e proteggono contro i virus.

February/March 2022 | ECJ | 25

SUSTAINABILITY Aiming for the net (continued) started to switch our entire fleet to electric or hybrid vehicles and we will ensure each office has a charging station by 2023.”

The company promotes a Cycle to Work scheme and offers safe storage for bicycles on all its sites. It is also investing in carbon offset schemes. “For example we are installing solar panels in schools and supplying wood stoves to coffee farmers,” said Venter.

Atalian Servest is also reducing its use of chemicals and moving towards biological products where possible. “These types of products are more environmentallyfriendly and the run-off doesn’t disrupt waterways,” claims Venter.

Going net zero is the ultimate goal for Greenspeed according to product and sustainability manager Lies Marijnissen.

“We use renewable energy in our production processes and warehouses, and we have goals to reduce transport emissions on the operational side,” she said. “Global warming can no longer be ignored while the topics of air pollution and the impact of CO2 are also gaining in importance.”

Greenspeed develops its products using life cycle analysis and employs plant-based ingredients and recycled packaging where possible. “We continue to look for improvements to reach the ultimate goal of creating a positive impact,” said Marijnissen.

Water-based solutions Climate change is the most critical sustainability issue of the day, according to Incentive QAS managing director Jamie Wright. “We intend to be net zero by 2030 and are well on our way to achieving Planet Mark accreditation, which recognises continuous improvement,” he said.

The company has committed to switching to renewable energy by 2022; to operate a carbon neutral vehicle fleet by 2024 and to support staff members to become carbon neutral in their personal lives by 2028. Incentive QAS also works with carbon-neutral supply partners to help offset any remaining carbon emissions.

“We’ve replaced cleaning chemicals with water-based solutions and have adopted various innovative products designed to reduce environmental impact,” said Wright.

Essity intends to go net zero by 2050 according to the company’s communicaAujourd’hui, un nombre croissant d’entreprises se sont fixées une date pour atteindre à l’ « énergie nette zéro ». Mais quelles en sont les implications et les possibilités de réalisation ? ECJ interroge des entreprises sur leurs stratégies en la matière et la manière dont elles prévoient d’atteindre leurs objectifs.

28 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

we’re considering how we can further reduce packaging on all items.”

Companies need to do their own due diligence and check the sustainability of their supply chains, according to Scott. “We also need to work collectively with customers and as a society if we’re to achieve real, long-term change,” he says.

Vectair offsets carbon emissions from the life cycle of its V-Air SOLID Evolution product by helping to fund various sustainability projects, says the company’s head of marketing Louise Goldsmith.

Fund projects

tions director Renée Remijnse. It aims to do so by improving energy efficiency, eliminating fossil fuels and by increasing its use of renewable energy, she says.

“We have joined the UN Global Compact’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C to develop targets to reach net zero emissions by 2050 for the entire value chain,” said Remijnse.

The company has also updated its target for responsible sourcing. “By 2025 we want 95 per cent of Essity’s total purchase cost to be from suppliers that comply with Essity’s Global Supplier Standard.”

Robert Scott is seeking to reduce its carbon footprint in various ways, according to sales director Alastair Scott. “For example, we are manufacturing more products in the UK - our home country - and we’re localising our supply chain,” he said. “We’ve also installed a grid of 330 solar panels with the capacity of producing 100 kWh, resulting in a 50 per cent reduction of electricity consumption from our Oldham site. And in October 2021, all our electricity came from zero-carbon hydro, wind, and solar sources for the first time.”

The company plans to continue with its solar panel installation while also introducing charging points for electric vehicles on all its sites. “We’re looking to grow our range of eco cleaning products as well, including our ecofibre cloths made from recycled plastic bottles,” he said. “And

“For example we support tree-planting projects in the UK and Brazil, and we contribute to the Breathing Space programme to improve cooking stoves in India,” she said. The company also supports the Native Energy clean water programme in Central America and a wind-based power generation project in India.

So, should ‘net zero’ be the holy grail of any company’s sustainability policy? Or are other targets equally important?

According to Greenspeed’s Lies Marijnissen, all hygiene solutions should have a healing effect on humanity and nature where possible. “By setting out this vision we try to not only lower our impact, but also to create a positive impact on the planet and people,” she said.

Essity’s Renée Remijnse believes there are other crucial sustainability goals to consider besides going net zero. “For example, Essity has an updated target to reduce its total recordable injuries rate by 75 per cent by 2025 compared with 2019,” she said.

Firms must strive to create an inclusive, supportive and safe working environment for all employees, says IPC’s Mario Scarpa, while Atalian Servest’s Johan Venter adds it is important to reduce the use of water, energy and plastics in all products.

And Vectair’s Louise Goldsmith says sustainability should always be balanced against efficacy. “We need to come up with solutions that are more sustainable but that work just as well – if not better – than less sustainable alternatives,” she said. “After all, there’s no point in producing a product that is environmentallyfriendly but that doesn’t actually address the customer’s problems.”

Immer mehr Unternehmen legen ein Datum fest, bis zu dem sie „Net Zero“ sein möchten. Aber was ist damit verknüpft, und wie erreichbar ist dieses Ziel? Das ECJ befragt Unternehmen nach ihren NetZero-Strategien und wie sie ihre Ziele zu erreichen beabsichtigen.

Un numero sempre maggiore di imprese stanno fissando una data per diventare “net zero”. Ma cosa comporta tutto questo e fino a che punto è realizzabile? ECJ chiede alle imprese quali sono le strategie per il loro net zero e come intendono raggiungere i loro obiettivi.

PRODUCTS: SUSTAINABILITY

• Le tissu microfibre Re-belle à microfibres 100 pour cent circulaires a reçu la certification Bronze Cradle to Cradle.

• Le service Tork PaperCircle de recyclage de papiers essuie-tout de la société Essity a été récemment présenté au sommet climatique COP26.

• Vileda Professional a lancé des têtes de balayage humide et lingettes à usage unique fabriquées entièrement en matières plastiques recyclées.

• Les entreprises de propreté peuvent exercer un impact majeur sur l’emploi de matières plastiques, affirme la société Cleanology.

• Filmop a fait tester plusieurs de ses têtes de balayage humide pour établir l’émission de particules de matières plastiques, obtenant des résultats éclatants.

• Lindhaus fait valoir la faible consommation énergétique de sa machine de nettoyage de planchers LB3 Digital Pro à batterie au lithium ionique.

• Re-belle, das 100 % kreislaufgerechte Mikrofasertuch von Greenspeed, wurde mit dem Cradle-to-Cradle-Bronzezertifikat ausgezeichnet.

• Der Tork PaperCircle Recyclingdienst für Papierhandtücher von Essity wurde kürzlich auf der COP26 vorgestellt.

• Neu von Vileda Professional sind Einwegmopps und -wischtücher aus 100 Prozent recyceltem Plastik.

• Reinigungsunternehmen können einen erheblichen Einfluss auf die Verwendung von Plastik haben, teilt Cleanology mit.

• Filmop ließ einige seiner Mopps auf die Freisetzung von Mikroplastik testen, und alle erhielten die höchste Bewertung.

• Lindhaus teilt mit, dass der akkubetriebene Bodenreiniger LB3 L-ion Digital Pro einen niedrigen Energieverbrauch aufweist.

• Il panno in microfibra 100 per cento circolare Re-belle della Greenspeed ha ottenuto il certificato Cradle to Cradle Certified Bronze.

• Il servizio di riciclo degli asciugamani in carta Tork PaperCircle della Essity è stato presentato recentemente al summit per il cambiamento climatico COP26.

• La novità della Vileda Professional sono dei panni e dei mop monouso prodotti al cento per cento in plastica post-consumo.

• Le imprese di servizi di pulizia possono avere un grande impatto sull’uso della plastica, come afferma la Cleanology.

• La Filmop ha fatto testare un certo numero dei suoi mop per verificare il rilascio di microplastiche e hanno ricevuto tutti il massimo punteggio.

• La Lindhaus afferma che la sua lavapavimenti a batteria LB3 L-ion Digital Pro è a basso consumo di energia.

30 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

Circular cloth Re-belle, says manufacturer Greenspeed, is a fully circular microfibre cloth that has recently achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified Bronze status. It consists of 100 per cent recycled PET, such as PET bottles, and is 100 per cent recyclable. This

opportunity for a circular business model.

Tork PaperCircle was launched in 2016 and is currently in operation at more than 150 locations in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark and the UK. www.tork.co.uk

Fully recycled

combats waste in the cleaning industry and the polluting textile industry. Re-belle uses a circular cycle, resulting in as little waste as possible after frequent use, as waste is once again turned into raw materials.

In the manufacturing process, the recycled PET is cleaned and shredded and then melted into granules. The granules are processed into yarn, which in turn is knitted into fabric, and Re-belle is made and packaged sustainably. After Re-belle has reached the end of its life, the cloth is returned, recycled and processed into a raw material. www.greenspeed.eu

COP26 showcase Essity’s Tork PaperCircle paper towel recycling service was showcased at the COP26 global climate change summit at the end of last year. The solution was in operation in the 80-plus temporary washrooms of Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus, where the event was held.

Tork PaperCircle involves the collection of used hand towels

New from Vileda Professional are single-use wipes, mops and durable cloths made of up to 100 per cent post-consumer plastic. These new sustainable products feature advanced microfibre technology, it says, and meet high hygiene standards.

The new range comprises: r-MicronSolo single use wipes and rolls, containing 35 per cent recycled PES for cleaning of high-risk areas; r-MicroZero single use wipes and rolls, made from 100 per cent recycled PES, 100 per cent recyclable and 100 per cent Quat compliant for advanced disinfection; r-MicroOne Premium single use mops, up to 100 per cent recycled, 100 per cent recyclable and 100 per cent Quat compliant – suitable for pre-prepared and bucket method; r-MicronQuick made from 70 per cent recycled PES; and r-MicronGlass for streakfree cleaning with 70 per cent recycled PES. www.vileda-professional.com

Less plastic

from the customer’s washrooms by a recycling partner. These towels are then taken to a local Essity mill where they are recycled into new tissue products.

Only one per cent of paper hand towels are currently recovered for recycling which means they remain an untapped

Cleaning services business Cleanology says it has found new ways of working and introduced new products and systems as part of its mission to reduce plastic use and become a more sustainable operation.

Uniforms are made from recycled bottles, for example, saving 7,000 plastic bottles from landfill each year - while also saving on resources and energy

to make new clothing. It is a fully closed loop system impacting on waste, carbon and water.

Since switching to portioncontrolled, biological cleaning sachets, Cleanology has cut back on 16,092 litres of water and reduced plastic bottle use from 21,600 to just 600 each year.

And the vehicle fleet is hybrid and electric. cleanology.com

Highest rating The presence of microplastic particles in aquatic ecosystems has attracted attention in recent years and become the subject of an increasing number of studies, says Filmop. The amount of microplastics released varies from textile to textile.

The company had its MicroActiva, Twist-Tuft, Rapido Super Extra, Rapido Super and Rapido mop heads analysed by a specialist laboratory to verify the release of microplastics.

All products passed the tests, reports Filmop, with the MicroActiva and Twist-Tuft mop heads showing particularly low wash and rinse losses - and receiving the highest rating. www.filmop.com

Another function The LB3 L-ion Digital Pro vacuum/multifunction carpet cleaner from Lindhaus is battery-powered - with one hour runtime - and features the new Rotafil brushless motor.

The machine is light and easy to manoeuvre, while the filtration system includes a threelayer, three-litre microfibre bag and H13 Hepa filter. There is a full set of tools on board and it can be converted into a twomotor upright vacuum with the M30e or M38E power nozzles to adapt to any carpet. The lithiumion battery is 36V-6Ah and there’s a 150 W charger. www.lindhaus.it

Let's keep your business moving

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With Nilfisk Service Solutions, you can: • Maximise uptime with proactive maintenance and timely repairs and restoration • Protect equipment value with documented service and Nilfisk-certified spare parts • Keep maintenance costs low and predictable

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Equipment is an investment, and Nilfisk Service Solutions protect that investment by maintaining the durability and performance of your Nilfisk machine.

PRODUCTS: SUSTAINABILITY

• Les stations de recyclage Slim Jim proposées par Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) permettent aux entreprises de recycler un volume accru de déchets.

• TTS a développé un système informatique pour le comptage des émissions de gaz à effet de serre de chaque phase du cycle de vie de ses chariots et autres équipements.

• Jangro a dévoilé une ligne écologique de formules de nettoyage naturelles comprenant deux nettoyants probiotiques.

• DiBO propose deux nouvelles remorques haute pression comportant un brûleur à gaz naturel comprimé.

• Rekola souligne le faible impact environnemental de ses têtes de balayage humide double face et légères à microfibres.

• La Puzzi 9/1 Bp de Kärcher est une nouvelle machine d’injectionextraction à batterie.

• Slim Jim Recycling Stations von Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) wurden konzipiert, um Unternehmen ein verstärktes Abfallrecycling zu ermöglichen.

• TTS hat ein computerbasiertes System entwickelt, das die Treibhausgasemissionen für jede Lebensphase seiner Reinigungswagen und anderen Geräte zählt.

• Jangro hat eine umweltfreundliche Produktfamilie mit natürlichen Reinigungsformulierungen, darunter zwei probiotische Reinigungsmittel, vorgestellt.

• DiBO bietet zwei neue Hochdruckreiniger auf Anhänger, die über einen mit CNG-Gas betriebenen Brenner verfügen.

• Rekola sagt, dass seine leichten, doppelseitigen Mikrofasermopps helfen, die Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt zu reduzieren.

• Beim Puzzi 9/1 Bp von Kärcher handelt es sich um ein neues akkubetriebenes Sprühextraktionsgerät.

• Le stazioni di riciclo Slim Jim Recycling Stations della Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) sono progettate per permettere alle imprese di riciclare un numero maggiore di rifiuti.

• La TTS ha sviluppato un sistema computerizzato per il conteggio delle emissioni di gas serra per ogni ciclo di vita dei suoi carrelli e di altre attrezzature.

• La Jangro ha presentato una linea ecologica di preparati di pulizia naturali e fra questi due detergenti probiotici.

• La DiBO offre due nuovi carrelli per la pulizia ad alta pressione dotati di un bruciatore a Gas Naturale Compresso (GNC).

• La Rekola afferma che i suoi mop leggeri con microfibra su entrambi i lati aiutano a ridurre l’impatto ambientale.

• Puzzi 9/1 Bp della Kärcher è una nuova macchina per l’estrazione spray alimentata a batteria.

32 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

Recycling station

Slim Jim Recycling Stations from Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) include multi-stream systems for both front and back of house, which claim to prevent cross-contamination of recyclable and non-recyclable materials and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

With a narrow footprint to fit into tight spaces, the stations’ hinging lid inserts allow larger recyclables to fit inside.

Customisable colours and clearly labelled lids allow facilities to create recycling stations that fit their needs, sign-posting users and encouraging uptake.

Thanks to contoured edges the bins are easy to clean, and the containers feature four integrated venting channels that create airflow - this makes removing liners easier and reduces strain on operatives.

The units can withstand frequent use over long periods, says RCP, reducing the waste costs and energy generated from remanufacturing, transporting, and installing solutions. www.rubbermaid.eu

Carbon neutral In 2019 TTS started a long-term compensation programme to fully absorb the emissions associated with the annual production of Magic, making this its first carbon neutral trolley line.

The Carbon Footprint system lays the foundations for the definition of emission offset-

greenhouse gas emissions are occurring and quantifying them.

So now TTS has developed a computerised system that allows the counting of greenhouse gas emissions for each phase of the life cycle of trolleys and other equipment. The company has obtained certification of the Carbon Footprint Systematic Approach and the Magic Line 120 trolley has achieved the Carbon Footprint Italy mark. www.ttsystem.com

Boiler-CNG, which works on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

This lowers fuel costs while improving efficiency, with lower CO2 emissions.

The DiBO JMB-ME has a water-cooled electric motor running on a 25 kWh Li-ion battery. The battery management system (BMS) with which the battery is controlled guarantees a long battery life and its performance capacity is maintained. www.dibo.com

Natural cleaners

Fewer mops

The ntrl range from Jangro is a new line of 13 natural products comprising washroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, foaming washroom & toilet cleaner, foam hand soap, alcohol-free foam hand sanitiser, multi-surface cleaner, washing-up liquid, cleaning & degreaser, surface sanitisers, organic descaled, kitchen sanitiser and all-surface cleaner.

Rekola says that using its Reflex double-sided microfibre mops means fewer mops are needed on site, and their lower weight means more mops per machine load. This reduces the number of washes required.

When compared to a traditional flat mop system, it has calculated a site with 10 cleaning staff each using 20 low weight Reflex mops per day instead of a standard, 220 g flat mop five days a week, 52 weeks a year would reduce CO2 emissions by 8,198 kg over a year. www.rekola.com

First battery model All solutions feature plantbased extracts and are vegan friendly, says Jangro. The formulas are also 100 per cent biodegradable, contain zero petrochemicals, and can reduce the product’s carbon footprint by up to 85 per cent.

The ntrl Washroom Cleaner and the ntrl Multi-Surface Cleaner also contain probiotics beneficial bacteria.

All packaging is recycled and recyclable - post-consumer recycled bottles are used and outer boxes are made from recycled and FSC certified cardboard. www.jangro.net

Eco benefits

ting programmes as well as the implementation of other actions: understanding where

New from DiBO are two highpressure trailers designed for intensive use - the JMB-ME and JMB-MG. Both hot water machines feature ecological benefits, the company says.

For example, these models have been equipped with the new generation DiBO Green-

Kärcher has launched its first battery-powered professional spray extraction machine, the Puzzi 9/1 Bp.

In comparing the life cycle assessment of cordless vacuum cleaners or spray extractors with corded ones - says Kärcher - cordless devices are far more beneficial. And rechargeable devices draw half as much electricity as corded machines.

The Puzzi 9/1 Bp is part of the Kärcher Battery Universe and has a runtime of up to 35 minutes with a charging time of 60 minutes.

Thanks to its compact size the machine is easy to transport and carry. Four models are available, with different battery, charging station and accessory options. www.karcher.com

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Just one easy and intuitive movement: simply remove the frame from the lid to collect the used mop directly into the laundry bag inside the bucket, which also makes laundry operations easier.

GREATEST CONTROL ON CROSS CONTAMINATION

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BUSINESS: HEALTH

Taking care of business, and yourself

Much has been said about the traumatic impacts of the pandemic on small businesses. Not so widely reported is the personal toll it has taken on SME owners who have proved so crucial to keeping economies afloat during the crisis, writes Hartley Milner.

Every morning when Julie Pennington boots up her computer a message flashes briefly across the screen, concluding with a smiley face emoji. It proclaims Taking Care Of Business Means Taking Care Of Yourself and Julie has seized upon it as the mantra by which she runs her catering company.

“Where I got this pearl of wisdom from, I cannot say; it just popped into my head during a period when I felt at my lowest and in real need of some inspiration,” Julie said. “I programmed it into my computer as a daily reminder of the importance of protecting my personal health, at all times but especially at times like those we’ve all had to endure these past two years.”

Julie was talking to ECJ about her mental health struggles steering her company

through the perfect storm of stressful challenges that arrived with Covid. “I made many mistakes and went to hell and back,” she said. “I just hope my story makes other small business owners stop and think.”

The former hotel manager started her business in her hometown of Warrington in the UK in 2009. From catering for mainly wedding receptions, celebrations and corporate events, she built up a client base also comprising hospitals, restaurants and school cafeterias. By 2019, it was one of the largest caterers in the region, employing 25 full and part-time staff.

Crisis management “In catering, everything has to be perfect … the customer will soon tell you if it’s not and there will likely be a reputational price to pay,” she said.

“Making sure all goes to plan brings many pressures and frustrations every day, and not a few sleepless nights. But you are able to absorb all this because you are doing something you love. When Covid arrived, the challenges were off the scale.

Suddenly, the survival of the business

– everything I had worked so hard for over the years – was in jeopardy due to circumstances beyond my control.”

As panic swept the country, what began as a trickle of event cancellations became a torrent. Julie had to refund deposits and other upfront payments running into thousands of pounds. “Where we were able to push back events already scheduled, we did but we were also seeing a dramatic tailing off in booking enquiries, which greatly added to our worries,” she said. “Then in early 2020 came the first lockdown. The hospitality sector was decimated. Fortunately, we still had a few of our public service contracts, which had until now accounted for 40 per cent of our business, and our cash reserves were strong, but they would only sustain us for so long.

“My role now was that of crisis manager. I shut myself away in my office, searching for government and local authority emergency funding for the business and my employees, negotiating Continued page 38

February/March 2022 | ECJ | 37

BUSINESS: HEALTH Taking care of business, and yourself (continued) with our suppliers, landlord, utility providers and making insurance claims for lost event revenue. In addition, I had to find ways to adapt the business to generate emergency income streams, but we could not plan for the long term because we had no idea when the pandemic would end.

Well, as we now know, it was to be stopstart for two years and we are still not entirely out of the woods with Omicron.”

Julie hopes that by scaling down operations, including reluctantly reducing her labour costs, she now has the business on a sustainable footing and primed to respond to an upturn in her sector “whenever that may be”. But to get there she had paid a high personal cost.

“At first, I tried to remain optimistic and even cheerful for the sake of my employees and family, but that was far from how I was feeling deep down,” Julie said. “It came to the point where I actually welcomed putting on a Covid mask because I felt it hid how stressed out I was getting. Running a business, I had become adept at troubleshooting. What I was not prepared for was so many troubles coming at me so fast, all demanding immediate attention. It was as though I was in a hurdle race where for every obstacle I got over several more were put in my way.”

Personal cost As the challenges piled up, so did Julie’s anxieties. And the more anxious she became the longer the hours she put in to cope with the workload. She continued: “My body clock was thrown into chaos; I slept only fitfully at night, if at all, and found myself nodding off at my desk during the day, from which I would awake with a jolt, cursing myself for wasting time.

“I could see what was happening to me.

The feelings of helplessness, self-doubt, of being overwhelmed and alone were all pointers that I was approaching burnout.

But I only pushed myself harder. Then I found myself thinking the unthinkable …

I started to ask myself what was I doing, what’s the point of it all, would the world end if the business went under? I felt a wave of relief sweep over me, but at the same time it shocked me that I was thinking this way.

“Now, with my thoughts in disarray and On a beaucoup parlé des impacts traumatiques de la pandémie sur les petites entreprises. Mais on a moins parlé des effets personnels qui en ont résulté sur les patrons de PME dont le rôle a été vital pour maintenir les économies en marche au cours de la crise, écrit Hartley Milner, de la rédaction ECJ.

38 | February/March | ECJ

no longer able to concentrate on anything, I had no choice but to take a step back from it all, to catch up on lost sleep and get my head together. It was just a few days away with my family doing family things, but it gave me a chance to reset, to work out a more strategic approach to what I was doing, to be proactive rather than reactive. I defined my priorities, got better organised, set daily targets, delegated more and, crucially, allowed myself time to unwind each day, including taking more exercise. These were all things I should have done from the off. It was still tough going, but now I was working at a pace I felt I could sustain.”

Julie, who is writing a book about her mental health struggles during the pandemic, added: “Small business owners are going into 2022 facing ever-rising energy bills, taxes, inflation, labour costs and ongoing supply chain issues … on top of which Covid new variants could pop up anytime. It’s been a hard lesson, but my experiences have taught me that running a company is more than putting in the hours … it’s about working smartly and that means looking after your health.”

SMEs make up 99.9 per cent of businesses in the UK, 96 per cent of which are micro-enterprises employing no more than 10 people. The wellbeing of their owners will, therefore, be critical to the recovery of the British economy.

Worryingly, a study looking at the mental health of small business owners following uncertainty due to the pandemic shows they are far from fit for the coming fray. Of the 500 employers polled, 63 per cent admit to having deprioritised their mental wellbeing because of the pressures running a business and 96 per cent say they keep their stress ‘bottled up’. Nineteen per cent feel like giving up running their business every day. More than two thirds (68 per cent) feel they have

nobody to talk to about their problems, with 43 per cent saying it was because no one understands the pressures they are under. A further 35 per cent do not want to burden others with their worries.

Bottling up stress Kris Ambler, workforce lead at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which commissioned the research, said: “We know how testing the past months have been, especially for small business owners who have had to adjust to new business challenges. The fact so many business owners have deprioritised their mental wellbeing in favour of financial matters and business success is alarming.”

BACP accredited counsellor Michelle Seabrook said: “Whilst the survey results may appear shocking, they are not entirely unexpected. Running a business can be very stressful. I would encourage SME owners to form a ‘wellbeing plan’ akin to a business plan, focusing on what your wellbeing intentions are for the business; how you will support your own and your employees’ mental health. It is unsurprising that business owners prioritise financial success, rather than their wellbeing. It is important to remember that without the owner and the employees, there is no business! A healthy business is not just about having a healthy balance sheet.

“Getting therapeutic support for stress does not mean waiting until crisis point.

Those that have a strategic, proactive approach to managing stress find it easier to intervene early, which means that signs of impaired wellbeing are recognised before they become problematic. This is where accessing independent, qualified therapeutic help can be the game-changer.

By investing in support for your mental health, you are investing in the future of your business.”

Interclean Amsterdam - Europe’s largest professional cleaning event - returns from May 10-13.

Don’t miss ECJ’s special preview of the show in the next edition, April/May

Es wurde viel gesagt über die traumatischen Auswirkungen der Pandemie auf Kleinunternehmen.

Kaum berichtet wurde jedoch über die persönliche Belastung der KMU-Besitzer, die während der Krise nachweislich von ausschlaggebender Bedeutung waren, um die Wirtschaften über Wasser zu halten, schreibt ECJ-Reporter Hartley Milner.

E’ stato detto moltissimo sull’impatto traumatico della pandemia sulle attività di piccole dimensioni.

Non è però stato ampiamente riportato il costo a livello personale che hanno subito i proprietari di piccole e medie imprese che si sono dimostrate così cruciali per mantenere le economie a galla durante la crisi, ce ne parla il corrispondente di ECJ Hartley Milner.

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SCRUBBER DRYERS

Are you ready for evolution?

Cleaning operations are becoming more competitive, while labour shortages and cost pressures present operational and commercial challenges. So the requirement for companies to optimise efficiencies to deliver outstanding service by sourcing efficient cleaning machinery including scrubber dryers, is more important than ever.

Martin Troelsgaard, global head of insights at Nilfisk, outlines how companies can address the issues that are driving evolution in scrubber dryers.

Whilst cleaning machines like scrubbers are responsible for a small percentage of the cost of cleaning - labour costs account for around 80 per cent - it is nonetheless now more important than ever to optimise overall costs and productivity potential by deploying effective scrubber dryers designed to enhance time efficiency from preparation to cleaning and daily maintenance. This can have a real impact on service levels leading to increased business efficiency and ultimately profitability.

Looking to optimise performance, drive efficiencies and therefore managing costs while remaining competitive through the prism of three critical areas: sustainability, technologies, and health & safety - can assist organisations when it comes to addressing the underlying issues of manpower, cost and optimal service levels.

Sustainability CLEANING PROFESSIONALS SEEKING to protect revenues, extend services, and underpin a sustainable future, need to consider and address emerging trends and market demands helping to shape the future of cleaning.

Remaining relevant within an increasingly competitive marketplace necessitates a strategic approach that includes long-term planning to enhance performance optimisation and support the drive for operational efficiencies. Doing so will help companies address some of the current challenges facing cleaning professionals, including acute labour shortages, rising cost pressures and staff churn.

As the world reacts to the lasting impact of the Covid pandemic, the vital importance of effective cleaning regimes is being recognised by many and demand for third party cleaning services is on the rise. Companies that have carefully considered the emerging trends and reviewed how best they can deliver a sustainable, efficient, attractive, and safe work environment, will be the ones best placed to benefit from the expected heightened levels of demand for well-run operations.

40 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

In this environment sustainability is vital for businesses to stay relevant and competitive in the market. Sustainability is becoming a key driver and prerequisite for businesses when it comes to cleaning, as it is in other sectors too.

Satisfying customer sustainability demands is growing in importance on one level, but it is also becoming a businesscritical issue for companies through its potential impact on the bottom line, in terms of managing costs and increasing commercial revenue. In the current market, businesses are increasingly looking at environmental impact as another area where costs need to be managed and therefore need to be as sustainable as possible, it’s going to be increasingly expensive not to do so. This is a crucial driver for manufacturers as well as cleaning operators.

As well as considering higher resource consumption and how technology can help improve sustainability. Cost-effectiveness and external presentation play an important role. To do justice to the increasing public awareness of climate and environment-related issues, it is important to rely on well-thought-out operational measures and the use of suit-

able equipment.

There is a chain of demands when it comes to sustainability, with clients of commercial cleaning facing growing attention from the public, their stakeholders and regulators. This then passes to commercial cleaning companies and then cleaning machine manufacturers. Businesses in all sectors are now more aware than ever of their own environmental responsibilities and the need to ensure their daily operations and third-party services they use consistently follows the sustainability-led ambitions they proclaim.

There are growing demands and expectations on commercial cleaning companies to be proactively transparent about sustainability and offer ‘green cleaning solutions’ to support compliance and live up to the increasing demands placed on their clients. The commercial importance of sustainability will only grow and this will have a knock-on effect throughout the cleaning supply chain.

Commercial cleaning companies must increasingly be prepared to match such ambitions and demands and display how the procedures they adopt and the technology solutions they use are making a positive difference. It goes beyond the simple limiting of water and detergent levels when carrying out cleaning services – it extends to the adoption of a more holistic outlook that encompasses all aspects of cleaning operations.

Interest in the concept of ‘cradle to cradle’ for equipment used within the cleaning industry is on the increase and manufacturers need to be able to respond with accurate and substantiated information around the equipment life cycle choices they are making.

The market is posing more specific questions of their scrubber dryer suppliers and manufacturers and is actively asking about the type of equipment use. Cleaning and facility managers may well begin to be probed more frequently about the performance and life cycle of the equipment they use. What happens to the machine

SCRUBBER DRYERS

after use? Does it help to tackle emission levels? Customers could also enquire how cleaning materials are sourced, how does the manufacturing process work, what about the levels of plastic used in the packaging and how much energy, water and chemicals are being consumed?

Is, for example, the manufacturer looking to deploy new and emerging types of detergents that are less environmentally damaging?

It’s important to understand where it can fit in the circular economy. Can the equipment be recycled? Is it energy efficient? What are the repairability and serviceability credentials that can increase the lifetime of the scrubber dryer?

Repairability is a key issue for when it comes to both sustainability and cost management. Where we can keep scrubber dryers operational with timely maintenance and service, we avoid machines going to landfill. There’s an increasing demand on producers to incorporate this in their designs, for example by making key components easily replaceable, to keep machine performance quality high, downtime low and prolong machine lifetime.

This way, a number of cost-reduction benefit drivers such as minimising risks of cleaning operations disruptions and the need for full machine replacements go hand in hand with driving a focus on sustainability and lowering the environmental impact of cleaning.

In relation to this, machine serviceability and how it ultimately underpins sustainability ambitions is critical.

The emergence of demands for ‘plug and play’ solutions, where machine service costs are included and companies do not face unexpected or unwanted additional costs, is set to gain traction.

Robotic cleaning solutions There is a strong and emerging interest in the use of autonomous - also known as cleaning robots - solutions from within the cleaning sector and from its customer base. Mindful of the extreme pressures caused by current labour shortages and associated costs of labour, autonomous solutions can help to fill gaps and save time for businesses seeking to maintain service standards whilst grappling with Les entreprises de propreté cherchent à optimiser l’emploi de leurs ressources et à réaliser des gains de rendement un peu partout alors qu’elles affrontent des pénuries de main-d’œuvre et doivent accroître la durabilité de leurs opérations. Dans ce rapport spécial, nous observons les tendances de la durabilité face à l’offre d’autolaveuses et examinons l’évolution vers des gains de santé et de sécurité.

manpower resource issues.

Such machines require minimal human assistance and are becoming increasingly popular within commercial and industrial environments. Expected to continue to become increasingly popular, companies are being attracted to autonomous solutions such as floor scrubber dryers because of several benefits.

They include the ability for scrubber dryers to cover large floor areas, freeing up cleaning staff time to concentrate on more laborious manual tasks that require a human touch, these high-value tasks provide a higher return on investment, as well as the guarantee of consistent results.

Autonomous cleaning solutions can help businesses address labour shortages and costs and productivity as well as improving consistency, giving them opportunities to optimise their cleaning processes and associated energy consumption.

Connected digital services can provide data-based actionable insights about cleaning machine status, mapping of cleaning activity and performance. There are also maintenance benefits for cleaning companies, as autonomous solutions can enable preventative and predictive maintenance, for example through customisable alerts about performance and service needs, resulting in less unplanned downtime and helping businesses to manage costs.

Finally, this technology also documents proof of clean as clients increasingly want transparency about services delivered according to contract and data to reassure customers’ cleaning has taken place in light of the new cleaning requirements raised by the pandemic.

The adoption of a more autonomousbased business model may be a challenge for some within the cleaning sector. There is a need to balance the cost of labour with technology costs and, for some, the high upfront equipment costs can be a barrier.

This is particularly the case in markets where labour costs are low and there needs to be a clear business case which balances the costs with the benefits. As the technology evolves and becomes cheaper this will likely become less of an issue and autonomous scrubbers will become more accessible.

With uncertainties associated with labour management and high staff turnover, embracing the potential benefits of autonomous cleaning solutions can help to offset such challenges and enable businesses to maintain service standards and competitive ability.

Reinigungsunternehmen suchen immer nach Möglichkeiten, um ihre Ressourcen zu optimieren und ihre Betriebsabläufe effizienter zu gestalten, während sie gleichzeitig mit Arbeitskräftemangel und der Forderung nach mehr Nachhaltigkeit konfrontiert werden. In diesem Sonderbericht werfen wir einen Blick auf die wichtigsten Nachhaltigkeitstrends bei Scheuersaugmaschinen und untersuchen den Trend zu besserer Gesundheit und Sicherheit.

Le imprese di pulizia stanno cercando di ottimizzare le loro risorse e aumentare le efficienze in tutte le loro attività, mentre affrontano anche la carenza di personale e la necessità di essere più sostenibili.

In questo servizio speciale, prendiamo in esame le tendenze principali di sostenibilità relative alle lavasciuga pavimenti e indaghiamo sulla tendenza verso una migliore salute e sicurezza.

Health & safety Attracting and retaining employees continues to be a major issue within the cleaning sector. With renumeration levels perceived to be relatively consistent across companies – and with high staff turnover a constant (and costly) challenge as workers migrate between businesses, the focus can fall on the working environment to offer a competitive advantage that attracts and retains staff numbers.

The ability of companies to reduce the physical strains of cleaning routines and use cleaning technology solutions such as ride-on scrubber dryers, not only delivers better health and safety outcomes for workforces, but it will also reduce company insurance costs, incidences of injury-related compensation claims, and contribute to a lowering of staffing turnover.

Design-led ergonomics, delivering cleaning scrubbers that are intuitive, comfortable and safe to use and maintain, can help separate businesses from the competition when it comes to convincing potential staff to join cleaning teams.

As well as having health and safety implications, it also fosters the establishment of an inclusive working environment that is important for all businesses. It is more crucial than ever machine design considers the diversity of people in the workplace and allows for optimal adjustability and accommodation to different body sizes and ages in every aspect of user interaction. As the cleaning workforce dwindles in numbers and ages in many countries around the world this will become even more important.

The business of cleaning needs to pivot to deal with sustainability, evolving automation and employee-related health and safety challenges. Those that do will be best placed to secure new and emerging commercial opportunities as sourcing effective cleaning service solutions become a business priority for many organisations.

February/March 2022 | ECJ | 41

The new i-mop is here We’re in the cloud

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Antibacterial recovery tank

troduce the newest upgrades for i-mop XL and XXL.

i-link (XL & XXL Pro) Lift kit (XL & XXL Pro)

The upgrades result in many new advantages. But

Stop & Go parking (XXL Pro)

one thing didn’t change: i-mop is the fastest and most

Compatible with i-scent pod (XXL Pro)

efficient choices for cleaning floors.

Detachable vacuum motor (XXL Pro)

Seeing is believing: For more information or a demo contact your local i-team partner or visit us at www.i-teamglobal.com

PRODUCTS: SCRUBBER DRYERS

• Diversey prône les économies exceptionnelles de temps, d’énergie, d’eau et de produits chimiques de sa gamme d’autolaveuses Ultimaxx.

• La nouvelle autolaveuse SC5000 de Nilfisk pour superficies moyennes est capable d’accroître la productivité de 30 pour cent.

• LionsBot a introduit le Rex, un robot de nettoyage des sols de taille King Size.

• Kärcher considère que son ensemble BR 30/4 C Bp offre une alternative hygiénique au nettoyage au balai-éponge.

• La TooLav 350B d’Eurosteam est une petite machine devant servir dans les endroits d’accès difficile.

• L’autolaveuse autoportée Hako Scrubmaster B400 R a été conçue pour travailler sur de très grandes superficies.

• ICE Cobotics propose l’autoaveuse i15B Auto pour espaces restreints.

• Laut Diversey bieten die neuen Scheuersaugmaschinen der Produktfamilie Ultimaxx verbesserte Zeit-, Energie-, Wasser- und Chemikalieneinsparungen.

• Die neue Scheuersaugmaschine SC5000 von Nilfisk wurde für mittelgroße Flächen konzipiert und kann die Produktivität um bis zu 30 Prozent steigern.

• Bei Rex handelt es sich um den neuen, besonders großen, autonomen Bodenscheuerroboter von LionsBot. • Laut Kärcher ist der akkubetriebene BR 30/4 C Bp Pack eine hygienische Alternative zum Reinigen mit einem Mopp.

• Bei der TooLav 350B von Eurosteam handelt es sich um eine kleine Maschine, die für schwer zugängliche Bereiche konzipiert wurde.

• Die Aufsitz-Scheuersaugmaschine Scrubmaster B400 R von Hako wurde für sehr große Flächen konzipiert.

• Die kompakte Scheuermaschine i15B Auto von ICE Cobotics wurde für den Einsatz in kleinen Bereichen konzipiert.

• La Diversey afferma che la sua nuova linea di lavasciuga pavimenti Ultimaxx offre nuovi livelli di risparmio di tempo, energia, acqua e prodotti chimici.

• La nuova lavasciuga pavimenti SC5000 della Nilfisk adatta per aree di medie dimensioni è in grado di aumentare la produttività del 30 per cento.

• Rex è il nuovo robot autonomo kings-size per il lavaggio dei pavimenti prodotto dalla LionsBot. • La Kärcher afferma che la sua macchina alimentata a batteria BR 30/4 C Bp Pack è un’alternativa igienica alla pulizia effettuata con il mop.

• TooLav 350B prodotta dalla Eurosteam è una macchina di piccole dimensioni progettata per gli spazi di difficile accesso.

• Con la lavasciuga pavimenti con operatore a bordo Scrubmaster B400 R, la Hako soddisfa le necessità della pulizia di aree molto grandi.

• La lavasciuga pavimenti compatta i15B Auto Scrubber prodotta dalla ICE Cobotics è progettata per gli spazi di piccole dimensioni.

44 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

Modular models Diversey says its new scrubbers coming in 2022 have been designed with efficiency and sustainable consumption based on smart technology in mind.

The TASKI Ultimaxx range offers 30 per cent and 40 per cent improvements in battery and water autonomy respectively.

These machines’ completely customisable modular solution enables different cleaning processes in different environments. And harnessing intelligent technology delivers ultraefficiency and predictive insight 24 hours a day - according to Diversey. Remote management reduces servicing, prevents breakdowns and lowers downtime costs.

TASKI Ultimaxx scrubbers will also reduce time, energy, water, chemical and consumable consumption says Diversey.. www.diversey.com

Productivity

King-size robot

The Rex is LionsBot’s new ‘kingsize’ autonomous scrubbing robot, designed for large commercial spaces. Said to be adept at navigating tight corners, this machine has a brush width of 81 cm and a turning radius of 2.5 metres. Both the water tank and wastewater tank are 140 litres.

LionsBot claims that despite having the same footprint as other robots in its size class, Rex has a 23 per cent bigger cleaning width, holds 23 per cent more fresh water, and has 30 per cent more cleaning efficiency.

Battery runtime is eight to 10 hours, with a maximum speed of 1.4 metres per second - so 4,032 square metres per hour cleaning. Two 16-inch brushes deliver up to 80 kg downward brush pressure. There is also a chemical dosing system and a defoamer cleaning system. www.lionsbot.com

More efficient

The new SC5000 scrubber dryer from Nilfisk is designed for medium-sized production and storage areas as well as in car parks and retail outlets. It boasts around 30 per cent more productivity per tank filling than comparable models, thanks to a tank capacity of 140 litres, an operating speed of up to 8.5 kilometres per hour and a maximum battery runtime of four-and-a-half hours.

Even on inclines of up to 12 per cent, the disc (86 cm working width) or cylindrical brush versions (81 or 91 cm working width) of the SC5000 completely remove dust and dirt from the ground says Nilfisk.

Handling is intuitive and there are other safety features. www.nilfisk.com

The BR 30/4 C Bp Pack is a lightweight scrubber dryer boasting a battery runtime of half an hour. This makes it a hygienic alternative to cleaning floors with a mop, says manufacturer Kärcher.

The compact and cordless design means corners and tight spaces are easy to access and furniture safely avoided. Thanks to the exchangeable battery, the BR 30/4 C Bp Pack can be used through several work shifts.

Even with one battery, several application cycles are possible in one day, as the battery can be recharged in one hour. www.karcher.com

Small spaces The TooLav 350B scrubber dryer from Eurosteam is designed for use in areas of up to 1,050 square metres. Thanks to its small size it is easily transportable and can be used anywhere - including along walls and under furniture - thanks to its side-mounted scrubbing tray.

All parts on the 350B that require daily maintenance have been designed for easy access and quick cleaning, and the battery charger is integrated into the machine. The anti-tracking wheel means no tracks are left on the floor, even when wet. eurosteam.fr

Large areas For large-scale applications Hako developed the Scrubmaster B400 R Series of ride-on scrubber dryers and combination scrubber dryers/vacuum sweepers. These can clean up to 14,000 square metres per hour thanks to the large solution and recovery tank as well as maximised battery capacity.

This line is suitable for a wide range of applications with its three variants, three-disc brush units available in two different working widths of 123 and 155 cm, various extras as standard as well as numerous individual extras and tools. www.hako.com

Many corners The new i15B auto scrubber from ICE Cobotics is a lightweight machine for cleaning of small spaces with many corners.

Its light weight means it is easily transported, it has a gear-driven brush motor, maintenance free AGM battery and can clean up to 1,250 square metres per hour.

The i15B has a cleaning path of 91 cm and an easy-to-move squeegee for optimum drying.

The large opening on the recovery tank makes cleaning easy. www.icecobotics.com

WASHROOM HYGIENE

His, hers and theirs “I’M JUST POPPING TO THE LADIES.” “I’m heading for the gents”. Or: “I’m going to the men’s”. Such phrases have become such common parlance that the speaker rarely feels the need to add the word ‘washroom’ or ‘toilet’ after using them.

In most countries in modern society it is taken as read that all washrooms in public buildings will be segregated into gents’ and ladies’ facilities. But why does this need to be the case?

Separate washrooms actually have historical credentials: they date back to the 19th century when ladies were generally deemed to be modest and virtuous.

As a result the fairer sex obviously needed to be protected from ‘predatory males’ which is why public washrooms had to be divided into gents’ and ladies’ facilities to ensure the safety of women.

But times have changed and we are now living in a much more inclusive society. Today’s women fully expect and demand equal status to men whether it is at home, at work or in social situations.

Meanwhile, the non-binary community has begun to challenge the whole idea of needing to declare one’s gender before venturing into a public facility. So, is it time to make unisex washrooms the default option in today’s rapidly-evolving society?

Yes, absolutely, according to Hagleitner’s head of product management Stefanie Hagleitner. “To my mind it is a shame that a need as basic as going to the toilet in public spaces still poses a problem for non-binary and transgender people,” she said. “Everyone - regardless of class, age, ethnicity, religious background and of course, gender identity - should be able to use a toilet without having to experience any kind of dysphoria.”

She believes gender-neutral washrooms offer many advantages over segregated facilities. “First off, they help to eradicate gender discrimination while promoting equality in public spaces,” she said. “They also remove any worry that parents and caregivers might have when taking children or less abled people of the

opposite sex into the toilet with them. And the same holds true for members of the cleaning staff who would feel less uncomfortable when bumping into members of the opposite sex in a unisex washroom.”

According to Hagleitner it is quite common for disproportionately long queues to form outside ladies’ facilities despite the fact they offer the same capacity as the gents’. “This is of course due to the fact that men have access to urinals,” she said.

“The ideal gender-neutral washroom would feature a row of enclosed toilet cubicles with floor-to-ceiling walls and doors to preserve individual privacy. And there should be a shared, open-plan washing area. In fact, these types of communal washing zones have actually proved successful in promoting hand hygiene practices among washroom users and are therefore helping to create a safer and more hygienic environment.”

Cover all needs She adds each cubicle should be equipped with a toilet paper dispenser, a toilet seat disinfectant dispenser, a sanitary bag dispenser and a waste bin.

“These would cover the needs of all genders,” she said. “The toilet seat disinfectant dispenser enables people to sanitise the seating surface before using the toilet, and this also comes in handy if droplets of urine go astray.

“However, I think it is reasonable to assume that people would show more consideration for each other in a mixedgender environment, and this would automatically lead to cleaner washrooms compared with same-sex toilets.”

Hagleitner has noticed a growing interest in establishing gender-neutral washrooms in recent years, particularly in educational institutions. She adds the company’s washroom products that include air fresheners, fragrances, soaps, lotions and dispensers have been designed to appeal to everyone.

Replacing gents’ and ladies’ washrooms with gender-neutral facilities would definitely have space-saving advantages, says

Will gender-neutral washrooms soon become the norm in our increasingly equal society?

ECJ considers the pros and cons of unisex toilets and asks providers whether or not they believe these to be the future of public washrooms.

Essity’s communications director Renée Remijnse. “Offering unisex toilets makes washroom provision less complex for everyone while also reducing the risk of congestion during busy periods,” she said.

“This is because everyone would have the option to use all the available toilets.”

But while it is clear that gender-neutral washrooms offer several key advantages over segregated alternatives, there has been a marked backlash against unisex facilities in some quarters.

In schools and universities for example – both in Europe and beyond - there has been a growing trend to combine the men’s and women’s washrooms and offer gender-neutral alternatives. But in September 2021, a UK school was forced into a U-turn after the head teacher received dozens of complaints about a decision to combine the boys’ and girls’ toilets. Parents were horrified when the washrooms at Moredon Primary School in Swindon went unisex without being modified in any way. This meant the urinals remained in use in the boys’ toilets despite the fact that girls were now allowed in.

During the same autumn term a second school in Scotland was also forced to change tack after removing all its singlesex washrooms. Parents of students at Culloden Academy were shocked to discover that its facilities had become gender-neutral during the summer holidays, which meant 11-year-old girls were now obliged to share the same toilet space as 18-year-old boys.

Continued page 46

February/March 2022 | ECJ | 45

WASHROOM HYGIENE His, hers and theirs (continued) And plans to install gender neutral facilities in UK government buildings were recently scrapped after proving to be highly unpopular, particularly with women.

A YouGov poll discovered that fewer than one in 20 women supported the replacement of men’s and women’s lavatories with gender-neutral ones. Common complaints among women were that the gents’ were “too smelly” and that they felt embarrassed using the washroom when men were present.

So in view of these negative reports, do our commentators feel there are any disadvantages to unisex facilities? Hagleitner’s Stefanie Hagleitner says no, provided they are properly designed and equipped.

“Features such as fully-enclosed toilet Les toilettes publiques sont de plus en plus nombreuses à être ouvertes aux deux sexes. Toutefois, cela n’est pas absolument certain. On parle en effet d’une réaction contre les toilettes hommes et femmes en raison de préoccupations entourant l’intimité, les situations embarrassantes et les risques de sécurité. Les toilettes neutres sur le plan du genre appartiennent-elles à l’avenir, où va-t-on en rester aux toilettes distinctes pour les hommes et les femmes ? De toute façon, dans quelle mesure ces toilettes vont-elles être différentes des autres à notre époque d’égalité sociale croissante ?

46 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

cubicles, an open-plan hand washing area and waste bins and sanitary bag dispensers are all a must,” she said.

Essity’s Renée Remijnse does admit to some misgivings about going completely gender neutral, however. “Some people use washrooms in order to unwind and patch up their make-up, and these people might feel uncomfortable in a mixed environment,” she said. “More space would also be required in a toilet that featured cubicles only, while the continued provision of urinals could prove awkward for women in gender-neutral washrooms.

She adds unisex toilets can often be a good idea depending on the environment in question. “Public washrooms are more functional, so gender-neutral facilities

might be more appropriate here. But if these were to become unisex there would need to be good behaviour around toilet seat etiquette.”

Remijnse feels the key focus must be on washrooms that provide access to everyone rather than homing in on the male versus female discussion. “This also incorporates people with temporary disabilities, arthritis, injuries and parents with young children,” she said.

“Washrooms must offer the best experience while fulfilling the comfort, design and privacy needs of everyone in the building. Providers should be thinking about their users first and while unisex requirements need to be a part of the debate, in the end it is about hygiene for all.”

Immer mehr Waschräume werden geschlechtsneutral.

Oder doch nicht? Gab es aufgrund von Bedenken in Bezug auf Privatsphäre, Verlegenheit und Sicherheit eine Gegenreaktion gegen geschlechtsneutrale Waschräume?

Gehört geschlechtsneutralen Waschräumen die Zukunft, oder bleiben uns getrennte Einrichtungen erhalten? Und wie verschieden müssen die Einrichtungen für Herren und Damen in der heutigen, gleichgestellteren Gesellschaft überhaupt noch sein?

Un numero sempre maggiore di sale da toilette stanno diventando di genere neutro. Oppure no? C’è stata una forte reazione contro le sale da toilette a genere neutro per via dei timori per la privacy, l’imbarazzo e la sicurezza?

Le toilette a genere neutro saranno il futuro oppure i bagni segregati sono destinati a rimanere? E in ogni caso, in che modo i bagni per gli uomini devono differire da quelli per le donne nella odierna più equa società?

PRODUCTS: WASHROOM HYGIENE

Cool fragrance

Bamboo tissue

A new fragrance - Ice Cool - has been added to Vectair Systems’ Professional Passive Programme, the range of recyclable hygiene products.

The crisp scent of Ice Cool is a delicate balance of musk and floral, creating a universal fragrance says Vectair. It’s available across a range of passive products, from urinal screens to the wall air freshener.

Cheeky Panda says it is always seeking to bring more innovation to its carbon balanced bamboo range of tissue.

Among its products are dispensers and two-ply bamboo paper products for mini jumbo/ jumbo and bulk pack toilet rolls along with Z/V fold hand towels.

In 2020 the company changed all its paper hygiene products packaging to plastic-free and launched some individually boxed toilet rolls to cut back even more on packaging.

Cheeky Panda products are fully made from bamboo that grows 30 times faster than trees, absorbs 35 per cent more carbon and releases 30 per cent more oxygen. uk.cheekypanda.com

Ice Cool is available in the following products: Airloop Toilet Bowl Clip, P-Screen 60 Day Triple Action Urinal Screen, V-Air SOLID Evolution Multi-Phasing Air Freshener and Wee-Screen 30 Day Urinal Screen. www.vectairsystems.com

Optimum hygiene Papernet has been focusing on the development of solutions that raise levels of hygiene in

• Ice Cool est la nouvelle fragrance du programme professionnel Passif des produits recyclables de Vectair Systems.

• Cheeky Panda a remplacé tout l’emballage de ses produits d’hygiène en papier pour n’utiliser que du matériau sans matières plastiques.

• L’Universus proposé par Papernet est un distributeur unique compatible avec tous les rouleaux de papier.

the washroom. Its multipurpose Fast&Clean paper wipers, for example, form part of the Defend Tech range for quick and practical cleaning of any surface.

Only for You is an individually sealed toilet roll wrapped in antibacterial poly and designed to meet the demands of the hotel sector. And Mini Defend hand sanitising gel contains over 70 per cent alcohol.

Universus, meanwhile, is a single dispenser compatible with all rolls of paper and made entirely of antibacterial and recycled plastic to ensure optimum hygiene. Available in manual and no-touch versions. www.papernet.com

• Ice Cool ist der neue Duft im Professional Passive Programme mit recycelbaren Produkten von Vectair Systems.

• Cheeky Panda hat die Verpackung sämtlicher Papierhygieneprodukte auf plastikfrei umgestellt.

• Bei Universus von Papernet handelt es sich um einen Einzelspender, der mit allen Papierrollen kompatibel ist.

• Ice Cool è la nuova fragranza della gamma di prodotti riciclabili Professional Passive Programme della Vectair Systems.

• La Cheeky Panda ha cambiato tutte le confezioni dei suoi prodotti per l’igiene in carta per eliminarne la plastica.

• Universus della Papernet è un dispenser singolo compatibile con tutti i tipi di rotoli di carta.

February/March 2022 | ECJ | 47

PRODUCTS: WASHROOM HYGIENE

• Les distributeurs d’hygiène des mains LumeCel AutoFoam de Rubbermaid sont à mains libres et sans batterie.

• Comme produit nouveau, JVD propose une gamme de distributeurs en acier inoxydable résistant aux actes de vandalisme.

• Faisant partie de sa gamme de distributeurs en acier inox, SCIServices présente des systèmes de distribution à capteur.

• P-Wave propose trois assainisseurs d’air passifs dont les recharges sont recyclables à 100 pour cent.

• La Dan Dryer Column est un nouveau poste de désinfection des mains pour aires à forte fréquentation.

• Essity prône la convivialité de ses produits Tork pour toilettes collectives, que tous peuvent utiliser sans problème, quel que soit leur âge ou dextérité.

• Le système de contrôle des odeurs Oxygen-Pro utilise des cartouches à essence de fragrance pure

• Die Handhygienespender LumeCel AutoFoam von Rubbermaid arbeiten berührungslos und batterielos.

• Neu von JVD ist eine Produktreihe mit Waschraumspendern aus Edelstahl, die außerdem vandalensicher sind.

• Neu von SCI-Services sind mehrere Spendersysteme mit Sensorsteuerung in der EdelstahlProduktfamilie.

• P-Wave bietet drei passive Lufterfrischer, und alle Nachfüllpackungen sind 100 % recycelbar.

• Die Dan Dryer Column ist eine neue Händedesinfektionsstation für den Einsatz in stark frequentierten Bereichen.

• Laut Essity sind alle Tork Waschraumprodukte für alle leicht zu benutzen, unabhängig von Alter oder Fertigkeit.

• Das Geruchskontrollsystem Oxygen-Pro verfügt über Patronen, die reines Duftöl enthalten.

• I dispenser per l’igiene delle mani LumeCel AutoFoam prodotti dalla Rubbermaid sono touch-free e senza batterie.

• La novità della JVD è una gamma di dispenser in acciaio inossidabile per i bagni pubblici che è anche resistente ai vandalismi.

• La novità della SCI-Services è un assortimento di sistemi dispenser a sensore presenti nella sua gamma in acciaio inossidabile • La P-Wave offre tre deodoranti inerti per ambienti i cui ricambi sono riciclabili al cento per cento.

• Dan Dryer Column è una nuova stazione per i disinfettanti per le mani adatta alle zone a traffico elevato.

• La Essity afferma che i suoi prodotti per sale da bagno Tork sono facili da usare per chiunque, indipendentemente dall’età o dalla manualità.

• Il sistema di controllo degli odori Oxygen-Pro è dotato di cartucce che contengono olii essenziali di fragranza.

48 | February/March 2022 | ECJ

Touch-free

Hygiene for all

Lumecel AutoFoam touch-free dispensers from Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) are powered by a rechargeable energy system that captures energy from any indoor or natural light source, meaning no batteries are required.

Tork washroom products are easy to use for everyone – regardless of their age or dexterity, according to Essity.

For example, the Tork Skincare Dispenser has been given the seal of approval by the Swedish Rheumatism Association because it requires a particularly low push-force to access the soap inside. This makes it accessible to all washroom visitors from small children to the frail and elderly.

The Tork SmartOne Toilet Paper System combines ease of use with hygiene because the paper is withdrawn from a nozzle at the front of the unit.

Besides robust Multifold dispensers, there are two papercut solutions, one with an automatic straight cut and one with a sensor. Various toilet tissue dispensers and a paper bin complete the range. www.sci-services.ch

Passive solution To avoid contamination there is a range of hygienically sealed refills and one refill offers up to 2,750 doses of soap or sanitiser. www.rubbermaid.eu

Stainless steel JVD has a stainless steel line of dispensers, comprising gel dispenser, paper dispenser, hand towel and wall mounted bin.

Vandal-resistant and incorporating antibacterial and antifingerprint treatments, these units are designed for the most demanding environments. The steel has also been treated with antioxidant to make it corrosionproof, ensuring its longevity. www.jvd.fr

P-Wave offers three passive air fresheners, which are easily recyclable, don’t require batteries and avoid the use of potentially harmful aerosols.

The Eco Air freshener is highly fragranced while the P-Curve is easy to install and the Hang Tag

contains 100 per cent more fragrance than other air fresheners, says the company.

All air freshener refills are 100 per cent recyclable. p-wave.co.uk

Sanitiser column

Sensor system SCI-Services has added some sensor dispensing systems to its range of stainless steel products. There is a sensor soap dispenser with a capacity of 900 ml and a paper cut dispenser for touch-free paper supply.

The company offers many soap dispensing solutions, either with cartridges or a refill tank.

Manual or touch-free, units come with a liquid, foam, or spray pump.

The latest product from Dan Dryer is the Column, a hand hygiene sanitiser station for use not only in washrooms but in lobbies and high-traffic public areas such as airports, hospitals, shopping centres and train stations.

The Dan Dryer Column has a large capacity five-litre tank which means fewer refills, and it’s highly visible. Because it is sturdy it will not be knocked over and there’s also some storage space inside.

Two sizes are available one for adults and one for children. The unit comes in black and white as standards, and there are branding possibilities with space for logos, text and images. www.dandryer.com

And the Tork PeakServe Continuous Hand Towel Dispenser requires a particularly low pullforce and enables the user to take out a towel quickly. www.tork.co.uk

Eliminate odours Oxy-Gen Powered says the patented medical grade technology used in its air fresheners uses 2AA alkaline batteries that last up to a year, to deliver consistent fragrance levels throughout the cartridge life.

The Oxygen-Pro programmable system consistently releases a precise dose of fresh fragrance oil to that fragrance levels remain constant for the 30, 60, or 90 days selected.

All cartridges are recyclable at the end of their life and OxygenPro is also a Carbon Footprint approved product.

There are no added solvents and no alcohols, and the cartridges are not pressurised. www.oxygenpowered.com

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