Cleenol is a leading manufacturer and supplier of cleaning and hygiene solutions for the domestic, commercial and industrial markets. Managing Director Sam Greaves and CSR Lead Steph Reece discussed the company’s sustainability strategy, as well as the Cleenol in the Community initiative. Report by Antonia Cole.
Sustainability is at the core of Cleenol’s values, Managing Director Sam Greaves stated: “We are very proud to have recently achieved EU Ecolabel certification on our products. As a B Corp accredited company, it is important that we continuously improve our environmental standards. We want to push not only ourselves, but the rest of the industry, to adopt more sustainable practices.”
The roots of Cleenol date back over 300 years, with a family of timber merchants in Birmingham. They supplied timber, built canals and then built boats for the canals before beginning to transport coal on the boats. Through this, they
developed a relationship with Shell Group, which asked Mr Greaves’ grandfather to manufacture a detergent called Teepol. From this, Cleenol was born.
Established 75 years ago, Cleenol was a regional family business for the first 30 years of operations. Mr Greaves’ father took the company national, then 15 years ago, Mr Greaves made it international. The company was one of the first to bring super concentrate cleaning chemicals to the US. This innovation is not only cost effective, but also minimises packaging, benefitting the environment.
Cleenol operates across two sites in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The first is a 50,000ft2 logistics hub and the other is a 30,000ft2 factory. Over the past five years, the factory has grown from an
operational capacity of 16 million to 66 million litres. The company is constantly investing in facility improvements, enhancing efficiency and service.
Rinsing off
For over 14 years, Cleenol has been ISO 14001 accredited, highlighting the company’s longstanding commitment to environmental protection. Cleenol is currently trialling rainwater harvesting to be used to dilute the company’s effluent. This will reduce the concentration of pollutants in wastewater and minimise Cleenol’s environmental impact.
In addition to this, the company is replacing lighting with LED bulbs. These bulbs do not contain toxic materials, are recyclable and significantly more energy efficient. Using LEDs can result in a carbon footprint reduction of up to a third, in comparison to conventional fluorescent bulbs.
“Although they seem simple, these projects will have a huge positive impact on the company’s sustainability,” explained CSR Lead Steph Reece. “We are constantly looking for ways in which we can reduce our impact. The journey to sustainability is
constantly evolving and it’s important for us to continuously implement new environmental measures, making sure we are doing our best for the planet.”
The company also plans to install solar panels, reducing reliance on non-renewable forms of energy, and is looking to install electric vehicle charging points to encourage the prevention of harmful transport emissions.
As well as implementing measures to reduce energy consumption, Cleenol is focusing on minimising the impact of waste in practices. Working with a third-party recycling company, Cleenol engages in the appropriate disposal of waste. From hazardous chemicals to clear plastic, the company is careful to process waste in a manner that respects the environment.
Cleenol’s range of super concentrated chemicals also contribute to the company’s sustainability strategy, extending environmental measures to its customer-base. This range is incredibly sustainable as it allows an 80% reduction in the use of plastic in packaging. The greater amount of product
also prevents the need for as many deliveries, minimising transport emissions. Cleenol is looking to concentrate more products in future.
“A large environmental impact of many companies is shipping overseas,” added Mr Greaves. “We’ve started to work with local distributors and set up factories in the countries we commonly export to. Now, we have factories in Dubai, Mauritius, Ghana and hopefully one in South Africa soon. We are shipping around a 20th of what we used to, which has reduced our impact massively.”
Cleaning with meaning
As well as protecting the environment, the company has recently launched Cleenol in the Community (CIC) to support local people in Banbury. CIC reinvests profits back into the community, promoting a culture of care, support and growth.
The three main goals of CIC are to create employment opportunities for those facing barriers to work, to increase awareness and the adoption of environ mental practices and to contribute to projects that support the health and wellbeing of the community.
“There’s a lot we’re working to achieve within CIC,” commented Ms Reece. “We hope to have a local community centre built within the next five years. The centre will not only promote health and wellness, but offer educational opportunities and foster a sense of belonging for local people. This is what CIC is all about, building community.”
Additionally, there are plans to employ two social care workers within CIC, to support the local community. The other members of Cleenol’s staff are given the opportunity to participate
in a charitable day to give back to the local area. This allows the company to engage with local residents, businesses and disadvantaged groups.
Businesses have an obligation to support the communities where they operate, Mr Greaves added: “It’s up to us to look after the families of people that use our products and who work for us. At Cleenol, we really do prioritise people. CIC gives us the opportunity to make a difference within the community and set a standard for other companies to follow.”
Project 75 is Cleenol’s initiative to celebrate 75 years in operation. The company has 75 members of staff participating in events aiming to raise £75,000 for three
local charities. Projects like this highlight Cleenol’s commitment to charity and helping others.
Polishing up
Cleenol supplies to the hospitality, education and healthcare sectors, all of which serve the general public and require high levels of hygiene. These industries protect the wellbeing of communities and Cleenol ensures the health and safety of workers, patients, students, customers and more.
The company is not only passionate about offering high-quality products but providing attentive and efficient customer service. Within Cleenol’s in-house technical lab, the company has four chemists who are able to support and solve issues for customers and suppliers.
“We work with clients, partners and suppliers whose values align with our own,” said Mr Greaves. “It is so important to us that sustainability and the wellbeing of people are prevalent throughout every part of the supply chain. Schumacher Packaging is a company that shares our passion for sustainability, it’s great to work with companies like that.”
“Everyone at Cleenol wants the best for the planet and our community,” added Ms Reece, in conclusion. “With such a huge team, it’s great to see so many people work together towards a common goal.”
Cleenol’s vision is to create a cleaner and safer world. Working with communities, partners and customers internationally, the company hopes to inspire a more sustainable industry for the future. n
