Balancing between hygiene and sustainability

 

COVID-19 has created a huge demand for disposable products, single-use wipers and plastic PPE – all items previously frowned upon by sustainability experts. How do we strike a balance?

 

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Specialised Cleaning
 
October 20, 2022
 
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Balancing between hygiene and sustainability
 

The use of disposable products and PPE saw a drastic surge during the pandemic. But is the increased use of plastic and PPE sustainable? How do a facility owner or manager strike the balance between hygiene and sustainability?

Sustainable measures have gathered momentum, particularly in the cleaning industry in recent years.  Manufacturers now focus on manufacturing eco-friendly products and packaging, equipment manufacturers are ensuring they adopt technologies that have a minimal effect on the environment.

But all said and done, COVID-19 has created a huge demand for disposable products, single-use wipers and plastic PPE – all items previously frowned upon by sustainability experts. 

The solution is to have highly effective solutions in place that prioritize both hygiene and sustainability.

Adrienne Doolan, CEO Green Touches Cleaning Services

Let us define “Hygiene”

According to the World Health Organization, "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases." Let us define “Sustainability”:

Sustainability consists of fulfilling the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations, while ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental care, and social well-being. I did not have to dwell on the title matter “striking a balance between hygiene and sustainability” or even give it a second thought because in my opinion, experience and practice, hygiene and sustainability go hand in hand. I believe there is no balance to strike. But without commitment to our environment and embracing 21st century cleaning methodology, you will not achieve this balance.

As a provider of sustainable green cleaning, our programme at Green Touches provides us with the perfect balance between hygiene and sustainability. We achieve this by using our own produced natural products with nanotechnology, combined with clean technology machines, providing top hygiene standards, cleaning for health & wellness, ensuring excellent indoor air quality and finally, a total win for our environment and employees. We provide the highest standards of hygiene required by our clients and at costs that suit their budget.

But budget should not be the only factor of importance here. There is a bigger picture, namely climate change. In a bid to reduce our carbon footprint in all industries and to aid in sustainability reporting, a company needs to look at their supply chain and to understand the environmental impact of the products they are using. Particular attention has to be paid to water. The water footprint of a product is the amount of water that is consumed and polluted in all processing stages of its production. Call it greywater, virtual water, or something else, the things people use every day are produced with hundreds of litres of "hidden" water.

To produce bleaches, general purpose cleaners, laundry products, all these products use a lot of ‘fresh’ water in their production. For example, it takes 17 litre of water to produce 1 litre of bleach. Premaking of the chlorine is produced using 4 – 6 liters of fresh water to produce 1kg of chlorine, and when the product is sold further ‘down stream’ it’s diluted, using fresh water and further polluting our waterways. From start to finish this product is a pollutant.

Another issue with traditional cleaning products is their chemical base. One chemical found in many All Purpose Cleaners, window cleaners etc, is Formaldehyde, any of those products once mixed into the water system, render the water usable.

Laundry liquids are another culprit for creating water pollution. If we stopped producing artificial laundry detergents, we could recover over 20% of global water supply, i.e. our drinking water. Natural products give the hygiene results required without harming our natural environment.

On a recent visit to a client where they were unable to use any traditional cleaning products due to the nature of their storage facility. In light of this, no cleaning product other than water was being used in the bathroom. When doing ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) testing, we found high levels of bacteria in the area. With the use of our clean technology aqueous ozone, we reduced the RLU (Relative Light Units reading indicates a large amount of ATP) to Zero.

Using natural products we saw a high level of hygiene returned to the area, with no environmental damage and preserving the precious nature of the products in the storage facility.

At Green Touches, we are proof that we can strike the perfect balance between hygiene and sustainability while preserving resources and ensuring a habitable planet for future generations.

A sustainability focussed manufacturer’s point of view

Eco-unfriendly offices are a frustration and disappointment for employees. As people return to their offices, there is a clear shift in sustainability expectations as 43% of workers feel their offices are actually “shamefully“ eco-unfriendly and almost half are disappointed that their employer did not improve anything during the pandemic.

The Tork Eco Office Survey, conducted on behalf of global hygiene company Essity among 12,000 workers in seven countries across Europe, reveals that a resounding 84% of employees want to see a more environmentally friendly office.

The research also shows 7 out of 10 employees feel that they are left to take the lead and many have already considered implementing eco-friendly practices themselves as about 1 out of 3 say their bosses don’t appear to care for the planet at all.

Combine this with the response from 66% that they actually select companies based on their sustainability reputation and actions when looking for a new job, there is a clear shift many companies should be aware of. Being able to retain and attract people in these challenging times should make an eco-friendly office a priority.

Topics such as recycling and reducing waste, energy use and better internal communications around sustainability are top priorities for employees to address . “There has been a definite shift over the past 18 months in our general attitudes as workers take the issue of sustainability more seriously than ever before. There is a clear expectation and request for an eco-friendly office, something not all employers are taking seriously. Simple steps, such as improving recycling practices and reducing use of energy can already make a difference, but only if you include and communicate with your employees to get the best impact” says Lara Haddad at Essity Professional Hygiene.

Pamini Hemaprabha,
The sustainability movement has gathered momentum over recent years – in the hospitality industry along with everywhere else.  Manufacturers of cleaning products now place a high priority on ensuring that their chemicals, machines and packaging are eco-friendly and have a minimal effect on the environment. But the recent pandemic has created a huge demand for disposable products, kits, single-use wipers etc. Staying safe during a global pandemic is of paramount importance. Is it possible to strike a balance between optimum hygiene and environmental concerns during these troubled times?

The answer is yes. The recent pandemic crisis has shown the importance of sustainable hygiene for a hygienic, safer and healthier future. And there are highly effective solutions available that prioritise both hygiene and sustainability. Sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Hygiene and cleaning standards have not just become the highest priority for all. It's the psychological part that plays a greater role in this global scenario. I absolutely believe that hygiene and sustainability can co exist.  

Hygiene is actually an element of sustainability because well being is part of the overall sustainability agenda.

Some best practices can help strike proper balance like mechanical floor cleaning achieves an effective clean while also saving water and detergent. “Similarly, steam cleaning and hot water high pressure cleaning are both sustainable methods of ensuring clean surfaces, since they work without chemical agents. 

There are a range of scrubber dryers, steam cleaners, high pressure cleaners and vacuums that are said to offer sustainability benefits. Along with these are the availability of great eco friendly cleaning products which have made a huge contribution in the field of sustainability.

Staying well connected with the latest developments in the field of chemicals, machineries and cleaning methods help us strike best equilibrium balance. Staying well knowledgeable on Research and development milestones, into hygiene products help housekeepers achieve best balance.For the hospitality industry , new and enhanced hygienic and cleaning measures are being adopted and elevated across the industry can lead to varying impacts on sustainability with clear challenges to navigate and opportunities to take. 

Few best practices include 

  1. Collaboration being a key. Enhanced cleaning measures are likely to be with us for the foreseeable future, and will inevitably change how the hospitality industry operates from here on in. 
  2. Long term goals- Ensuring we have  an eye to the future to recognise necessary short term choices and understand how we look for sustainable long term solutions. 
  3. Progress is the key- The safety and security of our guests and colleagues is non-negotiable and this could lead to short term trade offs for sustainability efforts. Everything must be balanced with long term plans to implement sustainable alternatives.

And at the end of the day, it is those people carrying out the work who are all-important in achieving a sustainable and effective clean.

“It is therefore key to employ motivated staff who are thoroughly trained in good practices and who can operate the cleaning tools they are equipped with in a hygienic and sustainable way.”