In the past few years, sustainability transitioned from good-to-have to must-have pretty fast. According to a research by Well and Good, between 2013 and 2018, products marketed as sustainable grew 5.6 times faster than their non-sustainable counterparts, indicating a strong consumer shift towards eco-friendly options. In fact, a survey found that 50% of consumers consider sustainability a determining factor when selecting cleaning products, highlighting the growing importance of eco-friendly practices in purchasing decisions. Mr. Ammar Hayek, Co-Founder at Azzoss Group shares 6 golden points about sustainable cleaning in the Middle East to support these researches. 

1. Sustainability is No Longer a Trend—It’s a Business Imperative

The cleaning and hygiene industry is shifting from seeing sustainability as a "nice-to-have" to an absolute necessity. Regulations, consumer expectations, and cost-efficiency in operations are all making green cleaning the smarter long-term choice. Organizations must stop treating sustainability as an added cost and recognize it as an investment with measurable returns—lower operational expenses, better brand perception, and improved employee well-being.

2. The Biggest Barrier to Green Cleaning? Mindset.

The real challenge isn’t just cost—it’s resistance to change within organizations.

Many decision-makers still believe that green cleaning products are less effective—which is outdated and inaccurate. Instead of waiting for government policies to push sustainability, businesses must take the lead in setting their own internal standards. Case for Action: Many global brands (Four Seasons, Marriott, Diversey) have already adopted sustainable cleaning practices without waiting for regulations.

3. The Cost Myth – Green Cleaning is Not More Expensive

Companies hesitate to transition because of higher upfront costs, but the reality is: Smart chemical dispensers reduce waste by 30%–50%, bringing down supply costs. Water-saving technologies in cleaning reduce operational expenses. Electrostatic sprayers and enzyme-based cleaners extend product life and reduce overuse. Solution: Businesses must start viewing sustainability through an ROI lens, not just as an expense.

4. Technology is the Key to Scalable Sustainability

The cleaning industry must embrace IoT-driven dispensers, robotics, and AI-powered resource tracking to optimize operations while reducing environmental impact. Example: Hotels and hospitals using autonomous cleaning robots have seen higher efficiency and lower costs with minimal human intervention. Kuwait and the Gulf region need to accelerate adoption to stay competitive with global markets.

5. Industry Collaboration: We Must Work Together

Sustainability in cleaning cannot be achieved in isolation—it requires suppliers, facility managers, regulatory bodies, and procurement teams to align.

6. The Challenge: Each Leader Must Take One Actionable Step Today

I want to challenge every stakeholder of the industry to commit to at least one immediate action in their organization: 

Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of switching to greener alternatives.

Introduce staff training on sustainable cleaning techniques.

Audit current chemical and water usage to find areas of improvement.

Set a sustainability KPI for procurement and operations.

The biggest mistake companies can make is waiting for the "perfect time" to transition to green cleaning. The right time is now.