SUSTAINABLE CLEANING
Lean, Green Xeros Machine
We all know the growing importance of sustainability, and of the certain eco-driven changes that we need to make across all walks of life. But Bill Westwater, Chief Executive Officer at Xeros, explained to us some of the changes that cleaning operatives can implement to help secure a greener future.
When we hear the word sustainable, we almost instantly associate it with the environment. Whilst this is certainly not incorrect, it would be wrong to think that sustainability stops at ‘green’ thinking. The concept goes beyond this and requires a common industry approach with everyone playing a part.
Sustainability is about meeting the needs of society today, in a way that does not undermine the ability of tomorrow’s generations to meet their own needs, and that requires resourcefulness and efficiency across all operations.
In the cleaning industry, sustainability can include eco-efficiency, human and environmental safety of chemicals and products, resource use, occupational health and safety and consumer information.
Maintaining a high level of performance using fewer resources, less material and less energy, whilst minimising waste and emissions is essential for cleaning to be sustainable. In other words, to be resource-efficient, products must be properly cleaned first time. It defies the whole concept of sustainability if, because we use less water and detergent, or wash at lower temperatures, we have to re-wash in order to achieve the desired level of cleanliness.
Cleaning is by definition sustainability in action. When we clean something, we are maintaining its quality and keeping it fit for use time and again. Imagine the strain on resources if we threw items away because they were dirty and then had to buy new ones.
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Regulation surrounding the use of detergents in cleaning has become increasingly rigid as the industry has woken up to sustainable thinking and doing. Since the birth of the environmental movement in the 1970s, there’s little doubt that attitudes towards detergents and their ingredients has changed significantly.
The shift initially began taking place in the mid-1960s when it was discovered that the phosphates and surfactants found in detergents were damaging fresh and marine waters as well as killing fish, dolphins and aquatic plants.
Since then, regulation has been frequent and progressive. In the UK, a ban on laundry cleaning products containing more than 0.4% of their weight in inorganic phosphate is set to be enforced this year.
This ever-tightening regulation has been fanned by the emergence of niche ‘green’ detergent brands, which have spurred bigger players into improving their offerings and unveiling detergents which deliver effective cleaning at lower temperatures, giving customers the dual benefits of saving pounds, as well as the planet.
The acceptance of the carbon footprint concept has also influenced detergent manufacturers to produce innovations such as concentrated products, which have simultaneously cut volume, packaging, warehousing and transportation, while delivering significant cumulative savings in carbon dioxide and water.
Xeros has developed a revolutionary commercial laundering system
which involves water being largely replaced by fully re-usable and recyclable polymer beads. Compared to conventional washing machines, Xeros systems typically require up to 80% less water and only half as much energy and detergent. That means a 50% reduction in effluent, and potentially reduced charges for its production, too.
In addition to enabling users to reduce costs, improve efficiency and enhance their green credentials, the polymer beads’ ability to gently agitate stain and soil from textile surfaces easily delivers superior cleaning at lower temperatures.
Users also don’t have to separate most colours as the beads absorb stray dyes, minimising the time spent sorting laundry prior to washing, and the gentler cleaning action mean customers’ clothes stay new for longer. By prolonging garment and linen life, the Xeros polymer beads help to conserve textile resources.
The beads can be used for hundreds of washes, without losing their effectiveness, and when the time does come to replace them, they can be recycled.
Polymer bead cleaning truly is a lean, green, sustainable operation.
www.xeroscleaning.com 83
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