SUSTAINABLE CLEANING
chemical usage is coming under increasing scrutiny. In addition to sourcing chemicals which use and produce fewer hazardous materials, companies should also take the manner in which they dose and dilute these products into consideration.
Over 30 years ago the hygiene industry recognised the need to improve its green credentials. Traditionally bulk cleaning products were shipped in large 15, 20 and 25 litre drums made up of large volumes of water. To reduce shipping costs and carbon emissions associated with heavy freight loads, they began to transport chemicals in a concentrated form. By removing the water element, this meant that end-users were left to dilute their own chemicals, giving rise to today’s two most common chemical dilution formats; manual dilution and chemical dispensing equipment.
However, the margin for error in manual dilution is high. Because of the apparent simplicity of the concept, companies tend to feel confident that they know the right process and quite often incorrectly presume that other operators, such as employees, know the precise dose to use. Failure to dose the correct amount of chemical ratio is a costly mistake. Overdosing increases chemical waste and is an inventory nightmare. It drives up the budget as stock is being misused, and it also means that businesses can’t accurately forecast their cleaning spend over a certain period of time. Worse still, misdosing can be a health hazard as it results in smeared dirt, sticky surfaces, and ultimately cross contamination.
So how do we ensure accurate dosing and
dilution? Accurate dilution can be achieved through the use of chemical dispensing systems. The development of these systems has revolutionised the industry. Over the years, many professional hygiene equipment manufacturers have perfected
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their skills in providing precision proportioners which enable consistent dilution at point of use.
The two most common types available on the marketplace today are manual and venturi systems, both of which are available as part of Brightwell Dispensers’ ECOrange. Brightwell Dispensers’ ECOSHOT is a manual system dosing a specific volume or shot of concentrate into a spray bottle, bucket or sink. Their venturi system, known as ECOMIX, is connected to mains water which creates a vacuum and dilutes a pre- determined ratio of chemical into a final solution. The unique patented dilution ring allows for accurate dilution and is fully customisable depending on environment.
The Three P’s of
Sustainability For those who are not familiar with the term ‘Triple Bottom Line’ (TBL), it was first coined by John Elkington and has gone from industry buzzword to best practice. When we speak about TBL we are referring to a company’s social, environmental and financial performance. This measures not only profits, but also the impact of a company’s activities on stakeholders and the planet. Here we are trying to find a balance between sustaining human resources and the environment, while also maintaining the economics of the situation so that the company can ensure its operations continue to remain competitive and profitable, thus enabling it to move forward.
A simple technique for measuring this is to follow the accounting framework, known as The Three P’s of Sustainability; People, Planet and Profit.
Again, this can be applied to the example of chemical dilution and dosing systems. While the equipment does require some initial layout, this expense is quickly recovered and justified through The Three P’s.
People: Brightwell Dispensers’ ECOrange improves health and
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safety standards as contact with chemical is reduced to the push of a button. Additional accessories such as lockable cabinets further help to eliminate risk of contact.
Planet: With one pouch of concentrated chemical being the equivalent of 75 ready-to-use spray bottles, diluting concentrate chemical at the point of use serves greatly to reduce the environmental impact of cleaning operations. Carbon emissions and packaging are lowered as a result. Moreover, precise dosing minimises waste by ensuring that only the exact amount of chemical required is used.
Profit: By opting for concentrate, transport costs are lowered. Dispensing equipment decreases downtime associated with chemical related incidents, and contributes to more efficient inventory management and product usage.
Your mission to become a more environmentally focussed business shouldn’t be considered a chore. It is an investment in the future of your business and the planet around you. A standalone eco-friendly action such as installing recycling bins is not sufficient. Yes, it is a contribution – but this initiative should be part of a larger scale sustainable plan that expands across all aspects of your business. This ranges from evaluating your daily operations, to monitoring both internal and external stakeholder activity as well as ensuring that you are offering customers environmentally friendly products and services. There is growing acceptance among consumers that value is not only reflected in the price of the product, but also in the overall sustainable value proposition of the company and its product offering. Implementing strategic sustainable policies will not only benefit all stakeholders, but it will ultimately boost your triple bottom line.
www.brightwell.co.uk
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