SUSTAINABILITY
Overcoming sustainability challenges
Brent Stansfield, Director at Bioshield Systems, explores some of the key sustainability challenges associated with commercial cleaning, including the products typically used and some of the more sustainable alternatives.
Sustainability is a pressing issue that’s affecting all industries across the globe – and this includes commercial cleaning. The sector is currently experiencing a significant shift, as customer demand for greener products, better social responsibility policies and a commitment to operating in a more environmentally responsible way begin to drive change.
Commercial cleaning and sustainability
When it comes to hygiene and sanitation, results have always been prioritised over sustainability – no one wants to compromise on cleanliness. Historically, this has meant strong, chemical-based cleaning solutions being seen as the gold standard of performance.
Many commercial cleaners rely on harsh and dangerous chemicals, including solutions that contain volatile organic compounds (also known as VOCs). Although these perform well when it comes to sanitation, there is a trade- off. From a sustainability perspective, the big downside with these solutions is that they can adversely affect the environment and human health, with some being suspected or proven carcinogens.
The commercial use of chemical cleaning products is also associated with water pollution. Chemicals from cleaning products are washed into streams, rivers and the sea – entering the food chain and impacting marine aquatic life. These same products are often packaged in unsustainable or single-use materials, leading to significant amounts of waste that is left to languish in landfills and further disrupt the surrounding environment.
From chemicals used in the formulation of antibacterial and disinfectant sprays, through to the quantity of water or energy required to power industrial cleaning equipment – the materials and services relied upon by commercial cleaning companies each come with their own sustainability challenges.
However, as we move towards a future which will be marked by increasingly stringent environmental policies and expectations, it’s becoming essential for commercial cleaning providers to embrace and implement sustainable practices across their operations.
50 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING Exploring sustainable solutions
Although sustainability challenges in the commercial cleaning industry are associated with the methods and materials necessary to physically remove dirt and sanitise workspaces, they also extend to the entire supply chain.
Sustainability considerations shouldn’t just stop at the formulations and chemicals being used, but encompass a wider range of operations – from the transport used to supply a service, to the treatment of employees tasked with cleaning.
So, how can our industry improve its green credentials while also working in ways that don’t compromise the planet or its people?
A sustainable solution
One viable solution lies in using naturally derived and plant- based products.
These biological cleaning products are sometimes referred to as ‘green cleaning products’, as they contain natural ingredients that have been carefully manufactured to have a reduced or minimal impact on the environment. Unlike chemical solutions, these are biodegradable, so they don’t contaminate local water supplies when washed away, or contain ingredients which are harmful to the wider environment.
Other sustainable practices include using solutions made from waste materials – and ideally naturally derived waste materials. This ensures that resources are being used to their maximum potential – reducing both waste and the need to gather new resources for manufacture as part of a circular economy.
Sustainability without compromise
Historically, some natural cleaning solutions have not performed as well as other products that use harsher chemicals. This has meant they’ve been unsuitable for certain applications and more limited in their use.
However, times are changing, and some of today’s alternatives offer a sustainable solution that still delivers
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