REGULAR
An ethical future
In an uncertain world, trading ethically is more important than ever, says Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA).
The world is changing. AI is gaining traction and beginning to reshape the environment at work. We don’t know where this will lead. The pandemic, followed by the wars in Europe and the Middle East have disrupted supply chains. Higher costs and complex planning to work around the problems have become the norm.
Climate change is a huge issue, evidenced by the destructive flash floods and wildfires we have seen in recent months. As legislators respond with new regulations, businesses have to adapt, generally at their cost. Finally, Donald Trump’s love of tariffs has changed the economic norms.
This is a complex and challenging environment. With so much change and uncertainty, businesses naturally focus on making sure they are resilient. This involves prioritising the core operations of the business. I argue that an ethical approach needs to be at the heart of this.
Ethical businesses operate with integrity, fairness and respect for people, communities and the environment. They are transparent in their dealings: they do not mislead, and they provide evidence that justifies the claims they make. These businesses foster loyalty and commitment amongst employees and can be trusted by suppliers, buyers and end users.
Ethical practice is at the heart of the CHSA and something we expect of every member. It began with the development of our Accreditation Schemes. Their introduction meant buyers could differentiate between the companies that cut corners for short-term commercial gain with those that did not. Today the Accreditation Scheme Mark on a product means that product has been audited to confirm ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’.
In 2023 we integrated the Competition and Markets Authority’s Green Claims Code into our Code of Practice. Our purpose was to combat the trend of greenwashing, which was growing as the unscrupulous tried to cash in on the drive towards environmental sustainability. Our Code of Practice now requires members to make sure all green claims:
• Be truthful and accurate. 26 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING
• Be clear and unambiguous. • Not omit or hide important information. • Only make fair and meaningful comparisons.
• Consider the full lifecycle of the product when making claims.
• Be substantiated: Businesses should be able to back up their claims with robust, credible and up to date evidence.
This year we introduced a preference for a SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) Audit for all CHSA manufacturing members. Sedex is a global technology company that specialises in data, insights and professional services to empower supply chain sustainability. They offer supply chain due diligence and continuous improvement at scale, translating international principles into practical activities. The SMETA Audit will be compulsory for our members by 2027.
We have also introduced a commitment to ethical marketing, which is being signed by every member. By doing so, they commit to adhering to four ethical principles:
1. All statements and claims are truthful.
2. Supporting evidence, such as data sheets, reports and certificates is available on request to substantiate all product and service claims.
3. All statements and claims are transparent. For example, it is clearly indicated if the claim applies to the product, the packaging or both.
4. All statements and claims are meaningful. For example, the term eco-friendly must be defined in relation to all aspects of the product and substantiated across the full lifecycle.
An ethical approach is at the core of the CHSA and something we expect of our members. This means buyers who purchase from a CHSA member can trust they are working with an ethical business committed to trading with integrity, fairness and respect.
www.chsa.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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