FEATURE Procuring sustainability
James Law, Director at 2Pure Products, explains why when it comes to procurement, it’s time to put sustainability outcomes first.
The cleaning industry is facing a pivotal moment. Customer expectations for hygiene, safety and cleanliness are at an all-time high, while the pressure to deliver sustainable, cost- efficient services grows. Yet many organisations still rely on outdated practices: long product lists, fragmented supply chains and sustainability initiatives that address symptoms rather than root problems.
The problem with current approaches
Traditional cleaning procurement relies on product proliferation: degreasers for kitchens, descalers for bathrooms, air fresheners for odours, glass cleaners, carpet detergents and more. While thorough on paper, this creates complexity, waste and inefficiency. Overstocking wastes space and money, while frontline staff face confusion, mistakes and longer training times.
Procurement is often driven by cost-per-litre, a metric that ignores total cost-in-use. Cheaper products requiring longer application times, extra dilution or repeated cleaning ultimately cost more in labour and materials. The desired outcome – clean, safe, odour-free environments – often gets lost in the focus on catalogue breadth or rebates.
Sustainability gaps
Sustainability has climbed the cleaning and FM agenda, but intentions rarely translate to impact. Decisions often hinge on questions like: Is the product biodegradable? Is packaging recyclable? Does it have a green label? While important, these measures overlook the broader lifecycle: raw materials, production, delivery, use, disposal and indirect impacts such as wasted labour or repeated cleaning.
Marketing-led ‘green’ products can exacerbate inefficiencies. A fragranced odour masker may meet a green checklist but does nothing to remove underlying hygiene problems, leading to repeated cleaning and higher overall resource use.
Outcome-driven solutions
First impressions matter: cleanliness directly affects brand reputation, staff wellbeing and visitor perception. Yet surface-level solutions – strong fragrances, coloured chemicals – often mask rather than eradicate problems, wasting product, time and labour. Procurement should prioritise measurable hygiene outcomes while minimising environmental and human health impacts.
Human health as sustainability
True sustainability includes employee safety. Traditional chemicals can irritate skin, eyes and lungs. Even enzyme- based or probiotic products carry risks if misused. Non- hazardous, toxic-label-free formulations protect workers and building users alike, demonstrating that sustainability must serve both people and planet.
Packaging and circularity
Recyclable packaging is a start, but true sustainability comes from closed-loop systems. Reusable containers, like LoopBox, can be collected, cleaned and refilled, reducing waste and carbon emissions far more effectively than
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recycling. Such innovations offer measurable, reportable impact for FMs under ESG pressures.
Redefining success in FM procurement To truly move forward, FM leaders must:
• Procure outcomes, not catalogues: Focus on cleanliness, odour elimination, staff safety and sustainability metrics.
• Consolidate products: Multi-functional solutions reduce SKUs, training needs, storage and supply chain emissions.
• Adopt closed-loop systems: Reuse packaging to cut waste and carbon footprint.
• Focus on cost-in-use, not per-litre pricing: Efficiency and labour savings define real value.
• Protect cleaning staff: Non-hazardous formulations improve safety and compliance.
• Demand transparency: Require measurable sustainability metrics from suppliers, not marketing claims.
A simpler, smarter future
The future of cleaning and FM lies in fewer SKUs, outcome- driven procurement, closed-loop packaging and safe, non- hazardous chemistry. Sustainability must be integrated into efficiency, hygiene and human safety, not treated as a side consideration. Organisations that embrace this approach can reduce environmental impact, protect employees, improve operational efficiency and meet regulatory and client expectations.
By consolidating products, using closed-loop systems like LoopBox and prioritising safe chemistries, the industry can establish a new benchmark: one where sustainability, efficiency and hygiene work in harmony. This is the agenda that will define the future of cleaning and facilities management.
www.2pureproducts.com
x.com/TomoCleaning
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