ENERGY MANAGEMENT & SUSTAINABILITY THE RACE TO NET ZERO
Joanne Gilliard, CEO at Jangro, explains why reducing and removing carbon emissions is so important for the cleaning industry.
According to the last census, three-quarters of adults in Great Britain worry about climate change. Three years on and this figure has likely risen with its dangers being brought to life. Thousands have experienced first-hand the havoc wreaked by extreme weather; three notable storms (Henk, Isha, and Jocelyn) in January 2024 alone caused widespread destruction and chaos across the UK.
Despite the increasing concern and ambitious targets to limit our collective environmental impact, seven out of 10 people in the UK are not confident that the Government will deliver policies to transition to net-zero by 2050.
In the past, the cleaning sector may have been perceived as one of the worst perpetrators when it comes to sustainability, having day-to-day operations that included, for example, harmful chemicals, high water consumption, and a reliance on plastic packaging and containers. Today, however, there has been much development and innovation of better and more sustainable technologies, solutions, and equipment. This means that our industry has an opportunity to play a huge role in lowering emissions.
It must not be a case of ‘greenwashing’ or a ‘box-ticking’ exercise though – it is vital that cleaning companies demonstrate a real, authentic, and ongoing commitment to sustainability.
For example, at Jangro, we take our responsibility seriously and validate this through our ongoing accreditation with Planet Mark, a certification that highlights our pledge to reduce out carbon footprint by at least 5% year-on-year. In 2023, we also introduced our tree-planting scheme, ‘Jangrow’, sending infant trees to customers, to help offset carbon in the future. Through such initiatives, we hope to drive sustainable action and encourage our peers and customers to become greener in their own businesses.
Cleaning brands and manufacturers must also ensure they keep up with sustainability to meet the demands of customers and end-users, who – as mentioned previously – are becoming increasingly concerned about the future of the planet. It is positive to see that companies are rising to the challenge!
The chemistry of new products has never been cleaner or greener. Revolutionary probiotic and plant-based cleaning agents are being used more widely, replacing harsher chemicals employed previously. As well as being better for the environment, they are also effective and provide excellent results. Packaging is becoming smarter too – less plastic, minimal waste, more concentrated solutions, and a reduced need for water usage.
As well as being more eco-friendly on these merits alone, the knock-on effect is that there are fewer emissions caused by traditional transportation; another area which is becoming greener with the rising popularity of electric vehicles.
From a commercial perspective, ensuring that a cleaning organisation has a clear vision for sustainability is undoubtedly good for its image. Sustainability must strike a balance between performance (and, of course, cost), but with so many affordable, high-quality solutions available, customers have their pick. Why would they choose an over-packaged, unsustainable product when they can choose a greener alternative that's even more effective and can prove better value too? Brands and manufacturers simply cannot afford to be left behind.
Besides, as well as the marketing and financial wins, working towards a better and brighter future for upcoming generations is morally the right thing to do. By making changes, the cleaning industry can help to meet the challenge set out by net zero targets.
www.jangro.net
58 | TOMORROW’S FM
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