SUSTAINABILITY THE SECRETWEAPON
Facilities managers are increasingly seeking to boost sustainability whilst maintaining exceptional cleaning standards. Steve Courtney, Product Specialist at Robert Scott, explores how they are achieving this with innovative cleaning products.
Facilities managers are under increasing pressure to reduce waste, boost efficiency, and adopt more sustainable practices. From business leaders to customers, and now even legislators, the demand for strong ESG credentials has never been higher.
But what if the key to greener operations, cost savings, and broader benefits lies in an unexpected place? It starts in the cleaning cupboard.
The surprising yet simple way FMs can boost their sustainability ‘Green cleaning’ was penned as the key trend last year, with the majority of the cleaning industry (80%) ranking sustainability as their primary focus. Despite this, many still rely on the use of harsh, polluting chemicals based on a belief that it’s the only effective solution for disinfecting spaces and killing germs. Traditional cleaning chemicals are effective, affordable, and readily available. However, they have drawbacks - particularly in terms of sustainability.
One alternative growing in popularity is Electrochemical Activation (ECA) technology or electrolysed water, inspired by the human immune system. ECA uses just water and salt to create an eco-friendly, multipurpose disinfectant solution when activated by electrolysis. The active compounds in this solution are hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which the body naturally creates to fight infection, and a very low concentration of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO). This results in a mild pH level of 7.8 to 8.5. In short - impressive disinfecting performance without the need for harsh chemicals. ECA systems are typically available in a range of sizes and the user can make the solution easily onsite in a matter of minutes.
One example of ECA technology, Toucan Eco, is certified to antiviral and antibacterial standards to kill up to 99.999% of germs. It is also registered as a UK biocide but is not aggressive in nature.
Balancing ESG and effectiveness Low carbon ECA technology can replace over 80% of synthetic cleaning chemicals, and reduces plastic waste, energy and water usage, and transportation. Indeed, compared to traditional cleaning methods, it saves over two litres of water, four million joules of energy, and a quarter of a litre of oil for every typical one litre bottle. It also removes the need for over 80% of single-use plastic bottles, cutting down on plastic pollution and carbon emissions from manufacturing and transporting traditional cleaning products.
The power of nature in action - The Restaurant Group When one of the UK’s biggest hospitality businesses, The Restaurant Group (TRG), wanted to improve its sustainability credentials, it turned to ECA technology. In 2021, TRG began rolling out Toucan Eco systems across its diverse portfolio of well-known pub and restaurant brands - 210 sites in total. Ultimately, this reduced plastic packaging by 2.7 tonnes and chemical usage by 35,000 tonnes in its first year of use alone. The Group saw a return on investment within six months.
Colin Ferguson, CEO of Optimize
Not just good for the planet Beyond the environmental concerns, other common issues with cleaning chemicals include strong smells and harsh effects on the skin, something that no facilities manager wants to expose their customers or staff to. Traditional chemical-based cleaning solutions have been associated with health concerns including asthma, eczema and burns.
ECA technology is harsh on bacteria but is gentle on skin. The solutions are non-toxic, non-hazardous and non-allergenic. They are entirely safe to use for staff and for customers, making the solutions ideal for use in public areas and around children. Having a non-harmful alternative to conventional chemicals without strong smells is especially useful for sectors such as leisure and hospitality where consumers expect relaxation and luxury.
The future of commercial cleaning The move toward environmentally friendly cleaning solutions is proving that cutting harmful chemicals and single-use plastics is possible and is better for business. facilities managers are discovering that sustainable cleaning delivers performance gains and cost savings, while also supporting staff, customers, and the planet.
As more industries adopt greener practices, eco- conscious cleaning will be a key driver of sustainable operations in the years ahead.
www.toucaneco.co.uk 40 | TOMORROW’S FM
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54
