CLEANING & HYGIENE
BALANCING SUSTAINABILITY AND PERFORMANCE
Eileen Calder, Product Manager of Wipes at Berry EMEIA Healthcare, Hygiene & Specialties, explores how facilities managers can integrate sustainable cleaning solutions that maintain high performance standards into their operations.
As calls for environmental responsibility grow louder, the integration of sustainable cleaning solutions into buildings and facilities is increasingly vital. The EU Green Deal’s chemical strategy, targeting a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 55% by 2030, highlights the need to cut chemical use while enhancing cleaning effectiveness through eco-friendly methods.
And yet, sustainable cleaning should not come at the expense of performance; rather, it should enhance it by effectively managing contamination risks and minimising environmental impact. The key is to identify cleaning solutions that achieve excellence in both areas.
Prioritising effective cleaning Naturally, maintaining a clean and hygienic environment is a priority for all facilities managers, whether in a critical care setting, school, or office building. The health and wellbeing of occupants, pupils or patients are central to the success of these facilities.
In healthcare settings, stringent hygiene standards are vital for infection control and patient safety. Educational institutions rely on clean environments to support the well-being of students and staff, while public facilities need to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for visitors.
Effective cleaning extends beyond routine tasks; it involves addressing key risk areas such as dust, which constitutes 80% of dirt in buildings and serves as a breeding ground for microorganisms. Traditional cleaning methods, such as wet mopping, may appear effective but can be less efficient at managing dust and reducing bacterial transfer.
Therefore, it is essential to implement cleaning solutions that prioritise safety and hygiene but also align with broader environmental goals.
One example of such a solution is rMicrofibre™. This product addresses the challenges of high-risk environments by offering a disposable cleaning option that minimises contamination risks. Made from 100% recycled and 100% microfibre materials, rMicrofibre has been externally certified to remove 99.97% of bacteria using only water.
The effectiveness of rMicrofibre is rooted in its design. The wipe's positive charge attracts negatively charged bacteria, dirt and dust, functioning as a powerful bacteria magnet. The fibres are engineered to be over 80% finer than reusable microfibre wipes on the market, enhancing surface contact and improving the mechanical removal of contaminants. This design allows for efficient trapping of bacteria and dirt.
Achieving high performance with
sustainable cleaning solutions Creating an environmentally friendly yet practical wipe may seem challenging, but rMicrofibre achieves this balance. Designed for limited use, rMicrofibre effectively prevents cross-contamination by ensuring that collected dirt and bacteria is removed and then discarded with each wipe.
The rationale behind opting for disposable products over reusable alternatives lies in their ability to address persistent hygiene issues. Reusable wipes, which require laundering, have been proven to transfer over 30% of
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