The tip of the iceberg
June 1st 2007

Green Planet Solutions only launched in late January, but already the ecologicallysound washroom specialist has attracted attention from the likes of Bunzl,MacLellan, MLS Business Centres and Vue Cinemas. Founder Matt Anderson says this is just the beginning.Brendan Coyne reports

Matt Anderson saw the burgeoning interest in environmentally-friendly products while working in the washroom sector. Realising this was just the tip of the iceberg, he decided to start a company which could provide an entire green washroom solution.After securing strong private financial backing, a number of innovative products and a small, dedicated team, he launched the company in January this year.

Six months on and business is brisk, with Green Planet Solutions offering everything from cold air hand dryers to water-saving devices, energy efficient lighting, chemical-free hard surface cleaners, biodegradable air fresheners, and numerous other green products.

While there are other companies pioneering the environmentally-friendly approach, GPS is attracting some of the market's biggest names: it is already MacLellan's preferred green supplier and the company will now put out two cleaning tenders – standard and green – for every job, with the choice left to the client. Anderson is confident that over the next few years, as companies place increasing emphasis on corporate social responsibility and the need to reduce carbon footprints becomes urgent, the green option will become ever more popular.

However, he says it's not just about saving the planet, but cost and time savings too.The Veltia cold air dryer (exclusive to GPS) is fairly self explanatory: The company claims it uses 70-80 per cent less energy than a standard warm air dryer. And with other major electrical brands already getting that message across,Anderson admits to riding the marketing wave."But the Veltia retails for £330 – so everyone can afford it – from campsites to blue chips.And if customers order enough units, they can choose their own colour, which is a good pull in terms of corporate identity."He says GPS is now in talks with "one of the biggest UK electrical suppliers" to enable architects to specify the Veltia through their normal channel.

Anderson claims the GPn2 hard surface cleaner and GPn3 multipurpose/ fabric cleaner (which he says Bunzl will soon stock) are equally persuasive:"They're almost cost neutral to standard cleaning products," he says."So when you factor in that it doesn't require any COSHH and hasn't got any irritants – meaning less audits and an easier management role – there aren't many companies unwilling to give them a try." He says those that do are rarely disappointed: A one week trial of GPn2 at Southampton Solent University (via MacLellan) saw the washroom rating rise from one out of ten on the first day, to seven out of ten on the last.The only product used to clean the washroom was GPn2, with the organic enzymes restoring everything from sink sealant to floors to sanitary ware.

With demand for its existing product range intensifying,Anderson now seeks new products and partners that fit the same ethos as GPS.

For those that match its criteria, the future looks remarkably bright.

So what impressed MacLellan ?

"Green Planet Solutions approaches every business angle with a view to sustainability – from the paperless systems employed to pushing an idea beyond what most people would expect of an environmentally sound product," says MacLellan Cleaning operations director, Jane Speyers."Our clients are very excited by the innovations we can bring through GPS, not only the products but the data and reporting we can now provide is exceptional – and has a significant impact within their own business focus to improve CSR and carbon footprint.

"I have had some very sceptical clients embrace the products and – without exception – where we have trialled the GPn2 and GPn3 the results have literally been amazing, with clients rapidly requesting full site coverage.

"I'm confident that GPS products will be rolled out across the Interserve Group – not just within MacLellan as the information on how effective and innovative they are becomes more widespread.

"I anticipate that GPS products will cover our full requirement for daily cleaning and washroom within a very short period."

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