Fighting infection in a sustainable way

AT THE time of writing, around 3.8 million people – that’s one in 17 of the UK population – had Coronavirus, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. The number of people testing positive for the virus across the UK had been rising since the beginning of June, although there are indications that the rate of rise is slowing down. But even if the number of new infections has peaked over the summer months, we can’t afford to be complacent when it comes to Coronavirus - or indeed any other germs and viruses that are circulating around us.

Good hand hygiene is essential to prevent infection and, in a society now living with a plethora of viruses, it remains critical for us to continue to thoroughly wash our hands and disinfect surfaces that are touched regularly. 

Furthermore, with more of us having resumed our normal working and social lives as much as possible, the washroom is a hugely important part of any public building. But, in today’s more hygiene aware society, it’s under fire to cope with higher footfalls than ever before.

In light of heightened awareness of the importance of hand hygiene among the population, having the right processes and products in place for cleaning, hygiene and disinfection is vital for any organisation to allow people to continue the personal hygiene behaviours they have become accustomed to.

Publicly used washrooms can be a particular area of concern for many people as we now frequent offices, bars, restaurants, gyms, stadiums and shops largely as we did before Covid-19. Many people, however, are still hesitant about visiting restrooms away from their homes, either because they are nervous about picking up an infection or they are uneasy about sharing a relatively compact area with strangers.

Coronavirus has left many of us nervous about touching washroom surfaces and fixtures too, meaning people are often more comfortable using touch-free toilet flushes, taps, and dispensers. Similarly, many people do not want to touch cubicle and outer door handles when taking a comfort break.

  

Fight infection and climate change

With increased pressure to tackle climate change and minimise our carbon footprint, how do washroom providers help to reduce the spread of infection, whilst also making their facilities more environmentally-friendly?

Sustainability is high on the agenda and the COP26 summit last year saw world leaders across 110 nations pledging to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030. And, as the UK heads towards a Net Zero Carbon future, meeting your Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals creates opportunities for businesses. An effective way to demonstrate your commitment to ESG as a business is to make your building more efficient, sustainable and future proofed.

Washrooms can play a significant part in the overall environmental contribution of a building. It’s therefore vital to demonstrate green credentials where possible by making washrooms as eco-friendly as possible. In the fight against infection and global warming, your choice of dispenser and consumables could be more important than you might think.

Choose washroom dispensers carefully

The need to limit the consumption of disposable products is pressing, particularly as their use in washrooms has never been higher. The use of paper towels, for instance, has increased during the pandemic - they dry hands more quickly and hygienically than air dryers and more people use them as a barrier to avoid touching the door handle when exiting the washroom.

When selecting dispensing systems for washrooms, providers should therefore try to specify high-capacity, controlled-use devices that restrict the use of toilet tissue and hand towels and prevent over usage. 

Create the right impression

Presenting good hygiene credentials is crucial – an unpleasant washroom is a poor reflection on any organisation’s image – would you trust a place that looked unsightly and didn’t have good hand hygiene solutions like soap and towel dispensers? A well-designed, robust and stylish dispenser range demonstrates that you care about public health and have invested in hygiene. Good dispensers also help to keep your washroom clean and clutter-free, reduce waste and enhance the look of the space.

Are materials sustainably-sourced?

The UK fells around seven million trees a year to make toilet tissue, so washroom providers must be mindful of the impact of de-forestation. They should always make sure paper products are made only from raw materials that have been sustainably sourced – either from recycled materials or from sustainably managed forests.

Northwood Hygiene is committed to sustainable and responsible sourcing and uses Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified paper within its Raphael range, as well as offering 100% recycled paper options. Furthermore, all packaging – including plastic – is fully recyclable. 

Buy British

The government is committed to cutting the UK’s carbon output, becoming net zero by 2050. Emissions have been falling over the last 30 years, however, according to the WWF, around half of the country’s carbon footprint is ‘invisible’ because it is attributed to the carbon produced overseas to manufacture goods and the emissions associated with importing to the UK. We must all do our bit to reduce international transportation by buying British-made products where possible.

As a fully vertically integrated UK manufacturer, Northwood is dedicated to developing sustainable solutions. From waste paper collection, recycling, manufacturing and delivery, we have control of the full supply chain, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint.

We’re keen to move towards a more sustainable future and our Raphael proprietary washroom system continues to help washrooms to deliver optimum hygiene credentials, whilst offering strong environmental credentials. Combining hygiene, cost-in-use, performance and sustainability, the high-capacity Raphael collection comprises four hand towel and two toilet tissue dispensers, along with a soap dispenser.

Clean and green

Designed to optimise hygiene in the highest traffic washrooms, the Raphael hand drying dispensers provide contactless dispensing and the toilet tissue dispenser incorporates BioKleen™ technology, to inhibit the growth or spread of bacteria. Made from a single-piece shell, the dispensers are easy to wipe clean and all towels and rolls are fully enclosed for added hygiene.

Using foam soap that requires less water for handwashing than liquid soap, Raphael’s soap dispensers deliver a generous shot to encourage single, efficient use. They are non-drip to help keep spaces clean and every soap cartridge comes with a new nozzle to minimise bacteria harbouring. 

Zero waste, controlled usage

Raphael brings the industry’s first twin jumbo high-capacity proprietary toilet roll dispenser - the TwinJumbo. Holding up to 800m of roll to minimise the need for frequent replenishment, the system is cost competitive. An infinity paper system, allows users to replenish one roll at a time, eliminating waste and delivering cost savings in high footfall washrooms. 

The roll towel dispensers hold up to 250 sheets each, providing around 500 dries, with some offering stub-roll transfer to ensure zero waste. All Raphael hand drying systems dispense one at a time flat sheets, helping to prevent overuse, and the folded towel dispenser has a 1,000-sheet capacity. The dispensers have been specifically designed not to free roll to help reduce over usage and minimise mess in the washroom.

The collection is suitable for the most challenging public washrooms, with the dispensers constructed from durable Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic for scratch and impact resistance. They are also lockable, preventing theft and untidiness.  

Washrooms play a key role in keeping people safe by helping to prevent infection. Sustainability, however, remains a priority for the cleaning sector and we can all help to reduce the environmental impact of these spaces. 

Keeping people safe and protecting the planet is vital and our industry is under scrutiny to deliver stringent hygiene standards, whilst also being mindful of climate change. At Northwood, we’re proud to champion action for the environment with well-designed systems that make washrooms safe and pleasant to use – without costing the earth.

Paul Mulready is marketing manager of Northwood Hygiene Products Ltd – a leader in Away-from-Home (AfH) professional paper hygiene and wiping products.

For further information visit www.northwood.co.uk