Cleaning Matters: 25 years of sustainability

IN FEBRUARY 2000, as the world embraced the new millennium, Tony Blair was Prime Minister and headlines were dominated by the Royal Bank of Scotland’s dramatic takeover of NatWest and the resignation of British Nuclear Fuels’ chief following a safety scandal at Sellafield. Against this backdrop of corporate drama and cultural milestones—like NASA’s NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft orbiting an asteroid, the release of the video game phenomenon The Sims, and the final Peanuts comic strip—Cleaning Matters made its debut, entering the scene as the cleaning and hygiene sector gained momentum and recognition. 

Now, 25 years later, Cleaning Matters has grown into a cornerstone of the industry, reflecting on a quarter-century of innovation and growth while remaining as relevant and dynamic as ever.

Throughout the launch issue features, news and articles often cited the possible key concern for the sector would be sustainability. With the new millennium underway, many prescient and portentous articles tentatively warned that the 21st Century could become one that would eventually push environmental issues to the top of the agenda.

Celebrated environmentalist Professor David Bellamy OBE, who was then the President of the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) wrote an extremely thought-provoking article warning of the damage we as an industry may be doing to the environment. He challenged the cleaning sector to go back to the drawing board and look at the part water plays in the cleaning process. The first ones to do so, he observed, would be the brand leaders because new legislation was in the pipeline. 

Bellamy said: “Water is the commonest substance on the face of the earth. Yet, in the brave new world of the 21st Century, the sad truth is that we running out of the stuff in a condition fit for aquatic life, let along drinking. 

“Little wonder that the environmental and social cost of collecting it and cleaning it up is escalating out of control and may authorities warn that water, or lack of it, will cause the next world war.”

Bellamy posited that the main problem facing world security was the profligate use of chemicals to water.

He continued: “We can, of course, lay the finger of blame on the other lot, civil engineering, farming, heavy industry, transport, fat cats in water companies etc, but there’s no getting away with the fact that the cleaning industry adds more than its fair share to the problem.” 

Sustainability in the Cleaning Sector: A 25-Year Transformation

In February 2000, sustainability was a niche concern for the cleaning and hygiene sector. While environmental awareness existed, it was far from the driving force it has become in 2025. At the time, innovations focused more on efficiency and performance than their ecological impact. Fast forward 25 years, and sustainability has become the industry's number one priority, shaped by advances in technology, stricter regulations, and the growing urgency of the climate crisis.

Today, businesses in the cleaning sector are innovating at a remarkable pace to meet the demands of a greener future. For instance, Robert Scott has unveiled the Ecofibre Compostable Wipe, a product that not only performs effectively but also aligns with the principles of eco-friendly cleaning. Made entirely from natural fibers, it demonstrates the sector’s ability to innovate without compromising quality.

Similarly, Biohygiene’s recognition with the prestigious Global GreenTag HealthRATE Platinum Rated Status highlights the shift towards safer, more sustainable cleaning solutions. Its products, designed with both environmental and health considerations, stand as examples of how the industry is moving beyond traditional methods to adopt green chemistry principles.

Prochem, another key player, has reformulated its dual-function carpet and upholstery protector to remove fluorine-based compounds, addressing the growing restrictions on “forever chemicals.” Parag Patel, Prochem's chemical product manager, explains the urgency: “Restrictions are being placed on polyfluorinated-based products. These are now classed as forever chemicals, meaning they resist degradation due to the strong carbon-fluorine bonds and so are categorised as an environmental hazard.” This reformulation reflects how businesses are balancing durability with the need to eliminate harmful substances.

Evans Vanodine has taken an innovative approach to help customers and distributors reduce their carbon footprints with its Carbon Calculator. This tool empowers users to make data-driven decisions, enabling more sustainable practices across the supply chain—a critical step in the journey toward net zero.

On the waste management front, Robert Scott’s modular recycling bin system simplifies compliance with evolving legislation and enhances recycling efficiency. In Wales, businesses are now legally required to sort waste for recycling, and similar reforms are underway in England, where new practices must be implemented by March 2025. These changes are part of the UK government’s broader commitment to boosting recycling rates, a key pillar of the 2021 Net Zero Strategy.

The push for sustainability is further reinforced by the Environment Agency's ambitious road map, which includes cutting carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2045 to 2050. Such initiatives are driving transformative changes in how the cleaning sector operates, as businesses adopt innovative solutions to meet stringent carbon targets and align with global sustainability goals.

Comparing 2000 to 2025 reveals an industry that has matured from a focus on efficiency and cost-effectiveness to one driven by environmental responsibility. Cleaning Matters has chronicled this journey over the past 25 years, standing as a testament to the sector's resilience and its ability to adapt to a rapidly changing world. As we look ahead, the momentum toward sustainability promises to shape the next quarter-century, ensuring the cleaning and hygiene sector remains at the forefront of the global green movement.

For more information, visit www.cleaning-matters.co.uk