Facing the challenges ahead

RUN BY our members for our members, there are about 200 manufacturers and distributors members of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association. These companies range from global multinationals to small independent businesses. We asked them for their opinions on thechallenges they face. Their answers provided an interesting perspective. 

Members said the top three challenges are regulatory compliance, the drive towards ethical and environmental sustainability and escalating demands from customers.

Regulatory compliance 

Regulatory compliance was particularly pertinent for members who manufacture cleaning chemicals. We recently teamed up with expert Peter Thistlethwaite, Technical Manager – Cosmetics and Biocides for MSL Solution Providers to produce a White Paper titled The Evolution and Regulation of Cleaning Chemicals. 

Going some way to explain why the challenge of regulatory compliance, in the White Paper, Peter wrote: “Regulations are intended to ensure a cleaning product is safe for the user and the environment when used correctly. The aim of enforcing regulatory requirements is to ensure products on the market can be trusted and that the companies selling them maintain the highest standards of integrity.

“Product innovation means testing and regulatory requirements in the biocide market are becoming more complex, and the costs to enter markets are rising. This is expected to lead to a rise in fraudulent products, bypassing or ignoring regulations. Buyers need to beware.”

Against this backdrop it is not surprising we are seeing more companies avoid the regulatory process, but it leaves buyers exposed. How are they to make sure they get what they need, safe, effective solutions. Our advice is simple. Ask the supplier for the evidence that backs up their claims. Reputable companies will be happy to share their test data and third-party verifications.

The drive towards ethical and environmental sustainability

More and more extreme weather events are taking place around the world. Climate change is real and present so it’s no surprise there is a push towards ethical and environmentally sustainability in our industry. Manufacturers and distributors want to offer sustainable products and services and buyers are demanding them. Disappointingly, however, members reported seeing more and more greenwashing, the unscrupulous making claims that are ill-defined, simply nonsense or lack any supporting evidence. Typical claims include 100% recycled content, chemical-free and non-toxic.

All these need to be challenged if they are to make any sense.

Members also reported the growing trend of greenhushing, whereby companies keep their environmental targets quiet. This is to avoid being held accountable if and when they don’t meet them. 

Escalating demands from customers

The cleaning and hygiene industry is incredibly competitive and the costs all businesses face are going up. Against this backdrop it’s no surprise customers want more for less. 

This has led to a growing trend for open pricing on the web and growing numbers of intermediaries promising products at incredibly low prices while paying little or no attention to quality and performance. 

The problem is buyers too often find themselves facing the issues that drove the CHSA to set up our Accreditation Schemes first place, in the 1990s: product that is short on the count, width or length, does match the specifications on the box or, importantly, is not fit for purpose. 

Our Accreditation Schemes are crucial here. The mark of one of the relevant Accreditation Schemes mark on a product guarantees ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’ and that it’s fit for purpose. 

@CHSACleaning 
For more information, visit: www.CHSA.co.uk 

Tel: 0800 243 919