Applications for CHSA membership on the rise

Applications for membership of the Cleaning & Hygiene Association's Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Scheme for soft tissue products, plastic refuse sacks and industrial cotton mops have risen sharply in the first half of 2012 according to the association.

The CHSA attributes this increase to two factors. “The scale of abuse among nonmembers has escalated, driven largely by the challenging macro-environment and those scrupulous non-members are now seeking to differentiate themselves more clearly from the rogue trades; by joining the scheme and obtaining the stamp of approval they will be able to do this effectively,” said Graham Fletcher, secretary of the CHSA. “Add to this that the profile of the Manufacturing Accreditation Scheme has increased significantly and a growing number of organisations are becoming aware of the commercial benefits that come with membership and it is easy to see why applications have increased.”

With regard to the increase in the scale of abuse 52.4% of samples from non-members were not correctly labelled and 24.2% of samples were over 10% deficient in the stated length. This compared to 3.9% of routine samples from members being incorrectly labelled and 1.4% being over 5% deficient in length. All these deficiencies were subsequently corrected following the intervention of the Scheme Inspector. No routine samples from scheme members were over 10% deficient. The CHSA says these statistics suggest that the only way a buyer can be certain they are getting what they pay for is to purchase from an Accreditation Scheme member.

The CHSA established the Manufacturing Accreditation Scheme so buyers who purchase a product stamped with the mark can be certain they are getting what they pay for. As well as regularly auditing members to ensure they adhere to the requirements of the scheme, the CHSA also conducts ad hoc audits of non-members and it is among these that it says it is uncovering a disturbing increase of abuses.

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