*Cleanzine-logo-6.jpgCleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 13th February 2025 Issue no. 1149

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International News
Products

New research shows 80% of suppliers fear margin erosion due to poor business review practices

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Clientshare, the company behind global business reviews platform, Pulse, has this week announced the release of its latest whitepaper: The QBR Frustration. The newly commissioned research proves the urgent need for facilities management, logistics and process outsourcing suppliers to improve their Business Review processes if they want to continue to grow and retain their customer accounts.
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Bionetix launches Bio-Eco-Wash probiotic cleaner for sensitive environments

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Quebec, Canada-based company Bionetixis has launched a new cleaning concentrate for use in sensitive environments. Bio-Eco-Wash is a low foaming formula that combines natural surfactants with probiotics for effective cleaning, degreasing and surface prep in a variety of industrial and marine applications.
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Nexaro presents new Nexaro NR 1700: Significant improvements in efficiency and expanded uses for more complex requirements

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Following the launch of its compact robot vacuum cleaner for commercial building cleaning - the Nexaro NR 1500, Wuppertal, Germany-based technology start-up Nexaro is now expanding its product range with another innovative vacuum robot: the Nexaro NR 1700.
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Tennant Company begins manufacturing T16AMR autonomous cleaning robots in Europe to meet rising demand

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Tennant Company has this week announced that, for the first time, it will manufacture its renowned T16AMR autonomous robotic floor scrubber at its Uden manufacturing facility in the Netherlands.
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Employer’s failure to address hazards of inflatable pipe plugs led to worker’s death

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A US Department of Labour investigation has found that a drainpipe cleaning and maintenance company could have prevented an explosion at a Port Saint Lucie worksite in June 2024 that claimed a 24-year-old worker's life, by implementing proper safety measures to address the hazards of inflatable pipe plugs.
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Sofidel Group comes to terms with death of chairman, Edilio Stefani

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On 30th January - the eve of his 64th birthday - Edilio Stefani, Chairman of tissue giant Sofidel Group, passed away suddenly at his home. This is a tremendous loss for everyone at Sofidel, who express their profound sorrow for this loss and extend their condolences to the entire Stefani family.
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Cleaning businesses urged to Winter-proof operations during unpredictable weather

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With Winter weather switching from sunshine to snowstorms in a matter of days, businesses are being reminded to prepare for extreme conditions to safeguard their people, assets, and operations.
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Innovating Clean, simplifying care: Ascent Industries launches new HI&I ingredients portfolio

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Ascent Industries, a company focused on the production of speciality chemicals and industrial tubular products, is launching its Household, Industrial & Institutional Cleaning Ingredients portfolio at this week’s American Cleaning Institute (ACI) Conference in Orlando, Florida.
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CloroxPro's latest Clean Index report reveals increased call for eco-conscious solutions

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CloroxPro released its 2024 Clean Index report, detailing the perceptions, needs and challenges of more than 1,500 cleaning professionals and consumers from the past year. The findings highlight increasing adoption of eco-conscious cleaners, as well as ongoing burnout faced by staff as a result of constrained resources.
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IFF's Dr Wayne Ashton honoured with 2025 ACI Distinguished Service Award

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Dr Wayne Ashton, senior vice president, Home and Personal Care at IFF, is the 2025 recipient of the American Cleaning Institute’s Elva Walker Spillane Distinguished Service Award.
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NBCo debuts at Davos - pioneering a future where packaging simply disappears

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This week, attendees at Davos 2025 saw the debut of NBCo; the organisation set to finally pioneer an end to the plastic packaging crisis.
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WFBSC Global Summit: An inspirational gathering

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The organiser of the upcoming World Federation of Building Service Contractors' Global Summit, being held this coming March 12th & 13th at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand, has published details of an impressive event program along with the names and profiles of some inspirational speakers.
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Six Nations Championship: dirtiest stadium revealed

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Dating back to 1883, the Six Nations Championship is the oldest international rugby union tournament in Europe. With England holding the record for the most overall titles whilst Wales has the most Slams. The Championship is a key highlight in the rugby calendar and known for its electric atmosphere and passionate fan-base.
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Welcome to the Cleanzine

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* LEADER-PIC-13thFeb25.jpgIf you’re a resident of the UK, the likelihood is that your water bills are soon going to rise dramatically, and if you’re not - but sometimes travel here for either business or pleasure, you’ll likely soon be paying more for your stay because the establishment that hosts you will be attempting to cover its higher water bills by increasing its own prices. It’s a knock-on effect of someone not doing their job properly... someone has to pay, even if it’s not the perpetrator of the ‘crime’. And in cases such as these and in the bigger scheme of things, we all pay, since our planet’s being damaged, along with our health, since the muck you can see in this pic of the River Wye at Monmouth in Wales, and whatever it breaks down into, isn’t going to stay local. When are we going to start treating this type of vandalism with the seriousness it deserves? 

Video here
  
In other news, I was sent the following, in response to last week’s Leader, by one of our 20,000 US readers who’s asked to remain anonymous. “During my second month of college many years ago, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: ‘What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?’ Surely this was some kind of joke! I’d seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the answer to the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. ‘Absolutely,’ said the professor. ‘In your careers, you’ll meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello’. I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.” Now that professor’s worth his weight in gold, don’t you think?
 

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Yours,

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Jan Hobbs







This Week's News

Harrisons announces acquisition of Ecotech (Europe) business and assets

* Harrisons-Romford.jpegHarrisons, a leading UK manufacturer of nonwoven wipes and sole UK partner of the Chicopee and Sontara brands, has announced the acquisition of the business and assets of Ecotech (Europe), a Coventry-based manufacturer of high quality wet and dry nonwoven wipes for distributors and wholesalers.

Based in Romford, Essex, Harrisons has built a reputation as one of the UK industry's most trusted nonwoven wipes manufacturers over its 134-year history. The business is confident that substantial opportunities for future growth will be generated by combining its strong market position and track record for quality, expertise and reliability with Ecotech's existing brand equity and focus on sustainability.

Today's announcement represents a significant new milestone for Harrisons, as this is the firs
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Happy 25th birthday Steempro!

* Birthday-Boy-Steempro.jpegLongevity is proof that a product works and this is exactly what Prochem's range of Steempro carpet extraction machines provides. This hugely-popular three-model range celebrates its 25th in 2025.

Launched in 2000, as the Steempro 2000, the brand has successively developed, selling in large numbers to a myriad of markets, including professional carpet cleaners, large FM cleaning companies, healthcare premises and prestigious environments ranging from luxury hotels to grand palaces.
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SC Johnson Professional announces Happy Hands Contest Top 10 finalists

* SC-Johnson-Happy-Hands.jpegSC Johnson Professional has announced the finalists for its annual Happy Hands dispenser design contest. The contest invites students to submit soap/sanitiser dispenser artwork highlighting the importance of hand hygiene. People can view the top 10 designs, selected from the more than 300 submissions this year, and vote for their favourites on the Happy Hands website until February 28th.

"Minimising the spread of germs within schools starts with reinforcing proper hand hygiene protocols," says Bryant Davis, vice president and general manager of North America, SC Johnson Professional. "We were impressed by the creativity and effort the students put into communicating this idea through their designs, which made the selection process highly competitive."
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British Toilet Association launches 'Legalise Loos' campaign

* BTA-legalise-loos.jpegThe British Toilet Association has this week launched a 'Legalise Loos' campaign to make public toilet provision a legal requirement for Government and councils. Currently, local authorities are responsible for the provision for public toilets, but this is an optional provision and not a mandatory requirement.

The number of public toilets has reduced a staggering 40% since 2000, impacting both people's wellbeing and the health of our economy. This affects people of all ages, whether travelling, participating in activities outside, or visiting family, friends and colleagues.
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First Carbon Neutral Innovation Lab opens delegate registrations

* Carbon-Neutral-Innovation-Lab.jpegDelegate registrations are open for the 2025 Innovation Lab, which will bring together more than 600 cleaning, facilities and security senior stakeholders on Thursday 27th March 2025, at international exhibition & convention centre, Excel London.

This year's event will break new ground with a strong emphasis on sustainability, AI, robotics and complementary technologies designed to enhance people-based operations. For the first time, the event will feature a dedicated sustainability partner, Neutral Carbon Zone, which will support the organiser, Carlisle Support Services, in accurately measuring Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. This assessment will align with international standards, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the event's environmental impact across all aspects of operations.
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Apprenticeships can help firms beat National Insurance Contributions rise

* Apprenticeships-NI-Contributions.jpegAn employment law specialist says companies can beat the imminent increase in the cost of employing staff - by hiring apprentices.

Marking National Apprenticeship Week in the UK (10th - 16th February) Julia Fitzsimmons says a little-known measure introduced in November's Budget means employers hiring apprentices under the age of 25 do not have to pay National Insurance Contributions on their wages.
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Ready for the ultimate showdown in window cleaning?

* Window-cleaning-world-cup.jpegIf you're attending The Cleaning Show at London's ExCel next month and are planning on being there on the Wednesday, (19th March) have you considered trying to pitch your window cleaning skills against those of the legendary Terry 'Turbo' Burrows, current Guinness World Record holder?
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Start-up behind patented 'dry cleaning for floors' technology signs deals with Tesco, McDonalds and NHS

* Start-up-dry-cleaning-for-floors.jpegA company has developed an innovative "dry cleaning" technology that avoids the need to use water and detergents to clean-up spills on hospital and commercial floors.
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All U Need pest control leadership team earns Entomology Certifications

* All-U-Need-Pest-Leadership.jpegFlorida, US-based All U Need Pest Control tells us that three of its leadership team members have achieved top-tier entomology certifications, further enhancing the company's expertise and commitment to delivering the highest-quality pest management solutions.

* Kyle Selbach, director of operations, has earned the designation of Board Certified Entomologist (BCE).
* Kris Bagnara, director of technical services, has been recognised as an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE).
* Sean Hearn, director of business development, has also achieved the Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) designation.
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Kärcher Professional UK launches 'Sucker for a Good Deal' promotion

* Karcher-sucker-promo.jpegKärcher UK says it is excited to announce the launch of its 'Sucker for a Good Deal' promotion aimed at supporting the built environment, logistics sector and manufacturing sector, giving businesses the opportunity to supercharge their cleaning efficiencies.

From now until the end of July, businesses investing in any qualifying industrial vacuum, can claim a free accessory bundle valued up to £389.00 or a free service to keep the machine running smoothly. Those hiring a qualifying industrial vacuum for two weeks or more, can even enjoy a 10% discount on hire costs.
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Jangro achieves Period Positive Workplace certification to drive inclusive hygiene solutions in the industry

* Jangro-period+.jpgJangro, the UK and Europe's largest network of independent janitorial distributors, has taken another step forward in its commitment to inclusivity and sustainability by becoming a certified Period Positive Workplace.

This accreditation underscores Jangro's dedication to fostering supportive environments. Menstrual health is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of workplace wellbeing. On any given day, over 800 million females globally are menstruating. However, the stigma surrounding menstruation and the lack of access to period products in workplaces can lead to stress, reduced productivity and absenteeism.
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Mitie celebrates best of apprentices at annual awards

* Mitie-apprentices-awards.jpegMitie kicked off National Apprenticeship Week with its 2025 Apprenticeship Awards ceremony, recognising the outstanding efforts of apprentices and their champions across the business. Following the success of last year's event, this year's awards saw an impressive 150 nominations from across the business.

Isobel Gutteridge, a construction quantity surveyor Level 6 Degree Apprentice on one of Mitie's NHS contracts took home the top prize for Technical Apprentice of the Year. At 19, she relocated from the Midlands to London to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Building Surveying, and is now on track to complete her degree with outstanding results. Isobel's proactive attitude has led to her taking on significant responsibilities, including leading on entire ward refurbishment projects. During Nati
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How to contact us at The Cleanzine:

Jan Hobbs
Publishing Editor
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 07980 288 373

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Publishing Director
Media & Communications
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Tel: 07766 707 888
 
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Hospital Hygiene

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Our weekly updated Hospital Hygiene features current developments and product solutions cleaning and hygiene industry manufacturers are coming up with. Read More.


Recent UK News

BICSc announces 100,000 enrolments in training milestone

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The British Institute of Cleaning Science has announced a momentous milestone as it marks 100,000 enrolments for its industry-leading Virtual Training Suite.

BICSc, the largest independent, professional and educational body within the UK cleaning industry, with members all over the world, is celebrating the landmark achievement of 100,000 enrolments for its numerous, varied, online training courses.
more


The Cleaning Show 2025: the excitement builds

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The Cleaning Show 2025, taking place from 18th -20th March at ExCeL London, is reaffirming its position as the UK's largest event for cleaning, hygiene and facilities management.

Reflecting the sector's impressive growth and demand, the 2025 edition will be the biggest yet, boasting over 150 confirmed exhibitors, an expanded event space and a conference programme with 10 panel sessions across three days.
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BICSc to partner with The Workplace Event

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The British Institute of Cleaning Science is to become an official partner of The Workplace Event, solidifying its role as an industry leader in the professional cleaning sector.
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CKFM poised to reshape its future

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CK Facilities Management is poised for greater things, having accepted a significant investment in the business by Clece Care Services. “This investment provides us with the opportunity to reshape the future of our business and unlock greater opportunities for development,” says Ian Pether, business development director.
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Events & Exhibitions

ISSA Pulire 2025
27-29th May 2025
Rho Fiera Milano
Italy

Website

CMS
23-26th September 2025
Berlin
Website

INTERCLEAN
22-24th October 2025
Shanghai
Website

Hygienalia
4-6th November 2025
Valencia
Spain

Website

ISSA Show North America
10-13th November 2025
Las Vegas
Website

INTERCLEAN
14-17th April 2026
Amsterdam
Website



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