ISS focus on key accounts in fewer markets will lead to 100,000 job losses

ISS has revealed plans to cut 50% of its customers and some 100,000 jobs - representing a fifth of its global workforce - as it concentrates on key accounts and core services and leaves 13 countries that were among its least profitable markets: Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Brazil, Chile, Israel, Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania. These represent just 12% of ISS's group revenue and 8% of operating profits.
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Do you have something to say to the cleaning industry?

Bring your expertise to the inaugural Clean Buildings Expo, the new event for the commercial cleaning industry. The organisers are looking for speakers who can bring insight and inspiration to an audience of in-house cleaning managers, executive housekeepers, facilities managers and building service contractors.
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IICRC seeks volunteers for creation of Leather Cleaning & Maintenance Standard

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification is seeking volunteers to serve on a consensus body for the development of the new BSR/IICRC S340 Standard for Professional Cleaning & Maintenance of Leather Furnishings.
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Hoppecke launches new HF premium chargers

With the launch of its new trak | charger HF premium series, Hoppecke Industrial Batteries says it is pushing the boundaries of technological innovation to provide modern logistics operations with a sustainable and flexible way of managing their energy needs.
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Hotel hygiene issues need to be investigated, says China's tourism ministry

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism has urged local tourism departments in Beijing, Shanghai, Fujian, Jiangxi and Guizhou to carry out an investigation along with the country's health authority on the recent hygiene issues at high-end hotels, according to a recently released statement.

The China Global Television Network reports that the ministry has also decided to dispatch an ad hoc investigation team to the hotels which have been criticized for poor hygiene, after some budget hotels were also found to have potential hygiene issues.
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'World first' has global health & safety implications

Castor mounted units are used by many organisations within hygiene and cleanroom areas but by their very nature they can be hard to clean and can even spread germs.
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Gloves are a potential barrier to hand hygiene, especially amongst nurses

Rather than improving hygiene, glove use in healthcare settings can actually create a potential barrier to hand hygiene - especially amongst nurses, reports Healio this week.
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Hospital curtains, lab coats and scrubs are turned into germ-fighting shields

Soft surfaces have traditionally been one of the bigger challenges to sanitise in the healthcare environment. One study found that 92% of privacy curtains were contaminated with infectious bacteria within one week of laundering. Yet another study cites that as much as 60% of nursing and physician attire can be a source of nosocomial infections.
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Increasing demand for natural fragrances will fuel aroma chemicals market

A new report from Transparency Market Research says that the global aroma chemicals market, valued at US$3.85 billion in 2015, is estimated to reach US$6.57 billion by 2024, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 6.2% during the forecast period.
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Unger erGO! floor cleaning system achieves top marks in University comparative tests

As announced in Cleanzine at the end of October, Unger's erGO! floor cleaning system was one of a number of systems undergoing ergonomic evaluation by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karsten Kluth of the Institute of Work Sciences & Ergonomics at the University of Siegen. 

Unger has now informed us that the system achieved significantly better results than the two competitor products tested in both analysis and practical use.
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Greyland are all over floors!

As a specialist cleaning chemicals manufacturer - they do nothing else - whether it's for hard floors or for carpets, Greyland has formulated a range of highly effective cleaning products that do just what they say they will do.
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Understanding effective cleaning: methods... measurement... management...

The Cleaning Industry Research Institute tells us that the theme of its 2019 Science Symposium, 'Understanding Effective Cleaning', was adopted as the topic last month at a combined meeting of CIRI executive committee and Science Advisory Council members.

SAC chair, Steven Spivak, Ph.D., is spearheading the selection of the symposium's technical agenda. "This theme reflects CIRI's core competency," he says. "Methods, measurement and management are critical elements required for effective cleaning, including disaster restoration. Those attending the 2019 symposium will gain a new and deeper understanding of these concepts that collectively define effective cleaning and restoration.
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Warm welcome for new products provides perfect 50th birthday boost for Arrow Solutions

One of the UK's leading manufacturers of professional cleaning and maintenance chemicals is celebrating its 50th birthday in style, after securing substantial business from the aerospace industry for its new impregnated wipe products.

Arrow Solutions, which was founded in 1968, has grown into one of the most respected manufacturers in its field, supplying customers across the high value engineering, rail, defence, aerospace and energy sectors, as well as the commercial hygiene marketplace.
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Don't let clogged gutters lead to bigger problems

Gutters that are filled with leaves, grass and other debris quickly become blocked and lead to internal building damp and mould problems - or even worse, irreparable damage to the property and stock which in turn could lead to higher insurance premiums.

Gutters and downpipes when full cannot do what they were designed to do properly, which is to take away large volumes of water away from your building when it rains. When full guttering becomes extremely heavy, it is no wonder they start leaking and sometimes break totally and need replacing when neglected.
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New nanoseptic self-cleaning surfaces address travellers' hygiene issues

With a flurry of news reports about germs in airports and hotels, travellers are more concerned about cleanliness than ever so it follows that businesses need to become more aware of their responsibilities too.

NanoTouch Materials' new self-cleaning surfaces address these concerns and particularly so its new launch - a self-cleaning film for touch screens that can turn any airport check-in kiosk or in-flight screen into a continuously self-cleaning surface.
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UKATA calls for greater asbestos awareness in the public sector

A leading authority for asbestos training provision in the UK, the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), is urging all public sector employees to be asbestos-aware in order to better manage the 'ticking time-bomb' in thousands of public buildings.

A lack of knowledge about the killer building material is putting workers and users of these buildings at risk of fatal lung cancers UKATA has warned.
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New waste and resources toolkit for local authorities

WRAP (Waste Action Resources Programme) has produced a new toolkit to help local authorities navigate the complexities of waste and recycling service design.

'Waste and Recycling Resources for Local Authorities' categorises WRAP's most popular resources under key themes such as contamination and food waste collections.
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Birmingham refuse workers to take industrial action in 'blacklisting payments' row

Over 300 refuse collectors, working for Birmingham City Council, have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in the blacklisting dispute over payments made to refuse workers who did not support last year's long running bin dispute.

The workers, members of Unite, Britain and Ireland's largest union, voted by 94% in favour of strike action and 97% for industrial action short of a strike.
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Ecocleen wins contract to clean worker campus development at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station

HOST 2 has awarded an eight-year contract to Ecocleen's South West franchise, AHG Facilities Management, for the provision of cleaning services at one of the largest worker campus developments in Europe.

Under the agreement, worth up to £1.5 million annually, the company will handle all internal cleaning requirements at the specially-designed accommodation that will be used by construction workers at the site of the EDF Energy Hinkley Point C nuclear power station near Bridgwater in Somerset.
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HealthSpace and Visionstate to target audit segment of facilities management

HealthSpace Data Systems and Visionstate have agreed to utilise HealthSpace's current suite of mobile audit applications and extend them for use within the facilities management space.

Visionstate's product suite includes Internet of Things devices that help track cleaning, maintenance and supply utilisation. Its WANDA device is installed in both public and private facilities such as hospitals, airports, shopping centres, arenas and office buildings.
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UK cleaning solutions provider Holchem acquired by Ecolab

Ecolab has acquired Holchem Group, the UK-based supplier of hygiene and cleaning products and services for the food and beverage, foodservice and hospitality industries.
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Tennant to host open day in January

Tennant Company, one of the world's leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of professional cleaning machines and services, is opening the doors to its UK office for what promises to be an exciting open day early next year.
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Curated for difference-making: First IWFM conference launched

The Institute of Workplace & Facilities Management has this week announced a new national summit for the profession that will replace ThinkFM and operate simply as the IWFM Conference.
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Donations are in the bag for British Heart Foundation

TC Facilities Management has created a national charity partnership to help the British Heart Foundation achieve its aim of beating heartbreak forever. The partnership commenced six weeks ago and has set its sights on raising £5K of funds for the charity that conducts groundbreaking research in to heart and circulatory diseases and their causes.
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How your workplace can help tackle the plastic problem

Plastic. It's a hot topic; kick-started into the UK's mainstream consciousness by the BBC's Blue Planet 2. Now, hardly a week goes by now without another headline image showing  oceans and beaches overrun with plastic debris.

This increased focus on plastic is having a positive impact. Legislation is changing, and now lots of organisations are taking steps to tackle the problem and enjoy the benefits.
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Enforcement patrols help keep the lid on litter

More than 800 fines have been issued to litter louts around East Hampshire over the last 12 months. East Hampshire District Council is committed to keeping the district's streets clean and free from litter with regular litter enforcement patrols - residents and visitors can be fined £80 for discarding litter, including cigarette butts and chewing gum.
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Lanes Group helps reduce flood risks on Manchester roads through planned gully cleaning

Drainage engineers from Lanes Group are helping reduce the risk of localised flooding on Manchester roads through a comprehensive programme of planned gully cleaning.
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Tackling work-related stress

Tackling work-related stress is one of Health &Safety Executive's health priorities - and if it's something you are also taking action on, then take a look at HSE's website for information and guidance on the right approach to take.
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ISSA Pulire 2025
27-29th May 2025
Rho Fiera Milano
Italy
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CMS
23-26th September 2025
Berlin
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INTERCLEAN
22-24th October 2025
Shanghai
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Hygienalia
4-6th November 2025
Valencia
Spain
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ISSA Show North America
10-13th November 2025
Las Vegas
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INTERCLEAN
14-17th April 2026
Amsterdam
Website