Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 11th April 2024 Issue no. 1109
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Anti-microbial product making washrooms and feminine hygiene units cleaner and safer
Welsh biosciences company Genesis Biosciences has developed what it says is anti-microbial technology for the facilities management industry, which provides protection to users of feminine hygiene units through a patented 'vapour technology', based on a natural active ingredient being supported under the European Biocidal Products Directive.
In 2015 the EU, under the Biocidal Products Regulations, launched an approved suppliers list to better regulate the supply of biocidal products in Europe; improving safety for users and product quality. Only products containing biocidal materials from an approved supplier can be legally traded in the EU market.
Due to the importance of treating sanitary waste efficiently in washrooms, Genesis Biosciences' anti-microbial feminine hygiene technology was created to tackle two key issues; to stop odour forming at the source by controlling the growth of malodour-causing bacteria, and protect washroom users from harmful pathogens which may be reside inside the feminine hygiene unit.
Effectively treating sanitary waste in washrooms and feminine hygiene units is a pressing issue for the facilities management industry.
While odour control improves hygiene perception, odour neutralising products do not offer sustainable protection from harmful bacteria found in sanitary waste units.
In particular, it is of paramount importance that sanitary waste is treated effectively as sanitary protection products can contain pathogens that can survive in untreated hygiene units. The humid, nutrient rich conditions found within a feminine hygiene unit are ideal to propagate the growth of micro-organisms to levels that could pose a threat to human health.
The Health Protection Agency estimates that infectious intestinal diseases, commonly spread through public and work washroom facilities, cost English businesses £530m every year through absenteeism.
Genesis Biosciences' feminine hygiene products provide up to 99.999% protection against harmful bacteria, including E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
The unique active ingredient and vapour action within Genesis's feminine hygiene unit germicide has been scientifically proven to effectively combat harmful bacteria in the waste throughout the full length of the service cycle, even when the feminine hygiene unit is full of sanitary waste, offering far greater protection to washroom users in comparison to traditional odour masking products and chemical cleaners. Genesis Biosciences says it is the only supplier of feminine hygiene products in Europe that can substantiate this anti-microbial claim.
The anti-microbial active ingredient is harmless to its surrounding environment, making its application and storage safer.
Better feminine hygiene and washroom maintenance is also an issue of corporate responsibility. With greater public concerns over hygiene standards, companies and providers of public facilities are under more pressure from employees and users of public washrooms to improve their hygiene procedures.
"With the introduction of BPR regulations, there should be greater transparency and scientific accountability for anti-microbial products in the European market," argues Emma Saunders, general manager at Genesis Biosciences.
"Safely treating sanitary waste is a both a health and corporate responsibility issue and companies need to be aware that alternative anti-microbial products on the market simply do not offer the same scientifically validated 'in use' protection.
"By choosing alternative odour control products to maintain washroom facilities and treat sanitary waste, companies could be putting their employees at risk of infection and undermining their hygiene procedures."
T: +44 (0)29 2079 1185
W: www.genesisbiosciences.co.uk
31st March 2016