Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 30th October 2025 Issue no. 1184
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International News
Products ACI COO Korie Traver named 2026 Association Trailblazer
CLEEN study drives 34% drop in hospital-acquired infections
Chicopee and Sontara announce unified strategy under Magnera
Waste to Wonder Worldwide: 20 years of successful corporate 'waste' redistribution
Free webinar: Cost, Control, and Coverage… choosing what HR to own vs. outsource
Europe's EcoCleans arrives in Miami - its US launchpad!
ISSA appoints Kim Althoff executive director as John Barrett transitions to Emeritus role
New robot floor cleaners respond dynamically to foot traffic in commercial spaces
Built for big messes and bigger expectations: new Facility Pro pre-moistened Towelettes
Sofidel further expands its production capacity in the US
Smart washrooms go live at Beijing Daxing International Airport
Service robots see global growth boom: cleaning robots show highest growth
BSCAI announces 2025 Clean Awards and Scholarship recipients
Navigate modern cleaning challenges with help from Tennant's free webinar series
Minnisota State Park has far more than ‘the bear necessities’ says Cintas
Comac Deutschland: a new subsidiary, a new beginning
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Welcome to the Cleanzine
Southgate Global, whose news we include this week, reminded me of the consternation I felt recently when helping a friend prepare guest 'nibbles' by opening pots of shop-bought dips and hummus. I’ve occasionally bought similar when pushed for time, (my own is better!) and always keep the plastic pots which I use regularly for anything from storing leftover food or taking tea/coffee/sugar/spare batteries to festivals etc, to safely carrying home leaves, feathers, stones and the like that my toddler granddaughter collects when we're out. I wash the pots when empty again and pop them into the cupboard until they're next needed, which is always very soon…
A perfect example, in my view, of the ‘reduce, repurpose, re-use, recycle’ mantra. I'm reducing my consumption by not buying new pots for storage and am instead making good use of something that happens to be at hand. The simple act of opening a few food pots alerted me to how some companies have opted to avoid paying as much plastic packaging tax as they might have done, in a way that has, in my view, backfired in terms of effectively reducing the use of virgin plastic - something the tax was designed to do. In case you're in the dark here, the tax was introduced in 2022 to incentivise businesses to use more recycled content in their plastic packaging, and is applied to packaging that contains less than 30% recycled content. It equates to £223.69 per metric tonne of plastic used. On paper it all makes sense, but when you consider that many companies opted to ‘lighten the load’ by ditching the lids in food packaging pots in favour of unrecyclable, lightweight, thin plastic film which - once peeled back, doesn't seal again, you can see why I used the word ‘backfired’. The lack of a proper seal allows the content to quickly dry out and thus causes extra food waste and potential spillages, and vastly reduces the repurposing options. Then there’s the need to cover the content with something, be it foil or cling-film, which will also likely end up in landfill.
Add to that the accusations that virgin plastic may be being sold by unscrupulous vendors who claim that it's recycled, and you'll understand why I'm so disgruntled.
My picture shows some of the pots that would have previously included a solid plastic lid, which would have enabled people like me to wash and reuse the pots over and over. It is, of course, just a small sample, but it shows how not thinking things through properly, can have unexpected consequences.
This Week's News
Magnera's Paul Harmon appointed to inaugural Global Nonwovens Alliance Board
Paul's appointment reflects Magnera's commitment to shaping the future of nonwovens through strategic innovation, marketing leadership and sustainable product development. His deep industry expertise and forward-thinking approach will contribute to the Alliance's efforts to align global priorities and deliver meaningful impact. Southgate Global responds to Plastic Packaging Tax demands with GRS Certified product range
AI brings increased visibility to improper waste removal practices
The new rules could cost transgressors up to $1,000 per day in fines, says Cappstone, which helps companies navigate these regulations with proactive waste sorting solutions. Commercial cleaning company Mrs Buckét celebrates 20 years
With its headquarters in Swansea, it is now on track to achieve a projected £11.5 million turnover in 2026, employing almost 500 staff and serving 185 commercial clients across Wales and Bristol. Loo of The Year Awards’ Becky Wall BEM wins two Awards herself
Keenan Recycling sustainability update 2025: powering a circular future
"At Keenan Recycling, we've always believed food waste should never go to waste," says Fergus Healy, head of strategic development and net zero. "Every bin we collect is more than waste diverted from landfill - it's clean energy, carbon savings and a contribution to a more sustainable UK." No drama: The Clean Space to perform for RADA
The contract covers a wide variety of facilities, from rehearsal studios and technical workshops to public performance venues and administrative spaces. |
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Jan Hobbs |
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| John Austen Publishing Director Media & Communications Email: [email protected] Tel: 07766 707 888 |
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Microsoft tips: Millions of PCs set for landfill after Windows Update, warns green tech pioneer

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Thank Your Cleaner Day: Recognising the essential role of cleaning professionals

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Cleanology's annual charity fundraiser raises record £34,000 for The Hygiene Bank

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The unusable washroom - Tork and Publicis London spotlight barriers to inclusive hygiene

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Genesis Biosciences continues team growth with new appointments

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Gareth David appointed as head of sales at Robert Scott

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ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo
29-30th October 2025
Sydney
Website
Hygienalia
4-6th November 2025
Madrid
Spain
Website
ISSA Show North America
10-13th November 2025
Las Vegas
Website
Horecava
12-15th January 2026
Amsterdam
Website
The Cleaning Show
18-19th February 2026
Manchester
Website
Clean-Tech Expo
10-12th March 2026
Warsaw
Website
Cleaning Expo
27-28th March 2026
NAEC Stoneleigh Park
Website
INTERCLEAN
14-17th April 2026
Amsterdam
Website
The Workplace Event
28-30th April 2026
NEC
Birmingham UK
Website