Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 15th January 2026 Issue no. 1193
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 International News
Products ACI hires sustainability manager, strengthening member support and program initiatives
Michael will serve as sustainability manager at ACI, supporting both ongoing programs and the development of new initiatives that advance industry-wide sustainability progress, advocacy, knowledge building and outreach.  From aisles to industry: Tennant's new X6 ROVR handles it all
This purpose-built robotic floor cleaning machine is thoughtfully designed for manoeuvrability and versatility, allowing it to clean spaces some other floor scrubbers might struggle with, and to deliver maximum cleaning coverage with minimal oversight in a wide variety of spaces - such as retail stores, supermarkets and logistics & warehousing facilities.
“Service robots, as covered in the new IDTechEx report, ‘Service Robots 2026-2036: Technologies, Players & Markets’, can be used to automate several industries, including logistics and delivery, cleaning, agriculture, underwater exploration, food service, and social interaction. Xenex receives Health Canada Registration for LightStrike6 UV Robot
New partnership is addressing Ghana’s waste management issues
Interclean 2026 just got even better!
Here's a first look at what's new: EDANA wraps up its Sustainability & Policy Forum 2025
Clean-Tech Expo 2026 - a trade fair for modern cleaning technologies
Startup FreshCheck receives £150k funding to advance its hygiene verification technology
Founded in 2015 by Imperial College London PhD alumni Alex Bond and Dr. John Simpson, FreshCheck has transformed their lab side project into a rapidly growing hygiene innovation company.
Designed specifically for cleanrooms and controlled environments, this new versatile system delivers unmatched performance in maintaining the highest contamination control standards, ensuring compliance with industry regulations. Urgent clarification needed on scope of Textiles EPR for PPE, say industry bodies
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Welcome to the Cleanzine
My refuse team was apparently short staffed last collection day due to sickness, so the armpit-high bins in which we put paper, card, plastics, tins and cartons weren’t emptied. If we can’t fit everything we need to into that bin, we’re encouraged to leave our bulky waste cardboard next to it instead, to free up room inside for the other items that can’t be securely left in a pile on the ground and which would be difficult for the team to scoop up. As many of us had taken advantage of this ‘service perk’ to get rid of the last of our Christmas-related packaging last week, you can imagine the chaos in our gardens and on the road outside when Storm Goretti hit a couple of days after collection was supposed to have taken place, bringing two days of high winds and torrential rain! I’m pleased to report that everything appeared to have returned to normal after this week’s collection – which of course involved two weeks’ worth of residents’ recyclables crammed into the bins - but it must have taken some work and can’t have been pleasant for the team, scooping up sodden cardboard that had been soaking in deep puddles for several days, and attempting to chase down and capture the multitude of plastic bottles and food cartons that had been squeezed in the bins and which flew out when the lids were opened and scooted down the road driven by the still-heavy winds.
A decent enough service then… or is it? As a child I recall everything being so much more relaxed, with our ‘dustmen’, as they were called, coming down our paths and hoisting the metal bins onto their shoulders, carrying them back to the lorry and manually emptying them, before returning them to our homes. None of this ‘leave large bins blocking footpaths & chuck the smaller ones into the owner’s (or a neighbour’s) garden’ as we so often see today. If anything was spilled, it was immediately cleaned up and the path or road swept, so there were no visible signs that anyone had been there. These days everyone seems to be under too much pressure, having to work at a trot rather than at normal pace and leaving spillages for residents to clear up once we’ve relocated our bins. What’s changed? Yes the country’s more densely populated but surely this means that there are more people available to do the work which requires doing? Are the budgets so tight that we can’t employ large enough teams to ‘leave everything as they’d like to find it’? Or to cover for a colleague or two who’ve called in sick? Perhaps with the right-sized team, anyone surplus on the day could clear the drains, so in future, puddles don’t turn into rivers. We’re being threatened with service cutbacks. I dread to think what’s coming next…
This Week's News
Nilfisk’s Board tells shareholders to accept Freudenberg’s takeover offer
The recommendation is based on the attractive offer price, transaction certainty and the strategic rationale of the proposed transaction. The offer price of DKK 140 in cash per share represents an attractive premium compared to historical share prices and values Nilfisk's share capital at approximately DKK 3.8 billion. The Board also notes that the offer is fully financed and supported by irrevocable undertakings from shareholders representing 50.9% of Nilfisk's shares, significantly increasing the likelihood of completion.  EDANA unveils the professional development and events 2026 calendar
The events are as follows: Nanobubbles market research report 2026-2036 now available
The report provides detailed analysis, revenue forecasts and strategic insights into the rapidly evolving nanobubble industry, delivering actionable intelligence for investors, manufacturers, end users and stakeholders seeking to understand market dynamics, identify growth opportunities and navigate the competitive landscape of the global nanobubbles industry.  Sitemark shapes future of public sector catering and cleaning services
The company's selection for both ESPO (Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation - one of the UK's leading public sector procurement organisations) 704C_25 (Catering Consultancy) and ESPO 263C_25 (Cleaning Consultancy) frameworks provides access to specialist procurement and contract management support for local authorities, NHS trusts, educational institutions, housing associations and emergency services nationwide. AI's thirst for water: a looming crisis for the cleaning industry
"The industry hasn't felt the squeeze yet because most of these data centres are still on the drawing board or under construction, but that's about to change - and fast."  Remote inspection camera secures safer, smarter overhead cleaning
Overhead areas - such as beams, ductwork and rafters - are notorious for collecting dust and debris that can pose operational and safety risks. According to Goodway and its expert tips on overhead vacuum cleaning, proper inspection is the first step to maintaining a clean and compliant facility. However, traditional methods often require ladders or lifts, increasing labour costs and safety hazards. Chemical-free drain seal technology Green Drain to expand UK operations
The launch is aimed at providing hygiene product suppliers, pest control product distributors and FM suppliers with a profitable, unique solution to meet the growing customer demand for permanent, non-toxic drain protection.  Where there's muck...Yorkshire Dirt Index 2026 reveals Winter as dirtiest season for workplaces
Released by the York and Leeds-based commercial cleaning Smart Cleaning, the index analyses seasonal cleanliness patterns in offices, coworking spaces and commercial buildings across Leeds, York and the wider Yorkshire region. The Cleanzine Archive Search We keep an extensive archive of news stories and product information that have featured in past issues of The Cleanzine. If you would like to run a search of the The Cleanzine web site using the search tool below please just go ahead by entering in the name of the person, product or company or any other key words that you are looking for. How to contact us at The Cleanzine:
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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
Key industry leaders commit to making sure the sector's voice is heard by Government
Key cleaning and hygiene industry leaders have held a high-level meeting in London to discuss working together on a strategy for the sector to achieve improved Government recognition. Why Hard FM is sitting on millions in untapped savings
England's waste system to undergo its biggest reform in April
Hooper Services achieves ISO 9001 Certification
Tech Tidings: Mitie’s carolling cobots serenade commuters at London Bridge station
Loo of the Year Awards entries reveal rise in standards for even more facilities
Over half of Brits make mistakes at work due to stress, research finds
Kärcher UK unveils St Albans centre to power up Greater London support
Spotless bolsters Midlands business with Eco-Clean acquisition
Events & Exhibitions Horecava The Cleaning Show Innovation Lab 2026 Clean-Tech Expo Cleaning Expo INTERCLEAN The Workplace Event |
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