Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 15th May 2025 Issue no. 1162
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 International News
Products Ulrika Kolsrud new president and CEO of Essity
Gloves do not replace hand hygiene - reminder from WHO
Battery-operated cleaning items addressed in proposed standard
Survey reveals widening gender gap in handwashing habits
Genesis+HOCl’s indoor air quality expertise showcased
New Jersey custodian wins 2025 Cintas Custodian of the Year contest
Offices are key to reinforcing culture and belonging (and thus need cleaning): a global study
Xclusive Services recognised as Avendra International approved janitorial provider
Samsic broadens service offering in Ireland through Ailesbury Services’ acquisition
Already active in Ireland since 1977, primarily through cleaning services, Samsic is now accelerating its development in the country by integrating Ailesbury Services, a leading provider of cleaning, security and support services in Ireland. LG launches commercial robotic vacuum cleaner for hotels
Unseen danger in healthcare: landmark study, supported by Splashblocker, receives top award
Nominees for 'Product of the Year ISSA Pulire 2025' Awards announced
Greener Gains: A beginner’s guide to building a sustainable cleaning business
Starting a cleaning company from the ground up is no small feat. You're likely juggling pricing strategies, sourcing supplies, marketing plans, and navigating customer acquisition - all while trying to make sound financial decisions. WypAll industrial cleaning cloths now have more absorbency and durability
Maintaining stringent contamination control in cleanrooms and controlled environments is essential for ensuring product integrity, regulatory compliance and personnel safety. One of the persistent challenges in these environments is the effective cleaning of hard-to-reach surfaces, such as ceilings, walls, ventilation systems, lighting fixtures and equipment overheads. |
Welcome to the Cleanzine
Yesterday was World FM Day, which effectively marks the week in which facilities management companies and key players all over the globe connect to celebrate the profession, look back at its achievements and plan for the future. I couldn’t help wondering, upon learning of this year’s theme: ‘Resilience in Action: Thriving in a World of Change’, just how many of the individuals involved really do feel they’re thriving, or whether perhaps they breathe a sigh of relief at the end of the working day that they’ve managed to hold everything together – not only in terms of the facilities and teams for which they’re responsible, but personally too. I don’t feel that those in the profession are held in anything like high enough regard by those outside the industry who have absolutely no idea just how much it takes to make our built environment function in the way it should, whilst keeping everyone safe, healthy and content. ‘Resilience in Action’? They need bundles of it!
But however much they have, it’s not a bottomless pit when it comes to the resources available to them, and while a bottomless pit may not be required when everything’s running smoothly, a sudden change in circumstances can so easily make everything fall apart, (think energy supply issues, cyber-attacks that can suddenly throw everything into turmoil, changing parameters and legislation, the drive towards ever greater sustainability, political upheaval, industrial action or a bug or virus decimating the team etc.).
In the UK we’ve suffered from staffing issues for some years. We have more than enough people here but not the infrastructure to support them nor the right people for the jobs that need doing to build that infrastructure or keep what we already have, afloat. They’re either unqualified or unwilling. When it comes to training there’s a lack of funding and when candidates have finished training and require accreditation, they can’t always progress because of a shortage of assessors and a backlog at test centres. In recent years we’ve lost many of those who were providing building services, but recruiting cleaners has always been difficult and luckily that part of the industry has historically been well supported by our migrant population - willing and happy to clean, when many ‘born and bred’ Brits won’t.
I hadn’t got my head around my Government thinking it’s ok to lay waste to acres and acres of prime land to accommodate solar farms while investing heavily in geo-engineering to reduce the amount of sunlight reaching Earth. Then I heard its leader’s announcement on migration… I won’t go on as I need to put my head in my hands, but if you read Tommy Taylor’s Soapbox below, you’ll know what I’m thinking right now. Well – with regard to cleaning, anyway.
   This Week's News
Carl Smith joins forces with Loo of the Year Awards to champion washroom excellence
SOAPBOX: UK Immigration Crackdown: What does it mean for the service industry?
“Earlier this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled what he described as the ‘biggest overhaul of our immigration system in a generation’. The plan aims to reduce net migration by hundreds of thousands by tightening restrictions on foreign workers, students and dependants.  Sodexo selected as strategic supplier to the NHS under new national SSRM programme
The SSRM programme is a joint initiative between DHSC, the NHSE and the Cabinet Office. It represents a shift in how the health system engages with its most critical suppliers - moving from traditional procurement approaches to a structured, collaborative model that emphasises relationship-building, long-term value creation and innovation. Harrisons launches The Industrial Range of High Performance Nonwoven Wipes
Harrisons took a rigorous, science-driven approach to developing the range, starting with an in-depth analysis of customer needs across various sectors. Each wipe was then tested in the Harrisons in-house lab for absorption, wet and dry strength and lint control, to guarantee superior performance.  Pudu Robotics' PUDU MT1 wins 2025 Red Dot Award for Product Design
The Red Dot Award, founded in 1955, is one of the most esteemed design competitions worldwide, commending products that exemplify outstanding creativity, functionality and user-centric innovation. The PUDU MT1 distinguished itself among thousands of global entries for its seamless integration of advanced AI, robust operational capabilities and intuitive design, specifically tailored for demanding large-scale environments. Breathe freshness into larger spaces with new OurFresh 2.0
"Say goodbye to leaks and lazy mist bursts, with our new professional 30-day battery-operated air freshener, designed to keep larger spaces invigoratingly fresh." says P-Wave brand manager Mark Wintle at Robert Scott. "With no aerosols, propellants or solvents - just fragrance - OurFresh 2.0 delivers a consistent, sophisticated scent for 30 days straight."  SBFM launches cleaning academy at HM Prison Wealstun
Following the initial bid in early 2023 and a comprehensive onboarding process, SBFM is the only organisation successfully enrolled on the HMP Academies Programme for a three-year contract, with the option to extend for a further two years. SBFM will train nine cohorts annually through the academy. Work at height charity shines spotlight on height safety during No Falls Week 2025
Following the success of its inaugural campaign last year, which saw almost 2,000 organisations sign up to take part, No Falls Week returns to raise awareness about the importance of safe working at height, prevent falls and ensure everyone that works at height comes down safely.
The Collection Crew of the Year win shines a light on the crew's dedication to consistent high-quality separation of recycling from residual waste, improving the nightly recycling rate significantly and contributing towards the City of Westminster's overall recycling rate.
The partnership introduces a next-generation approach to stadium and arena cleaning based on data, automation and real-time service coordination. Together, two will implement intelligent systems designed to improve cleanliness while empowering janitorial teams to respond dynamically to high-traffic demands. SFM appointed FM partner for Age UK West Sussex Brighton & Hove regional centres
The partnership marks a milestone for both organisations, with Age UK WSBH consolidating the facilities management of its centres to ensure efficiency, good value and the highest standards of maintenance. With locations in Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Brighton & Hove and Bognor Regis, the four places will benefit from SFM's proactive, people-focused approach to FM. 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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