*Cleanzine_logo_2a.jpgCleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 13th November 2025 Issue no. 1186

Your industry news - first

The original and best - for over 20 years!

We strongly recommend viewing Cleanzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.

Search
English French Spanish Italian German Dutch Russian Mandarin


Please note that you are viewing an archived issue of The Cleanzine.



International News
Products

Over 800 industry leaders, health practitioners and academics unite against ban on ethanol-based products - vital for public health

* INDUSTRY-LEADERS_Florian-Vernay.jpeg
A total of 842 companies, organisations, associations and individuals, representing over 20 sectors from healthcare and food & beverage, to pharmaceuticals, transport, agriculture, cosmetics and energy, have joined forces this week to call on EU and national decision-makers to take urgent action to prevent a de facto ban on ethanol-based biocidal products.
more


New report maps growth of $2.25bn industrial robot floor cleaning market

* New-report-robotics-2025.jpg
Research & Market's new 164-page 'Industrial robot floor cleaner market research report - 2025-2030', predicts that the $2.25Bn global market will continue to be driven by AI navigation, LiDAR mapping, remote monitoring and Smart BMS integration.
more


Accelerating innovation in aircare & hygiene: Vectair acquires WizKid Products

* Vectair-Acquires-WizKid.jpg
Aircare and hygiene solutions specialist Vectair has acquired Georgia, US-based WizKid Products. This move further solidifies Vectair's position as an innovation leader, combining patented technology, cutting-edge product development and expanded manufacturing capabilities to deliver next-generation solutions for customers worldwide.
more


Magnera's Paul Harmon appointed to inaugural Global Nonwovens Alliance Board

* Magnera_Paul-Harmon.jpg
Magnera’s chief innovation and marketing officer, Paul Harmon, has been appointed to the inaugural board of directors of the Global Nonwovens Alliance – the Association formed earlier this year by EDANA, (the European Disposables & Nonwovens Association) and INDA, (the International Nonwoven Disposables Association) with the aim of unifying the global nonwovens value chain.
more


Clean Cans strengthens Orlando presence with acquisition of Bin Gators

* Clean_Cans.jpeg
Clean Cans, well-known in Central Florida, US, for its eco-friendly residential trash and recycling bin cleaning and power washing services, has acquired Bin Gators, a residential bin cleaning company based in Orlando. The transaction officially closed on 3rd October, 2025.
more


AI brings increased visibility to improper waste removal practices

* Cappstone.jpg
Cappstone, a San Francisco-based commercial cleaning and facilities maintenance company, is sounding the alarm on the need for proper waste sorting. Local companies are already subject to penalties if they fall foul of sorting requirements, but these could rise if proposals go ahead to mandate recycling audits for businesses generating large amounts of waste.
more


ACI COO Korie Traver named 2026 Association Trailblazer

* ACI_Korie-Traver.jpeg
Korie Traver, chief operating officer of the American Cleaning Institute, the Trade Association for the US cleaning product supply chain, has been named a 2026 Association Trailblazer by Association TRENDS. Korie has been with ACI for more than six years and previously served as the organisation's chief financial officer.
more


CLEEN study drives 34% drop in hospital-acquired infections

* HMRI-Professor-Brett-Mitchell.jpg
Hospitals around Australia are starting to adopt a simple cleaning intervention that is cutting infection rates, saving money and freeing up hospital beds. The practice, based on research led by Hunter Medical Research Institute, targets shared medical equipment that is often overlooked in routine cleaning and is proving to be a cost-effective way to improve patient care.
more


Chicopee and Sontara announce unified strategy under Magnera

* Chicopee-Sontara.jpg
Chicopee and Sontara, two of the most trusted and established names in the professional wipes industry, have announced a unified brand strategy following their integration under parent company Magnera.
more


Waste to Wonder Worldwide: 20 years of successful corporate 'waste' redistribution

* Waste-Wonder-Worldwide.jpg
For more than two decades now, Waste to Wonder Worldwide has been rewriting the story of corporate waste... What began as a waste minimisation initiative has evolved into a global movement that has kept thousands of tons of office furniture out of landfill while unlocking extraordinary social impact for schools, hospitals and communities worldwide.
more


Europe's EcoCleans arrives in Miami - its US launchpad!

* EcoCleans.jpeg
After consolidating its success in Europe with more than two decades of industry experience, EcoCleans - a champion of ecological and sustainable cleaning - has arrived in the city of Miami, the launchpad for its business in the US.
more


 

Welcome to the Cleanzine

logo_small.gif

 

From the sublime... 
  
Last weekend I came across a video on X (was Twitter) of two guys cleaning a war memorial and its surrounds. And I don't mean a superficial 'lick & a promise', but a thorough clean over two days. Their efforts to bring the memorial up to scratch deserved far wider coverage so I did my best to track them down. South Benfleet, Essex-based Harry Salmon and Evan O'Brien, who run WeCleanProperty, should be proud of themselves and I'd like to thank them on everyone's behalf for their efforts last week at the Hadleigh, Essex, memorial. Their website (https://www.wecleanproperty.co.uk ) says: “With a focus on quality and attention to detail, we specialise in transforming exteriors.” Well… I can certainly second that! Last Sunday was remembrance Sunday - a day, along with 11th November, where ordinary folk all over, stop what they're doing to either silently remember those who laid their lives on the line for our leaders, or who visit a war memorial to observe or take part in a formal ceremony. At a time when there's so much turmoil in the world, and so many veterans despairing of the way the UK's being run into the ground and questioning whether their efforts were worth it, Harry and Evan's gesture has made this a better place. See the video here
  
* LEADER-PIC-13TH-NOV2025.jpg

To the ridiculous... 

  
I'm often banging on about litter louts and my despair that so many manage to get away with blighting our environment, but sometimes - admittedly rarely - I'm on the side of the litterbug. I came across a report on the BBC website a couple of days back, (I’ve not checked it out but will assume that it’s authentic!) that had me shaking my head in disbelief. A Feltham, London resident is being fined £1,000 by Hounslow Council for ‘fly-tipping’ an envelope outside her flat. The 26-year-old woman said that the bins she shares with some 25 other properties were full, so she placed the cardboard envelope on top of cardboard next to them – a completely logical and responsible action in my view. The Council thinks differently, but while its argument that fly tipping is “leaving waste anywhere in public apart from in a bin - regardless of whether bins are full” adheres to the letter of the law, its stance is taking things too far. The young woman - a single parent and a mental health nurse, is clearly not the type councils should be punishing, and while they go after easy targets, they’re not dealing with the real problem, are they? I’m disgusted that they’ve not backed down...

 

FB.jpg

 www.facebook.com/Cleanzine

 

* Twitter-X-Logo.jpeg You can also follow us on X (Twitter) @cleanzine


Yours,

JAN.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Jan Hobbs


This Week's News

Tork donates $25,000 in sustainable hygiene products

* TORK-donates.jpegLuke Musgrave, of the Green Bay Packers American football team, joined representatives from Tork, the Green Bay Packers and Rawhide Youth Services to celebrate a donation of $25,000 in sustainable hygiene products to Rawhide Youth Services.

The donation is the result of the 5th annual ‘Tackle Hygiene with Every Catch’ campaign, which ran through the first five home games of the Packers' 2025 season and aimed to raise awareness about the importance of hand hygiene and sustainability. For every completed reception during those games, Tork pledged to donate $250 worth of sustainably produced hygiene products, including paper towel rolls and toilet paper, to Rawhide Youth Services.
more


Destination or obligation: how FM can help in the return-to-office battle

* Destination2.jpegAs hybrid working becomes the norm, more and more companies are recognising the need to create a destination office that will attract and retain employees by offering more than just a place to work.

The pandemic saw a shift to remote working, driven by flexibility and an improved work/life balance which has had a direct impact on city centres and office space use. This changing culture means today a workplace has to speak to an employee's sense of wellbeing as much as to their desire to do a good job.
more



Tim Downing joins Sitemark Board

* Lord-Digby-Sitemark.jpegSitemark has appointed Tim Downing to the board of directors to spearhead the company’s next phase of business growth.

Tim, who was UK managing director for RPS Project Management Group before its acquisition by Tetra Tech, will be responsible for the development of a network of international partners to facilitate the delivery of Sitemark benchmarking across the globe. The business is already in discussions with potential partners in the Middle East, North America and Australia.
more


The Clean Space volunteers deep clean at Paddington Church

* The-Clean-Space-Volunteers.jpegThe Clean Space has extended its commitment to community impact, with its 10 volunteers providing a complimentary deep clean at the historic Church of St Mary Paddington Green, paying particular attention to high-level areas.

Located in St Mary's Square, London, the Church plays an important role within the Paddington community, and The Clean Space team members were proud to contribute their time and expertise to help preserve this local landmark.
more




SOAPBOX: AI's hidden cost… water consumption set to quadruple by 2028

* AI-Hidden-Cost.jpegBy Klaus Reichardt, CEO of Waterless Co.

“Artificial intelligence is creating an unprecedented water crisis. Data centres powering AI systems consumed approximately 17 billion gallons of water in the US in 2023, a figure projected to surge to 68 billion gallons by 2028 – almost a 300% increase in just five years.

Never in the history of this country has demand for water increased so dramatically in such a short time. This will obviously reshape utility costs.
more


Protecting workers from workplace transport: getting the basics right

* Protecting-workers.jpgEvery year, families all over face the devastating loss of a loved one killed by a reversing vehicle at work. These are not just statistics. They are family members, friends and colleagues whose lives were cut short by entirely preventable accidents.

The stark reality is that being struck by a moving vehicle accounts for 16% of all fatal work-related injuries, claiming an average of 21 lives annually over the past five years, making it one of the leading causes of work-related fatalities in Great Britain.
more



BladeRanger expands European operations

* BladeRanger.jpgAutonomous drone-based infrastructure maintenance pioneer, BladeRanger, is expanding its European operations across Southern Europe, as Greece continues to invest heavily in large-scale solar infrastructure.
more


Sybron and Opera merge

* Sybron-Opera.jpegSybron, which supplies cleaning, hygiene and catering products to some of the largest names in UK hospitality along with the education, healthcare and facilities management sectors, has merged with northern-based, family-run business, Opera National Hygiene & Catering Supplies (Opera).

Based in Nantwich, Cheshire, and founded by John and Marie Whittaker, Opera has built a great reputation across the Midlands and the North, proudly serving customers in the hospitality sector, with a clear focus on quality service and strong relationships.
more



MSD Risk-Reduction Through Design Awards 2026 - open for nominations

* MSD-risk.jpgFor a decade, the Health & Safety Executive’s ‘Risk-Reduction Through Design Awards’ have highlighted UK employers who have made smart, practical design changes to reduce the risks of musculoskeletal disorders.

These conditions affect the back, joints and limbs, and are a leading cause of work-related ill health, contributing to over 6.6 million lost working days each year in Great Britain.
more


Beer and whiskey industry residue biomethane plant to operate in Ireland from mid-2026

* Beer-whiskey-biomethane.jpegGerman manufacturer Weltec Biopower is building a biomethane plant for Irish company Evergreen Agricultural Enterprises at the company's headquarters in Monasterevin, County Kildare.

The plant, which will go into operation in mid-2026, will ferment production residues and by-products from the Irish beer and whiskey industry - readily available materials that are unsuitable for animal feed.
more


Carlisle Support Services secures Soft FM contract with South Western Railway

* Carlisle-Support-Services-SW-Railway.jpegCarlisle Support Services has secured a Soft FM contract with South Western Railway (SWR), further growing its well-established portfolio of clients within the rail sector.

The partnership went live in April following a three-month mobilisation period, now covering the cleaning and servicing of more than 180 stations, offices and depots spanning from London to Weymouth and to the Isle of Wight.
more


Combimac: the combination machine with the power of a sweeper and performance of a floor scrubber

Introducing Combimac, the new combination machine from Comac, designed to deliver maximum efficiency in industrial cleaning…. A single solution that combines the robustness of a true sweeper with the performance of a floor scrubber, allowing you to tackle any surface with consistently impeccable results.

One combination machine for many sectors...
more


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.

Search The Cleanzine:

How to contact us at The Cleanzine:

Jan Hobbs
Publishing Editor
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 07980 288 373

* JAN.jpg
John Austen
Publishing Director
Media & Communications
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 07766 707 888
 
* John-pro-shot.jpg
www.facebook.com/Cleanzine  FB.jpg
@cleanzine  * Twitter-X-Logo.jpeg

REQUEST THE CLEANZINE HERE

The Cleanzine is broadcast every Thursday. You may receive it FREE each week by clicking the link above.
To prevent this newsletter from getting swept up by overzealous email filters, we suggest that you add [email protected] to your address book.



Hospital Hygiene

Hospial Corridor

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

Sitemark celebrates 20 years of driving innovation in facilities management

* Sitemark-group-shot.jpeg
Sitemark, a leading independent facilities management benchmarking and best practice consultancy with clients both in the UK and far further afield, is celebrating a major milestone in 2025: 20 years of transforming the way organisations manage, measure and improve their facilities.
more


Atlas scoops RoSPA Award

* Atlas-RoSPA.jpg
Atlas FM has received a RoSPA Silver Award, demonstrating its commitment to health & safety excellence and keeping staff, customers, clients and contractors safe at work.
more


OCS announces new FM contract for Elizabeth Line with GTS Rail Operations

* OCS-Elizabeth-line.jpeg
OCS has announced the renewal of its contract to deliver facilities management services across the Elizabeth line, following the award of a new concession to GTS Rail Operations, (the joint venture between Go Ahead Group, Tokyo Metro and Sumitomo).
more


Biffa fined almost £2.5 million after worker crushed by skip wagon

* Biffa-fined.jpg
Waste management company Biffa has been fined £2.48 million after a worker was run over by a reversing skip wagon at a waste transfer station in Bradford.
more


Principle Cleaning Services awarded ‘highly’ for Health & Safety Excellence

* Principle-RoSpa-award.jpeg
Congratulations to Principle Cleaning Services whose ‘vertical team’ has won a Silver RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) Award.
This is a powerful endorsement of the training, support and empowerment the company provides to its workforce, enabling them to deliver excellence and work safely at height every single day.
more


Southgate Global responds to Plastic Packaging Tax demands with GRS Certified product range

* Southgate-Global-Pacplus.jpeg
Southgate Global is helping organisations confidently navigate Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) requirements with the introduction of a new Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified product range.

Originally introduced in April 2022, PPT was established to provide an economic incentive for businesses in all sectors, including packaging, logistics and manufacturing, to use more recycled plastic in packaging.
more


Commercial cleaning company Mrs Buckét celebrates 20 years

* Mrs-Buckét-20-years.jpg
Award-winning commercial cleaning company, Mrs Buckét, is celebrating 20 years in business this month, marking two decades of growth, innovation and exceptional service. Founded in 2005 by Rachael Flanagan when she was just 18 years old, Mrs Buckét has evolved from a one-woman operation into a highly successful business.
more


Loo of The Year Awards’ Becky Wall BEM wins two Awards herself

* LOTY-Charles-Becky.jpeg
Herefordshire entrepreneur Becky Wall BEM is celebrating a remarkable double success - having been named Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 at the Herefordshire Means Business Awards and also receiving a Silver Award for Lifetime Achievement at the national Best Business Women Awards 2025.
more


Keenan Recycling sustainability update 2025: powering a circular future

* Keenan-biogas-powered.jpeg
Food waste recycling expert Keenan Recycling, has released its Sustainability Update 2025, showcasing major progress in the nation's transition toward a net zero, circular economy. The report highlights the company's achievements in transforming food waste into renewable energy, cutting emissions and driving positive social impact.
more


No drama: The Clean Space to perform for RADA

* RADA.jpeg
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, one of the UK's most prestigious and historic drama schools, has appointed The Clean Space as its new cleaning partner across both RADA and RADA Business buildings.
more


Brain study reveals that cleaning is an unexpected mood booster!

* Cleaning-Beats-Karak.jpg
In an age where exhaustion, burnout and news fatigue are pushing people to chase micro-moments of happiness - whether it's sipping Chai, playing video games or scrolling through social media, a surprising new contender is emerging: cleaning.
more


Clean up volunteers find disgusting mess in Loch Lomond lay-bys

* Clean-up-Loch-Lomond.jpeg
On 25th September, 12 'Make a Difference Day' volunteers from Edrington, AECOM, Scottish Water and the 'Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs' themselves (the Friends), turned out to help clean up laybys along the A82 next to Loch Lomond.
more


Wray Bros celebrates 40 years in the cleaning & hygiene industry

* Wray-Bros.jpg
Wray Bros, a family-run cleaning & hygiene business in the heart of Toxteth, Liverpool, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. From a £3,000 Prince's Trust (now King's Trust) grant, to a national leader in cleaning supplies and workwear, its journey is a powerful story of resilience, innovation and social impact rooted in community value.
more


Events & Exhibitions

Innovation Lab 2026
5th March 2026
Liverpool
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


© The Cleanzine 2026.
Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Hall of Fame | Cookies | Sitemap