Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 28th May 2026 Issue no. 1212
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Sustainability: regulations matter
By Lorcan Mekitarian, chair of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association
"The CHSA chaired an expert panel at The Cleaning Show to help buyers navigate the challenge of greenwashing and source environmentally-friendly solutions that are effective, affordable and safe to use.
With businesses working hard to operate sustainably, putting in place initiatives designed to cut carbon emissions and make sure their operations and products and services have a minimal impact on the environment, the challenge is how to do this in the current complex and uncertain economic environment.
Understandably, buyers and end users want low-cost environmentally-friendly solutions. Environmental messages can be seductive, particularly when they are coupled with highly competitive prices. In the regulated arena of cleaning chemicals, it is difficult to produce products that do the job, have a minimal impact on the environment and are sustainable. It takes years of investment and testing to get the products right and clear the regulatory hurdles. It's not surprising, therefore, that some organisations are looking for short cuts.
The doors were opened for this type of sharp practice in the pandemic. Demand for cleaning and hygiene products soared. All sorts of companies began producing products, making extraordinary and unjustifiable claims for their efficacy. The argument then, that there was little time for verification, is playing out in the climate change arena today. Some say technology is moving so fast there is no time for independent verification or regulation. The suggestion is the need for some kind of environmentally sustainable solutions outstrips the need to know if the solution is actually sustainable, if it works or how to use it to be certain it is safe.
Regulations, however, matter. They guarantee safety. They underpin transparency and ensure consistency. They provide a framework for comparison, so buyers really know if they are getting the product or solution they need. Regulations also provide accountability, giving buyers a route to recourse if needed. In short, they underwrite an ethical approach.
As the number of companies promoting unsubstantiated environmental claims for their products grew, buyers of cleaning chemicals started to ask our members how they could identify, understand and validate these claims. In response we developed practical advice, produced a glossary of key terms and published a White Paper, titled The Evolution and Regulation of Cleaning Chemicals.
The panel of experts at the Cleaning Show will also help. They will discuss the role of regulations, including the Biocidal Product Regulation, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the EU Green Claims Directive in delivering the essential transparency and accountability.
The panel, chaired by Lorcan Mekitarian, will comprise:
- Peter Thistlethwaite: Technical manager - cosmetics and biocides at MSL Solution Providers. Peter is a microbiologist with experience working in the cleaning & hygiene, cosmetics and water industries. His work involves testing and quality control.
- Daisy Hunter: Sustainability & innovations manager, Jangro
- Nicholas Parrish: Wightman and Parrish, which was recently awarded a Gold EcoVadis Certificate and became a B Corp in November 2024.
- Vikki Morris: Environment & sustainability manager for Evans Vanodine International. Vikki is a Chartered Environmentalist and a full member of the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment
- Chloe Andrews: Customer sustainability manager, Lyreco UK & Ireland. Chloe is a Certified carbon literacy trainer and IEMA registered trainer.
The Panel members will outline the key issues and take questions from the audience, helping buyers make sure they do not fall foul of exaggerated, vague or false environmental claims."
13th March 2025