Global warming and the effect of carbon emissions on our planet have never been held at such a precedence. Greenhouse gas emissions from businesses play a significant role, with the Paris Agreement aiming to reduce 60% of total business emissions. Among various operational areas, sustainable cleaning stands out as an easily achievable method for reducing a business’s carbon footprint. Making environmentally conscious choices has never been easier for businesses.
Sustainable cleaning practices in the workplace directly influence operational emissions, creating a safer and healthier workplace for clients and employees. Traditional cleaning methods with their outdated methodologies and aggressive chemical usage are no longer necessary for achieving effective results. In this blog, we will be exploring how adopting sustainable cleaning strategies can lead to improved results for businesses.
What is sustainable cleaning?
Sustainable cleaning involves the use of environmentally conscious products and processes, aiming to output the lowest possible emissions. It includes chemical-free cleaning, reuse of materials through washing or repurposing, and the use of battery-powered machinery instead of petrol-based equipment. Sustainable cleaning optimises processes to minimise their environmental impact. Products should be biodegradable and free from single-use plastics, sourced from ethical suppliers.
Emissions are an inherent part of any business operation, including cleaning services. Cleaning teams need to travel on-site to work, where their working materials often include single-use plastics, harmful chemicals, or machinery, all of which contribute to their carbon footprint. These materials are then often disposed of in ways that harm the environment, such as going into landfill. The essence of sustainability is to lower consumption and emissions by reusing materials, recycling, or reducing waste.
As an international cleaning and facilities management supplier, Samsic is committed to ensuring that our operations and the management of our transport and suppliers are as environmentally friendly as possible. We support our teams in providing green services and reducing their carbon footprint, which ultimately benefits our clients.
Sustainable cleaning benefits businesses by providing equally effective results compared to traditional cleaning methods while being environmentally friendly. In the UK, 90% of business leaders consider sustainability important, yet only 60% have a sustainability strategy. By adopting sustainable cleaning, businesses can set themselves apart and make a positive impact.
What are the benefits of sustainable cleaning?
Sustainable cleaning benefits are numerous for businesses, clients, employees, and the broader environment and community. The use of sustainable resources can save money and enhance the reputation of the business; 83% of consumers prefer brands with strong sustainability records. Read on to discover how sustainable cleaning can benefit and shape your business’s future.
Safer for the environment
Sustainable cleaning uses fewer chemicals, generates less wastage, and reduces the carbon footprint of a business, positively impacting biodiversity and the environment. Chemical-free detergents and cleaners are cruelty-free and do not harm the environment or humans. Harmful chemicals can have severe effects on human health, causing burns and allergic reactions, and they can also cause environmental damage when they enter the water system.
For example, even biodegradable detergents are proven to have poisonous effects on aquatic life, and detergents containing phosphates can lead to high levels of algae in freshwater. Investing in chemical-free cleaning detergents is not only an investment in human health but also in preserving the environment.
Other sustainable cleaning tips for protecting the environment include water conservation and reduced energy consumption, which contribute to habitat preservation and pollution reduction.
Less harmful
As the compounds used in sustainable cleaning are less corrosive and therefore less damaging to human, plant, and animal life, it is imperative to use them. Simple solutions like mixing water and vinegar create a natural, sustainable cleaning solution that can be used for household cleaning and can be scaled up for commercial cleaning.
Plant-based cleaning agents, derived from natural ingredients, provide the same level of high-quality, effective cleaning without harmful effects on life. Use of these agents are sustainable cleaning tips as they are safer for employees and clients, are non-caustic, do not release harmful fumes, and are typically allergen-free.
Reduces consuming single-use plastic consumption
Eliminating single-use plastics in favour of durable, reusable materials like glass is not only safer for the environment but also reduces waste in landfills and incineration. Landfills contaminate soil and groundwater and release harmful gases, such as ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide, which affect the ozone layer. Sustainable cleaning practices, which prioritize reducing, reusing, and recycling, are essential for environmental conservation, removing the requirement to harvest new materials.
Samsic has successfully reduced single-use plastics by 97% through innovative solutions such as the Toucan chemical-free disinfectant, which can be produced on-site. Additionally, microfibre cloths are excellent sustainable cleaning materials, as they can be washed and reused up to 500 times, outperforming one-time-use alternatives and without releasing microplastics. Another sustainable cleaning tip is the use of biodegradable trash bags, which break down more easily in landfill conditions.
Ensure that resources are conserved
Sustainable cleaning products and solutions are designed to be efficient and cost-effective for businesses, to encourage their adoption. They are often refillable, multi-use, and have minimal packaging. Many plant-based products are highly concentrated, maximising their use while minimising external packaging.
Multi-purpose cleaning methods, such as steam cleaning, can be applied to various surfaces such as floors and upholstery, reducing the need for multiple, complex products and processes. Samsic’s chemical-free detergent, Toucan, can be used on floors, surfaces, and in washrooms, offering flexibility and sustainability and is highly adaptable. Refillable products like Toucan eliminate the need for acquiring new products or plastics, making the solution environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Sustainable cleaning benefits businesses by being more economical, requiring fewer purchases, reducing waste, and cutting costs.
Greater Ingredient transparency
Sustainable cleaning products and solutions offer much greater levels of transparency for businesses. Businesses can make informed choices based on the ingredients of products, ensuring they align with environmental and health concerns, especially regarding allergens in the workforce.
Increased knowledge of the ingredients in cleaning products allows businesses to avoid harmful chemicals, creating a safer workplace and reducing the business’s environmental impact. By making conscious consumer choices, businesses can prioritise sustainable cleaning benefits to employees and uphold their environmental responsibility while complying with regulations and being more aware of the chemicals and detergents used in their operations.
Make conscious choices with Samsic
Samsic is committed to providing sustainable services with a positive environmental impact. Through our ‘Planet 2030’ sustainable development program, we aim to significantly reduce our business’s carbon footprint and protect the planet for future generations.
We are dedicated to reducing our environmental impact and have implemented a carbon reduction plan throughout our operations. Any carbon emissions we generate are offset through Verified Carbon Standard Offsets (VCS), including tree planting, providing energy-efficient cookstoves in Kenya and supporting the protection of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. By 2025, we will have planted 100,000 trees.
Samsic strives to offer effective and lasting solutions that enhance performance and quality. Our Responsible Purchasing policy fosters sustainable partnerships with suppliers, ensuring the use of the best sustainable products for our operations while promoting our values through the supply chain. We are also compliant with ESOS and SECR 20 regulations and invest heavily in clean and green technology through our own Innovations department.
With our ‘Planet 2030’ program, we are making significant progress toward becoming carbon neutral by 2030. We have reduced our carbon emissions by 60% and our water usage by 86% since 2020, thanks to our commitment to sustainable cleaning.
Our clients benefit from unparalleled sustainable cleaning benefits as our dedication to sustainability is a fundamental part of our identity as a family company. Passing down to the next generation is a value embedded into our DNA.
Samsic’s sustainable cleaning products
At the heart of our business, innovation drives our commitment to providing exceptional products and services. We continuously seek new ways to deliver solutions that not only deliver outstanding results, ensuring hygienic and productive workplaces for our clients but also align with our unwavering dedication to sustainability and environmental consciousness. Our innovations not only elevate your experience but also contribute to a greener future.
We have achieved a remarkable 97% reduction in single-use plastics, made achievable by our multi-purpose green innovation, Toucan Eco Active. Toucan is a powerful chemical-free combined disinfectant and cleaning agent, created from a simple tap water and household salt combination, with an electrical current running through the mix to create an ionized solution. This process combines the naturally occurring elements of hydrogen, oxygen, chloride, and sodium into an effective hypochlorous acid disinfectant and sodium hypochlorite cleaning agent, at a mild pH. Toucan offers sustainable cleaning benefits as it can be created on-site and on-demand, eliminating the need for new plastic or packaging resources and replacements.
Water-saving innovations, such as our Everything Water (EW) Single Volumiser, reduce water loss by 60-80%. Our InAqua machine, a scrubber-drier that refreshes the water it uses to clean, requires significantly less water than other machines in commercial use, contributing to an 86% reduction in water consumption throughout the business.
Our Samseal floor coating preserves and protects flooring, resulting in 100% savings on the periodical stripping and sealing costs and 60% savings on replacement costs. After 5-10 years, floors can be recoated with Samseal, removing the need to replace flooring and as such saving old flooring from landfill. Sustainable cleaning benefits include longer-lasting floors, resource conservation as no chemicals or buffer pads are required – floors can be cleaned with either just water or Toucan – cost savings, and a cleaner environment.
Sustainable cleaning is a necessity in our world today. Sustainable cleaning benefits include reducing carbon emissions, minimising the use of harmful chemicals and waste, and making more conscious choices. Embracing sustainable cleaning practices not only aligns with the demand for sustainability but also sets businesses apart as environmentally responsible leaders. At Samsic, we’re dedicated to leading the way in sustainable cleaning, and we’ve achieved remarkable reductions in single-use plastics, water consumption, and environmental impact. We are on hand to help you build your business’s facilities management capabilities, becoming a greener and more environmentally conscious business in the process. Join us in making a positive impact through sustainable cleaning and building a better tomorrow together.
