Green and serene: easy options for sustainable cleaning in hotels

Tracking a carbon footprint

Jankovich was in New York at the end of September, soaking up the sights and sounds of the city’s Climate Week. Some might argue that flying to a climate action event is a contradiction in terms, but he doesn’t see it that way. “I’m a big believer in being face to face, because decisions can be made much faster,” he says. “But the size of the thing – 900 events in a week – shows how people understand there’s a need to get on top of it.”

This is as true of hotels as anywhere else, and Jankovich believes Delphis Eco, whose products are plant-based and non-toxic, is perfectly placed to fit into sustainable projects. “Every single one of our suppliers is checked from a sustainability perspective,” he says. “We can give hotels a live carbon footprint of what they’re using.”

According to Jankovich, Delphis Eco has helped room2, part of Lamington Group, achieve a 74.8% carbon reduction in the past 12 months, which is a carbon savings of 2.77 tonnes – “the equivalent of 20,367 coffees, 1,500 standard wash cycles and charging 354,330 smartphones”, he says. 

Delphis Eco, the first UK manufacturer to achieve EU Ecolabel accreditation on selected products, offers a variety of products for use throughout hotels, such as bio and non-bio laundry detergent, stain liquid and powder and fabric conditioner. They’re the sort of products customers expect businesses to be using now, says Jankovich. “The customers are asking for it,” he says. “They’re driving it.”

Another ecological option is BioHygiene. Its sustainable cleaning products are better than conventional options in more ways than one, according to Dan Francis, head of sales for hospitality. “Traditional chemicals mask odours, demand more labour and leave sticky residues that can mislead guests about cleanliness,” he says. 

“BioHygiene uses synergistic biotech/ecotec to tackle dirt, grime and grease. These solutions elevate cleanliness while reducing the cleaning intensity needed for high-traffic areas by removing organic matter and odours at the source, protecting surfaces with a natural biofilm and leaving no sticky residues – achieving the best cleanliness experience.”

Sanitised times

There are plenty of options for hygiene-focused operators in terms of labour-savouring products. Take HyGenikx, a wall-mounted sanitiser from Mechline, which is designed to enhance and amplify the cleanliness of an area when coupled with good routine practice. It works by using germicidal UVC to eradicate viruses and bacteria, according to John Newell, director at Mechline Developments.

“With models available for a whole host of environments, from washrooms and kitchens right through to restaurants and reception areas, the HyGenikx range is the perfect addition for hygiene-focused hotels,” he says. “The whole HyGenikx range is competitively priced, consumes very little energy, requires no training and no costly installation. The sanitiser simply plugs into a standard socket and operates 24/7 without the need for any human intervention.”

Then there’s Truvox’s Multiwash Pro scrubber-dryer range. “It’s effective on all flooring types and washes, scrubs and dries in a single pass, giving improved and unrivalled cleaning results, and leaves floors ready for your guests and staff to walk on,” says Paul Robinson, UK national sales manager. “We’re also introducing the Multiwash Pro Battery, which is perfect for hotel lobbies as there are no trailing cables.”

Sybron, meanwhile, has been appointed as preferred distribution partner in the UK for My Drap, as the company is seeking to expand its UK business. Owned by Texia, My Drap designs and manufactures single-use fabric coasters, napkins and placemats made from natural materials.

“As a forward-thinking and dynamic business, we continually seek out new collaborations to enhance our product offering,” says Sybron sales and marketing director George Mason. “My Drap aligns perfectly with our ethos and its commitment to sustainability resonates deeply with Sybron’s values. Its products boast an unmatched level of quality, setting them apart from other disposable alternatives in the market.”

Keeping a hotel of any size spotlessly clean is a hugely complex challenge, which is where a smart team-management system such as Monika comes in. “Monika’s capabilities cover three functions; team management, equipment management and enterprise management,” says Rag Hulait, Monika UK director of sales. “On the team management front, operators can programme a bespoke list of tasks for teams to work through, which can be checked off as they are completed via Monika’s smart handheld device.”

In the end, as Jankovich puts it, it’s the customer that decides if a product is any good or not – which is why Delphis puts its customers on the packaging. “It’s not about me saying ‘this is eco-friendly’, it’s the people who use them every day [that matter],” he says. “They wouldn’t have the confidence to be quoted on our bottles if they didn’t think the product was good.”

Suppliers

BioHygiene biologicalpreparations.com/biohygiene

Delphis Eco delphiseco.com

Hygenikx www.mechline.com/hgx

Monika www.monika.com

My Drap eu.mydrap.com

Truvox truvox.com