Sustainability in Cleaning

The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) has published Sustainability and the Cleaning Industry — a report designed to help facilities teams, procurement professionals and cleaning providers make informed decisions about environmentally sustainable cleaning, while avoiding greenwashing.

1. Whole Lifecycle Thinking Sustainable cleaning is about more than a product labelled “green.” Buyers should assess the entire lifecycle: raw materials, manufacturing, transport, use and disposal.

2. Circular Economy Principles The industry is moving from “take-make-dispose” toward circular models: recyclable packaging, refillable systems and product concentrates. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle should guide procurement.

3. Concentrates and Dosing Systems Concentrated products and controlled dosing are among the most effective sustainability initiatives — reducing packaging waste, transport emissions and chemical overuse.

4. Carbon Reduction Expectations Buyers should expect suppliers to demonstrate carbon measurement programmes, published sustainability objectives, carbon reduction plans, evidence of energy efficiency improvements, and progress reporting against targets.

5. Greenwashing Caution Be wary of vague terms like “eco-friendly,” “green,” “natural” or “environmentally safe” without independently verifiable evidence.

6. Effectiveness Still Matters Environmental performance must be balanced with hygiene outcomes, product efficacy, user safety and regulatory compliance. Sustainability should not compromise cleaning standards.

Glen aims to achieve:

•  Net zero commitments •  Carbon reduction plans •  ESG reporting •  Sustainable product specifications •  Supplier carbon reporting and ethical sourcing standards Glen Group: Our Sustainability Position

We’re pleased to share how our own practices already align with the CHSA’s recommendations: