The coronavirus pandemic has changed the view of cleaning and hygiene forever. Understanding how to break the chain of infection has never been more important. The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association’s (CHSA) webinar – ‘8 Moments of Targeted Hygiene’ – will help contract cleaners and facilities managers break the chain. The speakers are Professor Sally Bloomfield, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH), and Dr. John Hines, global Research, Development and Engineering (RD&E) Director for CHSA member SC Johnson Professional.

Cleanology’s long term commitment to fair pay in the cleaning industry has resulted in a win at last night’s prestigious Living Wage Champion Awards. CEO Dominic Ponniah celebrated the win with staff, saying: “Of all the awards Cleanology has won in recent years, this has the most significance. It means so much to our team, which campaigns tirelessly to make Cleanology a Living Wage company. In an industry known for low pay and fast turnover of staff, we are committed to changing the landscape, and we are unbelievably proud to receive recognition for our work.”

The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) is announcing the launch of a new brand. It follows the CHSA’s achievement of its strategic aim of every member being Accredited. Our Standards. Your Guarantee. The CHSA has a longstanding commitment to standards, it’s first Accreditation Scheme being launched in 1997. During 2020 it launched an Accreditation Scheme for manufacturers of cleaning chemicals and integrated its rigorous Code of Practice into its Schemes

NIC Services Group is delighted to announce they have been listed in the Financial Times top 1000 Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies for the second consecutive year. This prestigious list identifies Europe’s fastest growing companies with the strongest revenue growth. NIC is a leading facilities management company providing clients across the UK and Ireland with innovative cost-effective solutions to their business needs.

Everyone is facing challenges in the pandemic, from isolation to anxiety. In the cleaning and hygiene sector these are compounded by working on the frontline to keep workplaces clean and safe, and maintaining the supply of essential cleaning and hygiene products. The pressure is intense. Acknowledging the potential impact on the health of people in the sector, the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) is hosting a mental wellbeing webinar for members: How are we doing?

The catering industry has been fundamentally threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic, with tighter restrictions set to stay in place for the foreseeable future. Jangro, the UK and Ireland’s largest network of independent janitorial suppliers, has expanded its comprehensive range of solutions to help businesses in the food industry continue trading throughout (and beyond) these uncertain times. They are able to offer everything the sector needs to adapt their processes and keep trading, from sustainable takeaway packaging, to effective cleaning and hygiene supplies and processes.

As the UK goes back to work, school and university, organisations need to clean and keep clean offices, shops and all other public spaces. The risk of a source of infection has to be mitigated but, faced with plenty of extraordinary product claims, how to select the right cleaning and hygiene products? Nicky Biggart, UK Janitorial Sales Manager of CHSA member Evans Vanodine, and Chris Ryan, Head of International Business at BICSc answered questions during the CHSA’s webinar.

Pioneering cleaning firm Cleanology is saving 7,000 plastic bottles a year from landfill by kitting out staff in uniforms made from recycled plastic. CEO Dominic Ponniah said: “We are extremely proud to be the first to introduce recycled uniforms within our industry. This is just the latest drive to make Cleanology a truly sustainable business. We already operate an electric fleet, and tackle portion control with our chemical-free sachets. Buying recycled, in the form of recycled uniforms, helps to close the loop even further.”

The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) has written to the Health Secretary, The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, asking employees of manufacturers and distributors of cleaning and hygiene products be eligible for priority testing for the coronavirus Anyone over the age of five who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 – a temperature, cough and the loss of the sense of taste and smell – is now able to secure a test for coronavirus. Essential workers in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland can apply for priority testing through GOV.uk. These tests are prioritised over those made available to the wider public through the NHS.

The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) is warning all buyers of cleaning and hygiene products to beware of unscrupulous profiteers capitalising on the unprecedented demand for these products. New companies have been set up to buy and sell on products like hand and surface sanitisers, gloves, wipes, tissue and aprons. Some are also buying up raw materials and attempting to produce some products. Primarily selling online, their products carry an exceptionally high mark-up and there is no guarantee they meet industry standards. There is also a marked increase in imported Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with fake or no CE marking, the certification mark that indicates conformance with European Union directives regarding health and safety or environmental protection.