The CHSA – Promoting Standards and Sustainability at the Manchester Cleaning Show

The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) is proudly promoting standards and sustainability at the Manchester Cleaning Show on 6 and 7 April 2022.

As well as joining the BCC on Stand A3 and the CSSA on Stand F12, the Association will be participating in the conference. On Wednesday 6 April, CHSA Council member James Lee will be addressing the conference about the CHSA’s Roadmap To Sustainability. The following day, Thursday 7 April, CHSA Chair Lorcan Mekitarian, will advise buyers of cleaning and hygiene products to look for the CHSA Accreditation Scheme mark to be certain they get what they pay for.

Explaining the creation of the Roadmap to Sustainability CHSA Chair, Lorcan Mekitarian said: “Climate change is a huge threat to our planet. We have a responsibility to contribute so, in partnership with the CSSA we have developed a Roadmap to Sustainability. The complexity of the issue, coupled with the day-to-day reality of commercial pressures means this is a complex and challenging issue. The Roadmap is designed to help members move in the right direction, whatever their starting position.”

The first two initiatives to emerge from the Roadmap will be a directory that will guide members to key sources of information and guidance and a webinar titled “Sustainability and the Cleaning Industry”, to be held in the spring.

On Thursday 7 April, Lorcan will advise buyers to beware and to look for the CHSA Accreditation Scheme mark. There is evidence unscrupulous traders have attempted to capitalize on the potential of the pandemic, setting up new companies and claiming expertise while unable to check or audit their suppliers.

In contrast, CHSA members are audited every year. The Independent Inspector conducted 143 audits in 2021, during which he checked more than 3,800 individual products. Every CHSA member has also signed the Association’s rigorous Code of Practice. It requires members to “maintain a high standard in the conduct of its business”. The combination of the Code of Practice and Accreditation Scheme membership means every member:

• Trades ethically and sustainably;

• Provides quality, fit for purpose products; and

• Makes sure what’s on the box is what’s in the box.

‘Our Standards. Your Guarantee.’

Accredited Manufacturers
All CHSA manufacturing members commit to making sure the labelling on every product clearly indicates dimensions and quantity, guaranteeing ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’.

In specific, each Scheme ensures manufacturers:

• Of paper-based and woven products guarantee the dimensions and count of every product and other required information is as indicated on the label.

• Of plastic-based products guarantee they are fit for purpose and the dimensions and count and other required information are as indicated on the label.

• Of cotton-based products guarantee the weight, absorbency and, where relevant, the cotton content. They also guarantee the dimensions and count and other required information are as indicated on the label.

• Of cleaning and hygiene chemicals guarantee the product volume and other required information is as specified on the label and fully supported by relevant test data. In addition, they guarantee the containers and plastic bottles holding the chemical products are recyclable and clearly marked with the relevant recycling symbol.

Members of the General Manufacturing Accreditation Scheme guarantee ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’ and have signed our Code of Practice.

Accredited Distributors
Every CHSA Accredited Distributors has committed to buy cleaning and hygiene products from a CHSA Accredited Manufacturer. They also guarantee cleaning and hygiene products not covered by a CHSA Accreditation Scheme for Manufacturers conform to the clear and rigorous commitments within the Code of Practice.

www.chsa.co.uk