ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Biosciences company Genesis Biosciences is asking for more in-depth scientific data to support claims made for ‘antimicrobial' consumables used within sanitary bin services.

With on-site liner exchange services, sanitary waste bin liners are often complimented with an antimicrobial consumable which acts as a disinfectant to protect users until the bin liner is replaced again. Other manufacturers combine these two elements with a liner with claimed antimicrobial properties offering a potential cost saving.

To be recognised as effective an antimicrobial consumable needs to reduce pathogenic organisms sufficiently to reduce the risk to human health. However, it says there are a number of antimicrobial bin liner consumables being sold on the market that lack credible scientific data to support their claims, raising serious concerns about end-user protection in washroom facilities.

Dr Phil Caunt, research and development specialist at Genesis Biosciences, said: "We believe every antimicrobial supplier should be able to provide a full set of scientifically verified data. This creates transparency within the market and assures buyers that end users will be protected. To prove its products' disinfectant credentials we believe that every supplier should follow the principles of the EN 14885 testing standard."

He continued: "In the liner sector in particular, manufacturers appear to rely on laboratory data created for the antimicrobial additive used in the liner, with no data for the liner itself and no information on bacteria reduction in bins or waste. In other words the data collected isn't from actual field conditions."