ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

‘People’ - one of the three pillars of sustainability - are sometimes forgotten in the race to reach net zero. ECJ asks companies what they are doing to enhance the lives of people in the workplace, their community and in the cleaning sector.

Many people understand the word ‘sustainability’ to mean reducing waste, cutting emissions and minimising the use of water and energy.

But the three pillars of sustainability are generally defined as ‘Planet, People and Profit’. A company can only be sustainable if it profitable. And people are pivotal to its success whether they are customers, the workforce or the people using the products.

So, what are businesses in the cleaning industry doing to enhance the lives of people in their employ and in the wider community? And are people increasingly being left behind in today’s highly automated workplace?

The human dimension of sustainability is the beating heart of service provider’s La Lucente’s vision, says marketing and communications manager Gaia Lombardo Pijola. “It is the real engine that drives our commitment to the planet and our performance in the market,” she said. “In our philosophy People, Planet, and Profit are not competing elements - they form an inseparable equation of value because a prosperous and resilient organisation cannot exist without motivated and valued people.”

The company embraces a culture of well-being, she said. “We actively address issues such as stress management and work-life balance and we offer support to people returning from parental leave,” said Pijola. “We believe a happy employee is a more creative professional and a more effective brand ambassador.”

She says La Lucente’s philosophy embraces three circles of ‘People’. “The first is our supply chain who we see as partners in our journey towards sustainability,” she said. “Customers make up the second circle and our mission includes ensuring their health and safety, using low-impact products for their environments and engaging in a transparent dialogue.”

The largest circle is that of the local community, according to Pijola. “Our goal is to actively engage local communities in sustainability dialogues because the prosperity of a company is inextricably linked to the health of the social and economic fabric in which it operates.”

The people who use the company’s services are the real protagonists, she adds. “We could design the most brilliant of strategies and select the most innovative of technologies, but it is the intelligence and professionalism of our operators who use them that transform that vision into a tangible result,” she said. “Our drive towards ecolabel solutions and low-emission products is not only a commitment to the environment, it is a pledge to care for and protect the health of our employees.”

La Lucente also offers training on risk perception plus the ability to deal with complex situations with third parties. “In this way we not only provide skills, we also build resilience, awareness and self-esteem,” she said.

Manufacturer Kärcher views the ‘People’ pillar of sustainability to be equally important as ‘Planet’ and ‘Profit’, according to corporate communications manager Linda Schrödter.

“True sustainability can only be achieved when all three dimensions are considered holistically,” she said. “Focusing on the well-being of our employees, customers and communities is fundamental to our long-term success and our responsibility as a global company.”

Kärcher’s interpretation of the ‘People’ pillar means fostering a safe, healthy and supportive working environment for staff members, Schrödter adds. “It also involves promoting their development and ensuring fair labour practices. And it extends to positively impacting the communities in which we operate through social engagement and partnerships.”

Kärcher contributes to various causes overseas in regions where it can make a difference, she says. The end-user is also a key focus of the company’s sustainability policies.

“We are committed to designing and manufacturing equipment that is safe, ergonomic and user-friendly,” Schrödter said. “This includes intuitive operation, reduced physical strain and features that enhance the overall well-being and productivity of cleaners. Their safety and comfort are paramount in our product development process.”

According to Schrödter any focus on environmental goals such as net zero, waste reduction and energy usage should never overshadow the importance of people. “While these objectives are critical they must go hand in hand with social responsibility,” she said.

Work culture

Kärcher offers its employees comprehensive training and development programmes, health and safety initiatives and diversity and inclusion benefits while also fostering a collaborative work culture. Outside the company it carries out various social projects, educational initiatives and partnerships both in local communities and globally.

2Pure Products - also a manufacturer - director James Law also believes the ‘People’ the pillar should cover a company’s employees, the community and society in general. “For some organisations it applies globally, particularly where supply chains cross borders,” he says. “The most impactful strategies work on all three levels with a balance of internal responsibility and external contribution.”

He feels that employee safety and wellbeing are often overlooked in sustainability discussions. “Today’s focus on net zero targets, reducing waste and conserving energy has led to people being moved down the priority list,” he says. “This has to change from the top down. It is essential that the individuals delivering frontline cleaning services don’t feel undervalued or left behind.”

Cleaning products need to be formulated with cleaners in mind, he believes, because these are the people who will be most exposed to them and who may need to work long shifts in environments where ventilation is limited.

“Traditional hazardous chemicals can pose significant risks from skin and eye irritation to long-term respiratory issues,” said Law. “Even enzyme-based products, while generally safe, can spark an allergic reaction if inhaled while probiotics pose a risk to immune-compromised individuals. These types of products also often incorporate traditional chemicals to enhance their capabilities.”

Wider community

2Pure Products manufactures non-hazardous formulations that carry non-toxic labels. The company’s patented multipurpose OdorBac Tec4 is designed to protect workers and building users. The company is also a Living Wage employer and staff members are free to take off as many days as they wish to volunteer for worthwhile causes.

The ‘People’ pillar is just as important as ‘Planet’ and ‘Profit’ to hygiene systems producer Essity, according to sustainability communications director Renee Remijnse. “For us it begins with creating a safe and inclusive workplace for our own people,“ she said. “However, the ‘People’ pillar goes far beyond internal culture. At Tork we see it as a commitment to improving lives through inclusive and sustainable hygiene.”

She says the company recently received the world’s first Design for All certification for the Tork dispenser development process. “Our Hygiene for All approach is about removing visible and invisible barriers to allow the majority of users to access hygiene comfortably,” she said. “This includes supporting those with physical limitations, neurodiversities, temporary injuries or stage of life challenges such as parenting.”

The people pillar also extends to the wider community and beyond, according to Remijnse. “We support local partnerships and global causes that promote wellbeing and dignity,” she said.

The cleaners who use the products are an integral part of the People pillar, she adds. “The 2025 Tork Insight Survey revealed that 80 per cent of cleaning staff reported mental health challenges linked to their roles, with 46 per cent feeling stressed and 38 per cent having left positions due to burnout or lack of recognition,” she said. “These insights drive us to create products and services that support cleaner wellbeing and dignity as well as recognising their contribution and working to improve their experience.”

Essity’s Tork Vision Cleaning is claimed to support cleaners by making their working day more efficient and less stressful. It is said to provide real-time data on cleaning needs, helping staff to prioritise tasks and avoid unnecessary work.

Supporting individuals and communities is essential to Derrycourt Cleaning Specialist’s ethical integrity and long-term mutual success, says head of new business innovation and sustainability Bruce Hart.

“The ‘People’ pillar is every bit as vital as ‘Planet’ and ‘Profit’ because a sustainable future relies on people to deliver both environmental and economic strategies,” he said. The company invests heavily in training and skills development to offer growth opportunities and ensure human rights protections, he says. “Equal opportunity and fair wages are also paramount,” he adds. “People are at the centre of our operations and their health, wellbeing and safety remain our highest priority.”

The People Pillar begins with cultivating a supportive, inclusive workplace and extends to the communities and environments in which Derrycourt operates, according to Hart. “We actively invest in local communities by employing local people, offering comprehensive education within the cleaning sector and by providing a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including free English classes and internships.”

The cleaner’s health, safety, and comfort are central to the company’s product decisions and sustainability strategy. “We provide extensive training on Derrycourt cleaning methods so that our whole team can have the tools they need to provide the best customer service possible,” added Hart.

Flexible working

“The training covers manual handling, chemical understanding, personal protective equipment, risk prevention and clear reporting lines with supervisors and managers. Cleaners are also supported to correctly manoeuvre equipment including height adjustments to avoid overreaching or bending.”

Derrycourt also offers flexible working arrangements and active commuting support through hybrid working, a Bike to Work Scheme and public transport tax-saver schemes. It offers training and progression planning and its new Lucky Strikes hazard identification initiative is designed to help raise staff awareness and to pre-empt incidents before they occur.

But as the use of automation increases in the cleaning industry, will the ‘People’ pillar of sustainability become less important in future? People will always be central to Derrycourt’s business, says Hart. “As a family-run company we know that relationships, empathy and expertise cannot be replaced by machines. Automation empowers our team but people will always remain at the heart of what we do.”

Automation will increasingly free people up from tedious and repetitive tasks, says La Lucente’s Gaia Lombardo “Machines in the future will take care of the ‘doing’ while people will take care of the thinking, feeling and deciding,” she said. “This is where their value will become exponentially higher.”
Essity’s Renee Remijnse says the ‘People’ pillar will become even more important in the future.

“Automation will change how cleaning is done but it won’t replace the need for human insight, care and connection,” she said.

Kärcher’s Linda Schrödter agrees that the growth in automated systems will not diminish the relevance of people. “The human assets of empathy, problem-solving and adaptability will remain indispensable and our focus will be on integrating technology in a way that benefits both people and processes,” she concluded.

And 2Pure Products James Law concurs. “While automation and smart technologies are playing a greater role in facilities services, people will continue to be the most critical asset,” he said. “Automated systems cannot replace the judgement, adaptability and response that human operatives bring.”