ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Sustainability continues to rank high on company agendas. But many of today’s wipers are designed to be thrown away after use. ECJ looks at how manufacturers of wipes and cloths are striving to reduce wastefulness in the workshop.

WIPING TASKS WERE ONCE exclusively carried out with textiles. Rags and laundered cloths would be reused multiple times for cleaning surfaces, mopping up spills and hand-wiping in industrial environments. But when a cloth is reused there is always the risk soiling will be transferred from one surface to another. And cross-contamination could have serious consequences in industries such as food and healthcare.

For that reason, many wipers today are designed to be thrown away after use. But does this necessarily make them wasteful? No, says Essity’s sustainability communications director Renee Remijnse.

“Disposable wipers can be more hygienic and efficient than textile alternatives,” she said. “They reduce the risk of cross-contamination while also saving the time and the labour costs associated with laundering reusable cloths. And they can improve productivity and ease of use.”

Disposables tend to be designed for specific tasks which ensures a consistent performance and reduces the need for multiple products, she says. “This can offset any perceived wastefulness by enhancing efficiency and reducing overall consumption.”

However, she admits over-consumption can lead to increased costs, environmental impact and clutter in the workspace. “Excessive use of wipers can also result in more frequent restocking and potential interruptions in workflow.”

Clear signage helps to remind staff to use only what they need, reducing waste and promoting mindful consumption, Remijnse says. “This strategy is most effective when wipers are housed in a suitable dispensing system placed in a good location for staff workflows. Appropriate dispensing systems can also help to control usage.”

Essity’s Tork Performance dispensers come in a variety of formats and aim to reduce waste by offering one-at-a-time dispensing. The units can be situated close to their point of use to discourage operatives from taking out more product than they need.

Some wipers can be reused or recycled depending on the material and cleaning task involved, says Remijnse. “This can help to reduce waste and support sustainability efforts,” she adds. “However, it is crucial to ensure all wipers are disposed of correctly, particularly those that have picked up contaminants during use.”

Tork offers a range of products designed to reduce consumption and minimise waste. These include Tork exelCLEAN cloths, which are claimed to reduce cleaning time by up to 32 per cent and take up less space than textiles which reduces waste, storage and transport.

Cleanology marketing director Kate Lovell agrees that disposable wipers are not necessarily wasteful. “While many are made from synthetic fibres that do not break down easily, there are others that are made from biodegradable materials,” she points out.

Disposables offer a number of advantages over textiles, according to Lovell. “They provide ease of use and eliminate the need for washing and drying which saves time and effort,” she said. “Single-use wipes are also convenient because they are ready for use straight out
of the packet.

On-the-go

“The fact they are only used once also helps to prevent cross-contamination. And they are easy to carry and store which makes them perfect for on-the-go cleaning needs.”

However, downsides include the fact that disposable wipers can become expensive over time compared with reusable textile wipers when purchased regularly, Lovell says. “Many disposables are also made from non-biodegradable materials which can lead to environmental issues,” she adds. “It is important to check the packaging for recycling or composting instructions. And the overuse of disposable products could result in wipes being left on floors or surfaces, causing mess and potential slipping hazards.”

An appropriate dispensing system can help to control consumption and reduce waste, according to Lovell. “Staff should also be trained on the appropriate amounts of wipers to use to complete each task, while clear signage would remind the operatives to take only the wipers they need,” she said.
Cleanology operatives use microfibre cleaning cloths which can be washed and reused up to 150 times.

The fact many surface wipers are disposable does not automatically make them wasteful, says Kimberly-Clark category manager for wipers Roxana River. “In healthcare environments single-use wipers are essential for hygiene and contamination control,” she said. “And some disposables can be reused or recycled which significantly helps to reduce their environmental impact.”

Kimberly-Clark wipes can be recycled via the RightCycle programme which aims to reduce landfill waste and support circular economy goals. The wipers are converted into substitute fuel which is then used in the production of cement.

Wipers offer a number of advantages over textiles, according to River. “For example, rental cloths come in different sizes, qualities and absorption capacities and often contain silicone, metal filings, chemicals and other contaminants that can compromise the quality of the finish,” she said.

“And all-purpose textile cloths take up valuable storage space while inconsistencies in quality makes some of them unusable.”

However, it is important to avoid the over-consumption of disposable wipes, she says. “This can lead to operational, financial and environmental disadvantages such as increased costs, storage issues and high waste disposal fees.

“Excess consumption also increases the user’s carbon footprint due to higher levels of emissions resulting from increased production, transportation and disposal. And it leads to operational inefficiencies and unsafe workplaces.”

River says dispensing systems that control consumption are crucial for reducing waste, cutting costs and improving operational efficiency. Kimberly-Clark’s WypAll Reach PLUS centrefeed single sheet dispensing system fully encloses the rolls and is designed to reduce paper consumption by up to 50 per cent.

Like other commentators, River advocates the use of clear signage to remind operatives to control their wiper usage. “This helps to make staff more mindful of how many wipers they are taking and should be used in line with training practices,” she said.

Single-use wipes can contribute towards environmentally-harmful waste, says head of sales at Robert Scott Gill Ireson. “We’re seeing a growing awareness of the environmental impact of cleaning products and we encourage the use of reusable, washable wipes and cloths to improve sustainability and reduce overall waste,” she said.The main benefit of disposable products is convenience, according to Ireson.

“However, their benefits can often be matched or exceeded by well-designed reusables,” she said. “In fact, washable microfibre products are proven to be more effective at lifting dirt and germs from surfaces than disposable alternatives such as paper products. They also help to reduce overall consumption.”

There are various eco-friendly alternatives for situations where disposables are required or preferred, she says. Robert Scott’s Ecofibre Compostable Wipe, for example, is made from 100 per cent natural fibre and may be rinsed and discarded with the food waste where it will biodegrade.

The over-use of disposables leads to more than just increased cost and waste, Ireson claims. “They can also create a mess while factors such as the carbon emissions associated with transporting disposable products and the vast spaces required to store them are often overlooked,” she said.

“Choosing long-lasting, better-quality cloths can significantly reduce these downsides.”Start with educationReducing waste begins with education, she adds. “Cleaning teams and facilities managers play a huge role in this, and we’re already seeing an increasing number of organisations switching to more sustainable cleaning options,” says Ireson. “The demand for reusables is growing and that change in mindset – supported by the right tools - can make a huge difference.

”Asking cleaning operatives to only use the wipes they need could form part of the solution, she says. “However, more needs to be done and it’s often more effective to improve the cleaning method itself,” said Ireson. “Introducing reusable cloths or compostable options naturally encourages more mindful use, making behavioural change easier as sustainability becomes a built-in part of the process.

”Machine-washable and reusable wipers can offer advantages over disposables, according to Ireson. “For example, microfibre cloths are designed to be washed and reused multiple times while still delivering high levels of cleanliness,” she said.

Single-use disposable wipes provide significant hygiene and productivity benefits over textiles, said Ecolab’s marketing and sales manager Michael Catling.“They can offer improved efficiency, consistency and hygiene - particularly in settings where avoiding cross-contamination is critical,” he said. “However, their impact on sustainability cannot be overlooked and their benefits need to be weighed against increased consumption and disposal needs.

”Textile-based alternatives - particularly reusable microfibre cloths - typically generate far less waste over time due to their durability and washability. “When properly used, a single reusable textile can replace hundreds of disposable alternatives which makes them a more sustainable and cost-effective option for many everyday cleaning tasks,” Catling said.

The over-consumption of disposable wipes can lead to increased waste generation and a greater environmental burden, he says. “Imagine the sheer volume of waste produced when disposable wipes are used excessively, contributing to overflowing landfills and environmental degradation,” said Catling. “Improperly-discarded wipes also pose hygiene risks and result in increased costs.

“These discarded wipes could become breeding grounds for bacteria and other pathogens, compromising hygiene standards and leading to higher costs for disposal and sanitation. And the excessive use of disposables can disrupt supply chains and cause shortages and logistical challenges while also requiring more storage space for these single-use items.”

Ecolab’s Polifix microclin planet series of microfibre cloths are made from up to 100 per cent recycled polyester and are said to maintain high cleaning efficacy across hundreds of wash cycles, reducing the number of cloths needed over time.Visual reminders located near dispensers can be an effective way of nudging employees to reduce their wiper usage, says Catling.

“Every employee should be made aware of the environmental impact of their actions and be encouraged to take only what they need,” he said. “This simple yet strategic measure can lead to significant reductions in waste. And when combined with education and staff training on environmental impact and cost savings, signage can drive meaningful changes in behaviour.”

Disposable wipes and textiles each have their own trade-offs when it comes to wastefulness and overall use, he believes.“A growing interest in environmental responsibility has led us to focus on solutions that can responsibly balance waste reduction without sacrificing performance and results,” he said. “But at Ecolab we recognise that both approaches have their place depending on the setting, the use and the desired outcomes.”