ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A team making a record-breaking attempt to cross Antarctica during the winter are taking Tork washroom products along with them.

The Coldest Journey expedition, headed up by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, will be the subject of a documentary on UK television. Besides earning a place in the Guinness World Records and helping to gather valuable data, the venture will also raise millions of pounds for charity.

The team is taking supplies of Tork Liquid Soap and Tork Premium Hand Sanitiser Alcohol Gel plus dispensers on the journey along with 180 rolls of Tork Conventional Toilet Paper.

"We are delighted that the Coldest Journey team has decided to use Tork products," said SCA UK and Ireland communications director Sarah Wilson. "It shows real confidence in the quality and convenience of Tork hygiene systems, and we wish the team every success in their venture."

The main objective of the expedition is to achieve the first ever winter crossing of the Antarctic. Those taking part in the current attempt will also carry out various scientific tasks to provide data on glaciology, marine life, oceanography and meteorology.

The six-month trek, which will begin on March 21 2013, will cover a distance of 2,000 miles. Most of this will be in complete darkness and at temperatures potentially as low as -90°C.

There will be comparisons between the crossing and space travel in terms of isolation and darkness so the team's social, occupational, environmental and psychological reactions will be analysed as part of the venture. A winter crossing of the Arctic was recently completed by a Norwegian team, which means that the Antarctic winter crossing is the last major polar challenge remaining.

A key goal of The Coldest Journey team is to raise US$ 10 million for Seeing is Believing, a global initiative to tackle avoidable blindness in developing countries. The Coldest Journey's lead sponsor, Standard Chartered, will match all donations made to the charity.

•Photo courtesy of Chris Winter