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It's tough work for our cleaners
2nd of November 2012
Four million people are currently employed in the European cleaning industry - but they work in tough environments and the rate of sick-leave and work-related injuries is high. Manufacturer of Tork washroom systems SCA reveals the outcome of an observational study into cleaners’ working lives in Germany, France, the Netherlands and
Peer-to-peer business lending - new ways of bridging the funding gap
2nd of November 2012
The banks – who needs them? That’s a question some high-profile economists are seriously beginning to ask as alternative sources of finance come online to bridge the funding gap. Hartley Milner reports on one of these enterprising new kids on the block, the peer-to-peer business lender.
Frustratingly for us all, the bankers have drawn
What's new in batteries?
1st of November 2012
The battery industry is changing all the time and manufacturers are increasingly striving to come up with smaller, lighter products that can be recharged more quickly and that work more efficiently. Ann Laffeaty asks battery manufacturers about their latest products – and finds out what they feel the future holds for the industry.
It was
World of fragrance
31st of October 2012
We all have our favourite aromas – but could our air freshener preferences be partly governed by where we live? Ann Laffeaty asks manufacturers about the geographical breakdown of their sales to find out whether or not our roots determine our preferences for certain scents.
Aroma preferences are notoriously difficult to pin down. It is hard
Economic crisis in Italy hinders potential for growth
31st of October 2012
In the latest of our special country focus reports, ECJ takes a look at the cleaning sector of Italy. Giuseppe Gherardelli, general secretary of ANIP (National Association of Cleaning Companies) and UNIFERR (Union of Railway Cleaning Companies), offers his viewpoint on the contract cleaning sector. Both organisations are part of FISE, a member of
The future for water cleaning
31st of October 2012
Many companies are coming up with cleaning systems that use water only, claiming these to be sustainable since they remove the need for chemicals. But as water supplies dwindle, are such claims justified? Ann Laffeaty looks at arguments for and against water-based and chemical-based cleaning systems.
Products and systems were once considered to
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