Marking World Environment Day on 5th June to protect and celebrate our planet On 5th June it’s the UN’s World Environment Day. While this day is marked every year by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this year marks a particular milestone as it’s 50 years since the United Nations conference on the Human Environment was held in 1972, in Stockholm, Sweden[1]. What is World Environment Day about? World Environment Day has been held since 1974 and is the largest global environment platform, with over 150 countries participating. Its purpose is to engage individuals and organisations around the world to raise awareness of environmental issues and to celebrate actions taken to protect the environment. This year, to mark the 50 year anniversary since the first conference was held, the event will once again be hosted by Sweden. Only One Earth campaign This year’s Only One Earth campaign calls for ‘collective, transformative action on a global scale to celebrate, protect and restore our planet’[2]. The UNEP is calling on individuals, organisations, celebrities and businesses to get involved to raise awareness and spread the word. Our approach to sustainability At Cleenol, we’ve a long history of sustainability in business and have been ISO14001 accredited since 2010, meaning we manage our environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner that contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability. We also operate an Environmental Management System, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements relating to environmental aspects of our business activities, products and services. In 2014, we launched our Envirological range, featuring only products that included no unnecessary raw materials, dyes, perfumes or harmful additives, were phosphate-free, septic tank safe, and packaged in reusable or renewable containers. We’re also committed to striking the right balance by ensuring that users of our products understand how to use them safely and avoid under dilution, which can have harmful effects on the environment, or over-dilution, which wastes water. This is why we adhere to the principle we call The Right Dose. All of our products carefully formulated to ensure that when used correctly, at the right dilution with the right equipment, the environmental impact is kept to a minimum and remains safe for people. Plus, our Easidose range is super-concentrated, meaning it’s compact, uses minimal packaging and is easily transportable – all of which helps to drive a lower carbon footprint. And all of the packaging is recyclable and where possible, reusable. Going further to help protect the environment Yet, as the effects of climate change and the human impact on the planet become ever more apparent, we can always do more. Concerns around sustainability and the environment are ever-increasing and businesses must continue to strive to do things better. That’s why we developed our new comprehensive environmentally friendly product range, edencleen. edencleen puts the environment first without compromise Our new edencleen range delivers the same high-quality performance as the rest of our product ranges, contributing to a cleaner, safer world, without compromise. The products in this new range have been developed around the following principles and ingredients: RSPO certified palm oil derivatives No animal derived products / cruelty free No parabens, formaldehyde, CMI/MIT, triclosan, phosphates, chlorine bleaches, optical brighteners or quaternary ammonium compounds VOC free and phosphate, EDTA, NTA free 100% bio-based surfactant made by using bio-based ethylene oxide, manufactured from biomass ethanol Uses bioethanol, naturally derived acids, sugar-based surfactants, bio-based solvents and low impact preservatives Minimal petrochemical derived products Recyclable / recycled packaging This new range range includes washroom cleaner, multi-surface degreaser, all-purpose sanitiser, toilet cleaner, laundry liquid detergent, fabric conditioner, washing up liquid and window and glass cleaner. So whatever your cleaning or hygiene needs, if you’re looking for high-performing products that are kind to the environment, contact our team today. Trust Cleenol, for a safer, cleaner world. [1] https://www.un.org/en/conferences/environment/stockholm1972 [2] https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/get-involved/get-involved

Striking the right balance with our professional cleaning supplies At Cleenol, we’re committed to contributing to a safer, cleaner world, and we also prioritise reducing waste. We know it’s critically important to get the right balance between the products we provide, their efficacy, and the environments they are used in. Using the right product at the right concentration level – The Right Dose Cleenol manufactures, warehouses and distributes a wide range of high-quality cleaning products to customers, paired with our efficient and personal service. We continually strive to minimise cost and the impact on the environment, while achieving professional results. We provide solutions across a range of industries from restaurants, catering and food production to gyms, schools, laundries and healthcare. Each of our products is carefully formulated to industrial strength for the professional market. In order to attain the professional results that our customers need, while trying to minimise harmful chemical footprints in doing so, we’ve carefully tailored our solutions to meet the demands of the industries and environments they are  used in. Choosing the right product range for your environment is the first step, and we help our customers to do that. But it doesn’t stop there. For example, we’ve carefully calculated dilution levels for concentrates to make our products go as far as possible and keep our customers’ costs low, while supporting safe use and respect for our environment. Respecting the environment during challenging times Cleenol has been helping to create a cleaner, safer world by providing cleaning products and services since 1948, so we’re no stranger to the needs of the industries we serve. But the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about a massive increase in the need to sanitise and disinfect on a global scale. While being mindful of the need to keep people safe, we need to consider the environment and the impact we have on the natural world. That’s why we’re committed to the prevention of over-consumption. Cleenol’s commitment to preventing over-consumption At Cleenol, we aim to prevent the over-consumption of cleaning, sanitising and disinfectant products via: The production and provision of cleaning products specifically tailored to the industries they are used within Clear instructions regarding product use across our range Specific dilution instructions for concentrates to ensure optimum performance while reducing waste or chemical overuse Training and development to ensure correct product use The provision of safety data sheets to support safe product use for storage, transportation and usage Information on ecological considerations such as toxicity levels, as well as safe disposal instructions A personal service to help customers make the right product choices for their industry areas Finding the right balance for the right industry Cleenol’s wide product offering includes a range of environmentally friendly cleaning solutions. To support our sustainability ethos, we ask that you please use our products responsibly at the recommended dilution levels. That way we can all contribute to a safer, cleaner world while minimising our impact on the environment.

World Health Day and how we’re contributing to a cleaner world and a healthier future Not only have we experienced a global pandemic for over two years, we’re also challenged by climate change, air pollution, water shortages, and an increase in adverse health conditions such as asthma, cancer and heart disease. Poor decisions made by individuals, and commercial and political entities are contributing to the health and climate crisis we are facing. The World Health Organization estimates that over 13 million deaths each year are attributable to “avoidable environmental causes” and considering 90% of the global population breathes polluted air[1] it's time to do things differently. The WHO World Health Day will be held on 7th April this year and its objective is to promote a healthier planet for both humans and the planet at large. A world where clean air, water and food are available to anyone, no matter where they are on the planet. It aims to raise awareness and make us think about our actions and how we can contribute to a healthier tomorrow. How can we contribute to a healthier future? We need to be responsible about the decisions we make and think about ways we can change how we live and work. But depending on the lifestyle we have, or the industry we operate in, these don’t necessarily need to be major. Changing the products or chemicals we use, the amount we consume, and the toxins we put into the air or water systems, can collectively help to achieve a healthier world. Committed to a cleaner, safer and healthier world Cleenol has been producing cleaning products with a contained environmental impact since the 1990s. We understand the effects that chemicals can have on indoor air quality and aquatic toxicity levels amongst other areas. As we’ve evolved over the years, we’ve seen the effects the human footprint has had on our planet and each other’s health and wellbeing, and we know we can do things even better. That’s why we’re once again evolving our product range to be kinder to both health, and the environment. A cleaning range that’s kind to our health and the planet All of our products are engineered to provide the best solution when used as directed, including the use of cold or warm water and diluted as instructed – more chemical isn’t always directly correlated to better performance.  Indicative of our commitment to the environment, we are on the cusp of bringing a new range to market that is entirely dedicated to the protection of the environment. edencleen will be launched at Interclean in May, so watch out for news closer to the event. Contact our team today [1] https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2022

Cleenol has a long history of bringing new products to market, and as part of our recent refresh, we are looking back also at some of our early solutions that in todays world have new meaning and relevance. Cleaning and Hygiene Today recently featured our recently launched Easidose. Click here to read more

Another year, another successful certification that shows our commitment to our customers and the quality and standards of our products and processes.

Understanding the difference between various cleaning and hygiene terms was never more important than over the last couple of years. As we move towards a status of living with the virus, remembering what we learned remains key. Click here to find out more.

As a responsible manufacturer of cleaning and hygiene products, safety has always been one of our highest priorities both to the user and where the product is used. We've taken it a step further by ensuring that all of our manufactured products do not contain the below 14 common allergens: Cereals containing gluten (Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, Spelt, Kamut) and products thereof; Crustaceans and products thereof; Egg and products thereof; Fish and products thereof; Peanuts and products thereof; Milk and products thereof; Nuts (Almond, Hazelnut, Walnut, Cashew, Pecan nut, Brazil nut, Pistachio nut, Macadamia nut, Queensland nut) and products thereof; Soya and products thereof; Sesame and products thereof; Celery and products thereof; Mustard and products thereof; Sulphur Dioxide and Sulphites and products thereof; Lupin and products thereof; Mollusc and products thereof. We also confirm that the site area where Cleenol products are prepared and packed is free from these allergens or any derivatives thereof.

Ever wondered what would have happened if you would have continued your chemistry education beyond the school laboratory and the Mentos/Coca-Cola experiment? Or go to law school in the likes of Tony Blair and Kim Kardashian? Well, you can thank your lucky stars as our own Sarah Davy has done both – and agreed to unveil what it's like working as a Regulatory Chemist at Cleenol. Q: Hi Sarah! Can you tell me about the core responsibilities and objectives of your current role? Sarah Davy: Within regulatory chemistry I do lots of different jobs such as create and maintain product Safety Data Sheets (SDS), help notify products to the relevant regulatory bodies as well as amend and approve new product labels. Q: What would you do during a typical day? SD: A typical day involves carrying out lots of regulatory compliance work. This can include updating various product documentation and researching any new chemical regulations which affect the cleaning and hygiene product industry. For example, with the finalisation of Brexit at the beginning of this year, there are lots of new rules to keep up with. My team develops new formulations in the Cleenol laboratory, performing tests to measure quality and performance before the findings are reported to the rest of the company. Once suitable products are found the process is scaled up to production next door. A typical day may also include liaising with customers in order to determine what they require from a product, and also with suppliers to determine what ingredients they can offer which may be suitable for a given project. Q: How did you get into this industry? SD: Following university and a postgraduate course in IP law, I started out as a production/developmental chemist. During this I picked up some of the regulatory aspects such as creating SDS, which led to my job here at Cleenol. Q: What was your first impression of Cleenol? SD: I've been at Cleenol for 7 months now. It was an interesting start going immediately into a lockdown after my first day, but, it has been interesting to see the company grow as the lockdown restrictions have slowly lifted. Q: What do you enjoy most about your job? SD: I enjoy the challenges the job provides as most projects require a problem-solving approach. I also enjoy working with a wide variety of people, from my colleagues in the lab and those working in production through to working with customers and suppliers. I like that at Cleenol we are always looking for that next opportunity, whether it be simply gaining new customers or creating bespoke products for particular customers. Q: Do you have any interests outside of work that you would like to share with our readers? SD: I enjoy photography, whether it be taking photos of landscapes or going to track days and getting action shots of bike racing. Occasionally I will use these to sketch from, in either pencil or ink.

Employee Spotlight: Ken Moss, Technical Business Development Manager Cleenol’s laundry expert Ken Moss has dedicated his career in helping businesses perfect their laundry results. From optimising chemical dosing and analysing wash results, to training and programming custom wash cycles for levels of soiling and water hardness, Ken’s engineering experience spans across five decades. Willing and Able Equipped with an insatiable hunger to establish himself Ken started working at the tender age of 13. “I spent Saturdays learning about engineering and machine repairs. On weekdays I would rush to work at a local butchers’”, he reminiscences, “Those days a degree was not an imperative, I was willing to learn and work so they took me on.” A few years later Ken moved on to work with a company that manufactured dishwashers and glasswashers. “The work was fast paced but rewarding”, he recalls. “We would build the machines in the morning, sell them at night and fit them to the client’s premises by the next morning – we could not shift the stock fast enough!” The Virtues of a Family Business Ken joined the Banbury-based family business Cleenol as a resident laundry expert in 2013. “My first impression was that the company felt family-centric – you are classified as an individual, rather than just a number”, he reflects. “I felt there was a real opportunity to move the laundry offering forwards and get my ideas across to the rest of the company.” Over the years he has been trading in laundry chemicals across the UK as well as traveling the world to visit customers in destinations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “It always surprises me how culture affects the purchasing behaviours of laundry chemicals – religion and culture can affect how cleanliness and fragrances are perceived. For example, fragrances that are from or imitate foods – such as fruit scents – are not popular in the Middle East!” The Need for Speed In his spare time Ken Moss is a motor racing fanatic, with Formula 1 holding a special place in his heart. “Recently I even built a VR racing car simulator in our house!”, he rejoices. “I just love the adrenaline and thrill I get from racing, whether it’s on the track or in a virtual environment.”

Thousands of children in the UK are at risk of food poisoning from unsanitary school canteens where inspectors have found mouse droppings, filthy plates and staff who handle the food without washing their hands. At least 60,000 children attend schools with dangerous food hygiene levels according to the Food Standards Agency. 41 schools and nurseries were given a one-star hygiene rating, meaning that they need to make 'major improvements' to comply with food laws. Food hygiene ratings are published at the FSA website. Children can be more susceptible to food-borne illnesses According to FSA, there are 2.4 million of cases of foodborne illnesses in the UK each year, including an estimated 380,000 cases of norovirus linked to food. They result in 180 deaths and hundreds of thousands of doctors’ appointments. Anyone can become ill from illnesses associated with bacteria or viruses in foods. Some groups are much more susceptible: the elderly, those with immune compromising diseases and children. Children can be especially in danger of food-borne illness, so school canteens must take extra precautions. Tips for improving your school kitchen’s hygiene standards: Regular cleaning schedule and cross-contamination control All school kitchen catering staff must be aware of what the 14 different food allergens are and must prevent allergens from cross-contamination at all times. School kitchens need to be cleaned regularly to limit the transmission of food and hand borne infections. Hand hygiene Hand hygiene plays a big role in keeping foods safe for children to eat. Always, always wash your hands before you touch food, before and after you prepare meals, and after you have served the children. Additionally, always wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before going back into the kitchen. To properly wash your hands, make sure the water is warm. Then, soap up your hands thoroughly, being sure to get between the fingers and under the nails. Also wash your wrists. Then rinse thoroughly and dry with paper towels, not a towel. Fabric will harbour bacteria and can transfer it to you thus transferring it back to the food. Use protective clothing and hair nets Do not allow your hair to hang over or touch foods – tie it back instead and secure with a net. Use proper protective clothing that is clean. Never reuse dirty aprons. Do not prepare food when you are ill Never prepare food if you have been ill unless you have medical clearance. Do not work while ill, especially if you have a food-borne illness. Sanitise chopping boards Sanitise and clean chopping boards properly before use. Never use the same chopping board for meats and other foods like fruits and vegetables. Even if you are chopping vegetables of different types, you should clean and sanitise the board between each use. Kept foods in sealed containers and refrigerated Safe storage of food involves appropriate labelling and dating of food items, temperature control, storage locations, and containers. Kitchen staff must be aware of what food items can and cannot be stored close to one another to prevent food poisoning. In the refrigerator, the meats should be sealed carefully and always placed on the bottom shelf. Meats should never be placed on a higher shelf where juices could drip and contaminate other foods.

Why do we need broad spectrum disinfection? Is your product appropriate for the task at hand? Choosing the right product includes considerations for the task involved but also for the level of disinfection required for your environment. A good disinfectant needs to kill a wide range, or 'broad spectrum', of bacteria on the surface, including those responsible for food poisoning. What is 'BS EN'? To keep your customers safe, disinfectants should be tested using European Standard Test Methods and meet the BS EN standards. A common test method for food areas is BS EN 1276 – that is ‘Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics - Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics used in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas’. EN 1276 certified product must be effective against the test bacteria, i.e. E. coli, Enterococcus hirae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, at its specified dilution and contact time. Always check labels for either BS EN 1276 or BS EN 13697 when shopping for products that prevent harmful bacteria from spreading onto food or contact surfaces. Which CLEENOL products are BS EN 1276 certified? Cleenol products offer a range of disinfectants to choose from, so you're sure to find one that's right for your situation. Here are some examples of our most popular BS EN 1276 passing products: Sales Enquiries For pricing information and to order from us, please contact our sales office: Tel: +44(0) 1295 251 721 (Mon–Thu 8:30am–4:30pm; Fri 8:30am–4pm)Email: sales@cleenol.co.uk

In Focus this Month: 5 Facts about Legionella Bacteria Have your water systems been out of use during the lockdown? Beware! Legionella could be lurking in your showerheads, dishwashers, pools or water features. Use bleach or a cleaning product that passes EN 1276 or EN 13623 to fight these nasty bacteria. Contact our customer service team for a price quotation and information on the right product for any job: +44(0)1295 251721 | sales@cleenol.co.uk 1 - Legionnaires' disease can be fatal Legionellosis is a collective term for diseases caused by legionella bacteria including the most serious: Legionnaires' disease – a type of pneumonia. The risk of getting seriously ill increases with age. Some additional groups at higher risk include heavy smokers as well as people with respiratory illnesses, kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease or an otherwise impaired immune system. 2 - Legionnaires' can result from inhaling water droplets When water containing Legionella is aerosolised and those particles are inhaled into the lungs, they can cause Legionnaires' disease. An average of 350 cases of the disease are reported each year in the UK. Symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle pains and confusion. It can take up to a year to fully recover. 3 - Pools, hot tubs, water tanks, dishwashers and fountains could be affected Legionella bacteria have been found in water systems ranging from 6°C to 60°C, although they grow best at 20–45°C. Warm and stagnant water is an ideal growth environment for Legionella.Lower flow rates of water in pipes, like those during the lockdown, can accelerate growth. Bacteria can colonise in plumbing, showerheads, water storage tanks and hot water cylinders as well as cooling towers, spas, hot tubs, pools and water features. 4 - Keep water below 20 or above 60 degrees Water should either be under 20°C or over 60°C to prevent legionella growth. Treatment chemicals are often used in swimming pools and spas to kill legionella. Chemicals like chlorine are effective at killing the bacteria, but they must be used responsibly and at the correct ratios. Look for products that pass the British Standard EN 1276 or 13623 when shopping for cleaning products that kill legionella.