Buyers and end users of cleaning chemicals want environmentally sustainable, safe and effective cleaning chemicals. The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) is helping with the publication of a white paper entitled The Evolution and Regulation of Cleaning Chemicals.
The White Paper explains the evolution of chemical disinfectants, which began with the Arabs’ use of mercury as an antiseptic in the 4th century. It also highlights the importance of standardised test methods, which provided a way to remove fraudulent products from the market.
Buyers are increasingly confronted with undefined phrases like ‘non-renewable chemicals’, ‘chemical-free’, ‘natural’, ‘five times filtered water’, and ‘non-toxic’. In this context, regulations guarantee safety, efficacy and transparency. Yet some providers claim technology is moving too fast for regulation.
In the White Paper, Peter Thistlethwaite says: “Regulations are intended to ensure a cleaning product is safe for the user and the environment when used correctly. The aim of enforcing regulatory requirements is to ensure products on the market can be trusted and that the companies selling them maintain the highest standards of integrity.
“Product innovation means testing, and regulatory requirements in the biocide market are becoming more complex, and the costs to enter markets are rising. This is expected to lead to a rise in fraudulent products, bypassing or ignoring regulations. Many are making claims about safety and efficacy without the proper technical support from correct testing. They are also using eco-friendly language to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. Buyers need to beware.”
Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the CHSA, said: “Buyers and end users need to be able to trust the product and sales and marketing claims. MSL 
Solution Providers are experts in regulation and testing of biocides. We teamed up with them as they are independent of the CHSA and to provide our members and their customers with the knowledge they need to make safe, effective and sustainable choices.”
Every member of the CHSA has signed its rigorous code of practice, which demands members trade ethically. Amongst other stipulations, it requires members to:
• Conduct business dealings in an open, honest, fair and proper manner and in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations of the UK and EU.
• Ensure all public statements made by and on behalf of the member are decent, honest and truthful.
• Ensure no false or exaggerated claims are made verbally, in literature, electronically or in any other way.
• Hold and provide evidence on request for product and service claims, particularly with reference to legislation, certifications and accreditations.
The CHSA Code of Practice also includes the Competition & Market’s Authority’s Green Claims Code. Its principles are summarised as:
• Claims must be truthful and accurate.
• Claims must be clear and unambiguous.
• Claims must not omit or hide important relevant information.
• Comparisons must be fair and meaningful.
• Claims must consider the full life cycle of the product or service.
• Claims must be substantiated.
Finally, every member of the CHSA’s accreditation scheme for manufacturers of cleaning chemicals has signed the CHSA’s own ethical marketing code.
Download the White Paper here:
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