April 23, 2025
Why mindful cleaning makes a difference
Responsible practices are no longer optional. You may think you can wing it without. But the truth is that companies throughout the supply are under increasing pressure from stakeholders, customers, employees, and consumers, to make responsible operations essential for doing business.
Cleaning practices are no exception. But can mindful cleaning truly make a difference? Oh yes. Read on, and you’ll see why.
Recent data shows that one-third of consumers are thinking more about the climate now than before the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re also more informed about company responsibility actions and motivated to take action through their purchasing behavior - Source: Boston Consulting Group.
68% of all US adults say they’re stepping up their efforts to identify brands that reduce environmental impact. 61% are actively seeking out efficient labeling when making their purchases. - Source: Forrester .
Thought-provoking numbers, right? Therefore, in response to these pressures from consumers and other forces, many companies and players in the industrial space have committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 across their entire supply chain. Meaning, that every producer, supplier, and partner to these organizations will have to operate responsibly. In other words, don’t snooze. Missing out on the responsibility action, you lose.
Responsibility. What’s in it for me?
How do cost savings and fewer employee turnovers sound?
Cost savings
Check your energy bill. It’s highly possible you’ll find some easy-to-implement savings right there. Especially if you’re among the many businesses using a large amount of electricity. However, energy efficiency is one of many ways to save money on responsible practices.
Less employee turnover
According to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), 72% of suppliers to multinational companies said climate change presents risks that could significantly impact their operations, revenue or expenditures, and employee relations.
Especially important right now as companies are struggling to keep their workers, right?
Employee acquisition and retention are other great benefits. The emergence of responsible business practices has created a demand for experts in sustainability, and training your current employees in these areas can help close the gap. Not only will this help create healthy workspaces and provide your company with the proper skills to advance with your responsible transformation, but it will also give your employees the skills they need to feel valued.
According to a recent sustainability report from GetSmarter, 56% of employees are more likely to stay in a company with a sound sustainability agenda. Also, professionals and experts working with organizations that are leading the way in responsible efforts often report feeling happier and more productive. Positive feelings translated directly to less employee turnover.
Also, businesses with responsible practices have reported increased sales and a successful business tends to have lower employee turnover.
Hands-on how-to
Let’s dive into the specifics. Energy, detergents, and water. This is where to look and gain.
Energy
To keep your business moving, using the quieter hours at night for cleaning is not breaking news. But night time cleaning requires the lights on. If you clean for eight hours every night, that’s eight extra hours of energy usage, adding up significantly over time and impacting both the environment and your utility bill. Save a dollar to make a dollar by using energy-efficient cleaning equipment and get the job done splendidly in a jiffy.
Take robotic cleaning solutions, for instance. They don’t need the lights on to do their magic. Also, Ecoflex helps you get the most out of your resources, saving water, detergent, and energy but always has a no-compromise attitude on efficiency.
Detergents and sanitizers
Detergents and sanitizers are significant environmental hazards, contributing to water and air pollution and degrading indoor air quality. Many contain toxic chemicals, including volatile organic compounds, and biodegradable surfactants that can threaten marine life. Products with phosphorus or nitrogen contribute to nutrient loading in water, leading to algae blooms.
While eliminating detergents entirely is unrealistic for most facilities, there are ways to reduce chemical use and minimize environmental impact. The key is to choose eco-friendly cleaning products.
Water
Up for a thought-provoking fact? Nearly one-fifth of the global freshwater consumption is used in the industrial sector, and as much as half of that could be due to cleaning. That’s a lot of water, right?
Furthermore, the wastewater from cleaning often contains floating chemicals. To avoid environmental hazards, these chemicals need to be handled properly.
To reduce water consumption, you need equipment that uses as little water as possible without compromising efficiency.
Tips for long-term responsibility
How can you ensure your cleaning operations will remain sustainable over time?
- Want to keep? Don’t go cheap! Invest in high-quality equipment designed for industrial environments. Over time, you will not only save money but also reduce the solid waste disposed of in landfills.
- Maintain your equipment. A tip-top shape is essential for your cleaning machine to do a spotless job and run as energy-efficient as possible. Also, to really gain from the tech benefits, make sure that all operators know how to use the equipment. For instance, to prevent overuse be sure that everybody understands when to use the different cleaning modes and how to switch between them. Let all be active participants in your sustainability effort. Explore our variety of training options for Nilfisk equipment here.
- Considering new equipment? Make sure your supplier offers recycling or refurbishment programs. These programs will not only reduce the cost of cleaning equipment, but they will also keep waste out of the landfill. Get more information from our Nilfisk experts about availability of our used machines.
Join us in the helicopter
Mindful cleaning is highly important, but true responsibility involves a bigger picture, the helicopter view. Go through your facility and learn more about your total carbon footprint – and identify where you can make the biggest difference throughout your operations.
You can also have our experts assess your site for you.