10.31.07
MRSA has spread from hospitals to lockerrooms and other school facilities. |
As fears of MRSA spread, the industry has plenty of answers.
Tom Branna
Editorial Director
Cleaning issues at public facilities have moved to the forefront of media coverage and consumer consciousness after schools throughout the U.S. were shut down following the spread of staph infections. In September, a food processing company in New Jersey closed for good after a product recall caused by contamination. Both events underscore the importance of properly maintaining a facility, whether it’s a meat locker or a high school locker room. For marketers and suppliers to the industrial and institutional cleaning market, these reports put the spotlight on the importance their products and services play in maintaining public health.
In recent weeks, the general population has learned about methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a drug-resistant staph “superbug” that infects more than 90,000 Americans every year. Deaths tied to these infections may exceed those caused by AIDS, according to health care experts, who also note that MRSA is becoming more prevalent in healthcare settings. According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data, the proportion of infections that are antimicrobial resistant has been growing. In 1974, MRSA infections accounted for 2% of the total number of staph infections; in 1995 it was 22%; in 2004 it was 63%.
MRSA has become more common in hospitals and it has been spreading through prisons, gyms and locker rooms. The main mode of transmission to other patients is through human hands, especially healthcare workers’ hands, according to CDC. Hands may become contaminated with MRSA bacteria by contact with infected or colonized patients. If appropriate hand hygiene such as washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is not performed, the bacteria can be spread when the healthcare worker touches other patients. The overall incidence rate was about 32 invasive infections per 100,000 people.
The good news is that disinfectants on the market today kill MRSA.
“Once MRSA is outside the body, disinfectants overwhelm and kill the virus,” said Bill Lafield, VP-communications, Consumer Specialty Products Association.
MRSA Is Spreading
Unfortunately, MRSA has spread beyond its traditional hospital setting. After a high school student in Virginia died from MRSA, the student body organized a protest, forcing officials to shut down all 22 schools in the Bedford County district for cleaning.
“Clearly, surface cleaning, disinfection and hand hygiene are playing critical rolls in infection control, especially in school settings, said Brian Sansoni, VP-communications, Soap and Detergent Association. “Every time I turn on the radio, I hear about athletes being out with infection. It heightens awareness about what we call preventative cleaning.”
Marketers told Happi that the MRSA outbreak had customers asking plenty of questions about the efficacy of their disinfectant formulas.
“With MRSA in the news, it’s gotten the attention of everyone,” noted Virginia Fjermestad, senior brand manager, Reckitt Benckiser. “It’s always been a concern in health care facilities, but now it’s become an issue in schools too.”
Ecolab and other players in the I&I market have been well-versed in MRSA for years, agreed Stephanie Swanson, marketing manager, hospitality/healthcare, Ecolab. Her company is working closely with schools to make sure that they follow the right cleaning procedures—communications that will pay dividends for years to come.
“When we have the next big influenza outbreak—and we’re due for a big one—we’ll have all the right programs in place,” she said.
For example, Ecolab has developed a kit to effectively clean vomit and other potential biohazards in 30 seconds.
“Time is critical in preventing an outbreak,” she explained.
Food Processing Issues
An issue like runaway staph infection underscores the importance of maintaining a clean facility and that’s good news for players in the $22 billion global industrial and institutional cleaning market. Marketers continue to roll out an array of environmentally-friendly formulas, enter new markets and keep ahead of the major issues as concerns about cleanliness in public arenas continues to grow. But it’s not just hospitals, long-term care facilities and schools that must maintain a high level of cleanliness.
Food contamination, like the one at Topps Meat Company, can destroy a company. |
Topps is just one example of how a poorly run facility can do more than damage one’s health…it can ruin a business and the livelihood of hundreds, even thousands of employees. That’s why so many companies should take the time to rethink their cleaning and sanitation practices. Industry experts note that cleaning chemicals usually account for about 5% of the cost to clean and maintain a facility, but as concerns about germs grow, more building maintenance folks will probably take a closer look at what they’re spraying and spritzing around their facilities. Scrutiny of cleaning practices should provide a boost to the I&I market, which continues to post annual gains of 3% or so every year.
“Any business that is operating as a public space—from schools to grocery stores—is a good opportunity for us,” explained Jim Beard, VP-marketing, State Industrial Products. “All of these businesses are increasingly aware of how their cleaning programs impact the health of their users or customers.”
The Market’s Makeup
Kline & Co., Fairfield, NJ, keeps close tabs on the U.S. and global industrial and institutional cleaning market. According to Kline data, the nearly $10 billion U.S. I&I market includes these segments:
• Janitorial, $3.25 billion;
• Industrial, $2.75 billion;
• Food service, $1.90 billion;
• Food processing, $1.19 billion and
• Laundry, $880 million.
On a global basis, Kline estimates I&I sales fall between $22-25 billion.
To help its customers keep track of the market, next year Kline will publish a kitchen chemical study. Of course, Ecolab with sales of $5 billion and Johnson Diversey with sales of $3 billion, continue to dominate this highly-fragmented market.
Green, Green, Green
No matter what size the company or what sectors they compete in, nearly every expert who spoke to Happi noted that environmentally-friendly products and solutions have captured much of the attention these days.
“The market for environmentally-friendly cleaners is close to 15%—it’s just exploding,” observed Mr. Beard. “The day will come when almost everything in this kind of application, to one degree or another, is green.”
For Clorox, that day has arrived. Last month, the company rolled out Green Works, a line of hard surface and all-purpose cleaners that contains plant-derived cleaning agents, essential lemon oils, corn-based alcohol, earth-based minerals and filtered water. It’s the first new line from Clorox in 20 years, noted Andy Piucci, business team leader, Clorox. The line commands a 20-25% premium over existing products, but Mr. Piucci insisted that customers haven’t balked at the higher price points.
“The reaction has been overwhelming. We’re the first consumer products company with a branded green line that doesn’t sacrifice performance,” he insisted.
Green Works is available to the I&I market now and will be rolled out in retail channels in January.
Three more Green Works products will debut in the next six months, he added.
As Clorox rolls out Green Works, Procter & Gamble is taking a different approach to the market, explained Julie deSylva, external relations manager, P&G Professional and P&G Chemicals.
“We don’t eco-label products—it inhibits innovation,” she told Happi.
Instead, the company is expanding its environmentally-friendly portfolio with products such as Pro-Line floor stripper, a butoxyethanol-free formula that works just as well as floor strippers that contain butyl, a chemical that is corrosive to skin and eyes and when inhaled can damage respiratory systems. Pro-Line floor stripper debuted only after P&G spent 18 months researching the product.
“We have more PhD.’s on staff than Ivy League schools,” noted Ms. deSylva.
At the same time, Pro Line’s Green Guarantee ensures the environmental safety of its products, packaging and operations. All P&G Pro Line Green Guarantee products provide outstanding performance while meeting high standards for human and environmental safety, according to the company.
Despite the emphasis on green solutions, industry observers note that the product must, first and foremost, be effective. Bruce Boynick, a senior associate with Kline & Company, noted while more products are being promoted for their environmental profile, they still must work quickly and effectively.
“If you only have 20 or 25 minutes to clean a hotel room or a restaurant, cleaners and sanitizers must be effective,” said Mr. Boynick. “Endusers don’t want to see their businesses written up in the local newspaper for operating in unsanitary conditions.”
In addition to environmental and efficacy issues, Mr. Boynick said I&I companies continue to develop ways to ensure worker safety, with easy to use dispensing systems that won’t splash and multilingual use procedures.
“Companies are concerned about liability and endusers are receptive to suppliers that promote worker safety and environmentally-friendly products.”
Spartan Chemical added two new products to its BioRenewable line this past year: BioRenewable RTU Glass Cleaner and Lite’n Foamy Sunflower Fresh BioRenewables Hand, Hair and Body Wash. The BioRenewable RTU Glass Cleaner was launched in response to the positive reception Spartan’s concentrated product received when it was introduced earlier in the year. And it was introduced because of customer demand for a more convenient package form.
According to William J. Schalitz, vice president, R&D, the launch of Sunflower Fresh Hand Soap provides Spartan Chemical with a more general-use hand soap for the BioRenewables line and also completed its Green Solutions product line as a GS-41, Green Seal-certified hand soap.
“Sales for both the Green Solutions and BioRenewables product lines have been excellent. Customers across the various segments of our market are asking for these products as environmental awareness continues to grow,” explained Mr. Schalitz. “We continue to grow across a variety of I & I segments with ‘green’ products definitely leading the way.”
State Industrial Products has expanded its green product offerings under the Ecolution brand to include floor cleaners, finishes and even Green Seal-certified hand soap, said Mr. Beard. They’ve all been well-received by large corporations, education systems and government agencies, many of which have environmental policies in place, but often don’t know how to execute them.
“We’re working with head custodians in schools to show them how they can implement a policy and make sure that their green program is put into action,” said Mr. Beard.
In fact, Ecolution’s sales have tripled during the past year and State Industrial is working on a non-aerosol air freshener under the Ecolution banner.
“Many customers preferred aerosols because they liked the strength of the fragrance,” said Mr. Beard. “We can give them the strength, without the particulate or VOC materials.”
Mr. Beard didn’t have any words of encouragement for fragrance suppliers either. He told Happi that one of the toughest issues surrounding the green movement is trying to formulate effective products using a minimal amount of fragrance.
“Fragrances don’t add functionality to a formula,” he insisted. “One of the tenets of the green movement is to focus on functional ingredients and minimize dyes and fragrances, which are both complex organic molecules.”
Mr. Beard admitted that for the custodial staff and the enduser, a low-fragrance product is a foreign idea, noting that most folks equate a strong scent with cleanliness.
Give ’Em a Hand
Thanks to the efforts of government agencies such as the CDC and trade associations like the Soap and Detergent Association, the word is getting out about the importance of proper hand washing. For their part, marketers too are spreading the word about how to reduce the chances of spreading germs.
Gojo, a leading player in the personal hygiene segment, earlier this year sponsored a study conducted by Dr Charles P. Gerba from the University of Arizona that showed that soap tested from one in four open refillable bulk systems was contaminated. More specifically, the results showed that approximately 23 to 25% of samples taken from open refillable bulk soap reservoir dispensers were contaminated with unsafe levels of bacteria. Coliforms were found in 16 to 22% of the samples. There was no contamination found in sealed systems. Armed with these results, Gojo rolled out a Sanitary Sealed System for its handwashing products, including Gojo TFX, that can cost less to operate than conventional systems.
“Proper maintenance of bulk soap systems entails fully flushing out and sanitizing between refills, a very labor intensive process. This is a hidden cost,” explained Martin O’Toole, Gojo Systems product management director, “Additionally, not all maintenance professionals follow a sanitizing procedure, which leads to problems with bacteria. In addition, there are costs associated with repairing or replacing broken systems after they are installed.“
In addition, the sealed refill system is recyclable. All cartridges are imprinted with the recycling symbol, the number “2,” and HDPE, which indicates the material is High Density Polyethylene and that it can be recycled. The collar/pump assembly portions of these cartridges contain metal. In order to recycle the bottles, the collar pump assemblies must be removed.
Getting Costs Under Control
With so many products at their disposal, cleaning professionals must grapple with increasingly complex procurement issues. To assist them, Johnson Diversey has introduced Connexion, a category management platform, which is billed as the industry’s only e-procurement system designed by cleaning management experts specifically for cleaning operations supplies and consumables. Connexion is said to boost productivity and lower spending by helping I&I customers optimize their supply chain at all sites, manage inventory and enforce spending checks and balances.
“Connexion works best for customers who sell products to multiple locations such as a school district or even a global retailer,” explained Greg Bell, director, global external communications, Johnson Diversey. “It is an amazing inventory tool.”
At the same time, Connexion can be customized to include MSDS sheets, training videos and a variety of other services to support cleaning operations and promote industry best practices.
“Customers no longer need to go to multiple sites,” explained Mr. Bell. “Connexion is a cohesive and coherent solution for them.”
In fact, in one case study, a retailer reported a 25% savings using Connexion.
“Some customers can save millions,” insisted Mr. Bell.
Education is Vital
Despite all the recent press about the importance of proper hygiene and facility maintenance, Mr. Sansoni told Happi that random attacks on cleaning products continues.
Hand washing is essential in health care |
Mr. Sansoni noted that many products on the market are available to kill Staphylococcus aureus and at the same time, sickness and death could be avoided if consumers just practiced some common sense by not sharing soap or razors and properly wash their hands.
“Instances like these are unfortunate,” concluded Mr. Sansoni. “But they are stark reminders how critical proper use of these products are in preventing disease and even death.”
Mr. Lafield noted that in recent years a handful of state legislatures have considered measures to mandate the use of environmentally-friendly cleaning products in schools and government buildings. When considering such legislation, CSPA has urged lawmakers to exempt disinfectants.
“States must be careful (not to outlaw) proper disinfectants,” explained Mr. Lafield. “The MRSA issue lends credibility to the importance of using the right disinfectant products.”
Looking for a new ingredient for your I&I formulation? Then start here!
Cognis Corporation
Ambler, PA
Tel: 215-628-1437
Email:
virginia.lazarowitz@cognis.com
Website: www.cognis.com
Dehypound Advanced
Description: Nonionic surfactant blend
Applications: All types of hard surface cleaners and degreasers
Use levels: 1-1.5% active at use dilution
Comments: Dehypound Advanced cleans without the use of solvents or builders on par with current national brands. This unique blend can be used with a builder for heavy duty degreasing applications or with acids such as citric, glycolic or phosphoric for bathroom cleaners. The use of solvents such as glycol ethers
decreases performance
Polyquart Pro
Description: Acrylic copolymer
Applications: Car wash, glass cleaners, hard surface cleaners
Use levels: 0.1% active
Comments: This unique polymer can be used in formulations with a pH of <1 to 14. It improves gloss retention, causes water to sheet off not bead up for a spot free finish, and modifies a surface so dirt cannot stick. This allows for less work in cleaning the next time.
Plantatex HCC
Description: Wax dispersion
Applications: laundry
Comments: Plantatex HCC is a laundry additive that keeps garments looking and feeling new longer. In addition it decreases linting and may act as a lubricant to increase ironing speed. This product leaves garments feeling smoother and more dense.
In addition, use with a traditional fabric softener will increase water absorptivity.
Evonik Degussa,
Goldschmidt Chemical Corporation
Hopewell, VA
Tel: 804-541-8658
Email:
info.household-care@degussa.com
Website:
www.degussa-household-care.com
Carspray 75/Carspray 75 US
Description: A cationic surfactant blend consisting of a specialty ester quaternary and glycol ether
Applications: Emulsifier for environmentally friendly vehicle rinse aid formulations
Use levels: Up to 20% active
Comments: Carspray 75 US (North American market) and Carspray 75 (European market) were developed to afford environmentally friendly emulsification for vehicle rinse aid formulations. Both products are suited to use with either mineral seal oil or with ester oils.
Tegotens SD 100
Description: Sorbitan ester surfactant
Applications: Floor and all purpose cleaners, traffic film removers, automatic dish wash surfactants and rinse aids
Use levels: Up to 10% active
Comments: Tegotens SD 100 is a vegetable based, low foaming, cleaning booster for hard surface cleaners like traffic film remover, kitchen cleaner, degreaser. New readily biodegradable, nontoxic detergency booster that provides extremely fast dirt penetration in standard surfactant systems. Replacement of traditional cationic cleaning enhancer.
Rewopol SC 200
Description: Specialty nonionic/ amphoteric surfactant system
Applications: Traffic film removers, high pressure cleaners, vehicle washes, floor cleaners, plastic/furniture cleaners
Use levels: Up to 20% active
Comments: Easy to use surfactant composition, compatible over a pH range of 4 to 14. Rewopol SC 200 is readily biodegradable, yet offers excellent fat and grease removal that contains particulate soils, imparts gloss, and optimal degreasing when used with chelants. Fast wetting action, even in high dilutable cleansers, easy rinsing for a saving in water time.
International Specialty Products, Inc.
Wayne, New Jersey
Tel: 973-628-4000
Email: info@ispcorp.com
Website: www.ispcorp.com
Easy Wet 20
Description: Alkyl pyrrolidone based super wetting agent
Applications: Hard surface cleaner
Use levels: 0.01-0.50 wt.%
Comments: Biodegradability, wets polar and non-polar substrates at low use levels.
PVP K-12
Description: Polyvinylpyrrolidone
Applications: Dye transfer inhibition for laundry detergents, colloid stabilization
Use levels: 0.005-0.10 wt%
Comments: Lowest molecular PVP available for laundry applications.
J. Tech Sales, LLC/Citrus Oleo
Boca Raton, FL
Tel: 561-995-0070/866-352-6457
Email: brian@citrusoleo.com
Website: www.citrusoleo.com
D-Limonene (CAS#5989-27-5)
Description: Natural, biodegradable solvent
Applications: Air fresheners, automotive cleaners and degreasers, carpet care products, floor cleaners and degreasers, emulsifiers, fragrances, furniture cleaners, furniture polishes, household cleaners and degreasers, industrial cleaners and degreasers, institutional cleaners and degreasers, laundry products, metal products, outdoor cleaners and degreasers, personal care products, pet care products, and specialty cleaners and degreasers
Comments: A natural biodegradable solvent derived from the peel of oranges; that has a GRAS rating (generally regarded as safe). The product is water white crystal clear in appearance and has a very pleasant orange aroma to it.
Soy Methyl Ester (CAS#67784-80-9)
Description: Natural, biodegradable solvent derived from soybean oil
Applications: Household products, industrial degreasers, institutional cleaners, graffiti removers, paint removers, cleaners and degreasers, and personal care products.
Comments: A natural biodegradable solvent derived from the peel of oranges; that has a GRAS rating (generally regarded as safe). The product is water white crystal clear in appearance and has a very pleasant orange aroma to it.
Lonza Inc.
Allendale, NJ
Tel: 201-316-9200, 800-365-8324 (Technical Service)
Email: contact.allendale@lonza.com
Website: www.lonza.com
Lonzabac 12
Description: Tertiary alkylamine
Applications: EPA-registered hard surface disinfectant
Use levels: 400-800ppm
Comments: Compatible with certain anionic surfactants, non-corrosive, retains efficacy even in the presence of organics.
Monochlor
Description: Halohydantoin
Applications: EPA registered sanitizer
Use levels: 15ppm as total chlorine
Comments: All the benefits of bleach but with improved efficacy in the presence of organics, greater stability, improved handling and a non-DOT oxidizer.
Bardac 22c50
Description: Quaternary ammonium carbonate
Applications: EPA registered hard surface disinfectant
Use levels: 200-1000ppm
Comments: Goes beyond “non” corrosive to corrosion “inhibiting!” Widely efficacious active ingredient with improved formulation characteristics versus standard chloride quats. Eliminates the need for chelating agents in the presence of hard water.
Novozymes
Franklinton, NC
Tel: 919-494-3000 / 800-879-6686
E-mail: service@novozymes.com
Website: www.novozymes.com
Stainzyme Plus 12 T/12 L
Description: Amylase
Applications: Ware washing, membrane and filter cleaning, laundry, surgical instrument cleaning, drain pipe cleaning
Use levels: typically 0.2-2% in detergents
Comments: State-of-art starch removal performance for total cleaning. Stainzyme Plus give you bleach robustness, Superior starch removal even at low temperatures and short contact time, and the best cost performance profile of any amylase.
Mannaway4 T
Description: Mannanase
Applications: Laundry—degrades mannan (guar and locust bean gum) found in a wide variety of foods and cosmetics
Use levels: 0.2-0.5%
Comments: Food and cosmetics stains with guar or locust bean gum stick to cotton and act as glue and cause greying and redeposition of stains. Mannaway delivers both stain removal and general cleaning due to it's anti-redeposition effect.
Savinase/Everlase/Alcalase
Ultra product range
Description: Proteases stabilized with 4-Formyl-Phenyl-Boronic Acid (4-FPBA)
Applications: Alkaline liquid detergents with protease—for use in all I&I segments
Use levels: 1-15% in detergents
Comments: Superior protease stabilisation in your detergent without the use of boric acid, which is classified as reprotoxic by EU.
Stepan Company
Northfield, IL
Tel: 847-446-7500
Website: www.stepan.com
Steposol SC
Description: Fatty alkyl ethoxylate
Applications: Liquid graffiti removers and carbon removers
Use levels: application dependent
Comments: Removes graffiti from most surfaces, removes black carbon marks from various surfaces.
Steposol DG
Description: Proprietary cationic/nonionic blend
Applications: All-purpose cleaners, degreasers
Use levels: application dependent.