The shift toward sustainable solutions has grown momentum in recent years, but as of late, people are turning their focus to hygiene as a result of the pandemic, especially in public environments such as office buildings. According to Essity’s “Return to Workplace” survey in 2021, 65 percent of respondents were concerned about the cleanliness and hygiene of offices and 85 percent said increased cleaning and sanitizing would be important, in some capacity, in an office setting.

But the pandemic has not completely derailed rising consumer expectations around sustainability. In an international survey commissioned in 2020 by Essity, 90 percent of respondents said the importance of sustainability will increase for businesses in the future, clearly marking sustainability as a top priority for companies despite the evolving needs of workplaces. Companies will need to meet these dual expectations to build the in-person workplace of the future.

Beyond addressing employee expectations, companies’ sustainability targets must also account for government regulations, as national governments are increasingly focused on sustainable legislation. For example, countries around the world have committed to The Paris Agreement, and in Europe, the European Green Deal aims to make the EU climate neutral by 2050.

Sustainability is no longer a “feel good” initiative. It is now mission critical — and businesses must partner with likeminded organizations to achieve this new standard and elevate their sustainable hygiene management. Here are three cost-effective ways to seamlessly integrate sustainable hygiene management into business operations without compromising on cleaning quality and efficiency.

Evaluate products & sourcing

The pandemic brought hand hygiene and surface cleaning habits to the forefront, making these everyday practices a priority for all. As a result, companies are consuming more hygiene products than ever before. Therefore, facility managers scrutinizing the products used for handwashing and other cleaning practices can help companies ensure they are providing sustainable, effective and safe solutions.

Companies can determine the best sustainable solutions for their organization by assessing the life cycle of products from responsible sourcing to production and innovation, as well as managing after-use, ensuring circularity of the cycle. Decision makers can also rely on trusted third-party accreditations like Green Seal, which verify that cleaning procedures, purchasing choices and sustainability practices meet the highest industry standards. Green Seal uses the life cycle approach in this assessment to ensure that all environmental impacts are considered, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, to use and then disposal.

Similar to Green Seal, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) offers a third-party accreditation for responsibly sourced wood and wood fiber materials such as pulp. Not only does FSC bear the gold standard when it comes to forest certifications, but its logo certifies that all materials used in products are derived from FSC certified forests, controlled wood and recycled products. The FSC certified forests have been audited by an independent third party to confirm they operate according to FSC’s rigorous environmental and social standards. As such, being certified by credible organizations such as the FSC signal to buyers, key organization stakeholders, employees and partners the important role sustainability plays in a business.

There are a variety of paper products available that increase restroom efficiency, while also being better for the environment. For example, some sustainably minded manufacturers now make paper towel refills that are compressed by 50 percent, reducing the carbon footprint of delivery for FMs ordering their paper products and increasing the business’ operational efficiency by making it easier for cleaners to carry and store more at a time.

In a time of crisis, demand for certain items can increase exponentially. The pandemic caused many first-time producers to quickly enter the hand sanitizer market, and, as a result, certain sanitizers were deemed unsafe by parties such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While these issues have since been resolved, for companies that bought into first-time hygiene product manufacturers, this not only added stress to procurement agents, but also put employers and employees at risk. It also demonstrates the dangers associated with not properly vetting hygiene products. Partnering with credible manufacturers will help FMs secure trusted hygiene during times of crisis.

Selecting an accredited supplier will also help a business on its way to obtaining certification by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED. This certification, achieved by selecting sustainable partners and solutions, is highly esteemed. Programs like these unlock a business’ potential by verifying sustainable leadership and encouraging others to adopt better practices.

Look for sustainable packaging & reduce waste

Sustainable packaging is an equally important factor in reducing waste and creating a more sustainable office environment. This starts with eliminating unnecessary packaging, such as the boxes products arrive in, the plastic films they are wrapped in and even the unused cores of paper hand towels or toilet paper rolls.

The recyclability of packaging is a key focus for many manufacturers now. Many forward-looking manufacturers have made already made progress on supplying renewable, recyclable packaging across product offerings and have established measurable, long-term sustainability goals focused on recyclable packaging.

Companies should also look out for fossil-free packaging options, as well as the ability to optimize packaging. For example, coreless toilet paper with twice the capacity of conventional toilet paper minimizes waste by limiting materials used both inside and outside the roll.

Innovations in dispensing can also reduce product usage by employees and visitors, resulting in less environmental impact. This includes one-at-a-time dispensing systems that only distribute one napkin or one towel at a time. Products that are deliberately designed to dispense napkins or paper hand towels in this way not only lower consumption and waste, but also increase hygiene because the user only touches what they use. Additionally, products that automatically distribute the appropriate amount of skincare solutions (e.g., soap and sanitizer) have proven to be effective in reducing waste. Choosing the right sustainable solutions will improve hygiene, and ultimately, overall business performance.

Ensure responsible ‘end of use’

Focusing on efforts to re-use or recycle products, including circular solutions, is a key step to ensuring waste reduction. Circular solutions are products that last, can be reused, repaired or remanufactured. As an example, companies can consider purchasing certified compostable products, which greatly contribute to responsible end of use for products. Being compostable means that the product is capable of being broken down naturally in a way that is not harmful to the environment. Oftentimes compostable products suggest solid goods like paper, but it is equally important to find liquid products that are certified compostable. To this end, there is an assortment of biodegradable soaps on the market that help to preserve waterways.

Companies should also choose suppliers that are forward thinking and continuously looking for solutions to achieve sustainable hygiene management. A good partner demonstrates environmental responsibility through recycling as a final step. “Close the loop” programs bring together manufacturers, recyclers, shredders, and waste haulers to help companies reduce their environmental footprint. Recycling programs can divert thousands of feet of office paper from traditional recycling, where it will be reused as new tissue products down the line. Once the paper is collected and shredded, it is converted into new paper products locally and distributed once again to facilities. This demonstrates how organizations can become more sustainable themselves by choosing partners that prioritize these types of initiatives through the end of the life cycle.

Continue to leverage resources from reputable industry leaders

If anything is to be learned from the last 18 months, it is that hygiene is and will continue to be a key pillar in getting our society back to pre-pandemic life. FMs should not forget about the environment and their role in protecting it. By partnering with the right industry experts, adopting sustainable hygiene practices can be easy and good for business. Implementing sustainable hygiene management practices is crucial to both protecting the planet and unlocking business potential. By following these concrete steps, businesses will elevate customer satisfaction, employee well-being, operational efficiency and demonstrate sustainability leadership. FMs can reach these goals by adhering to the guidance they receive to make informed, strategic decisions every day — proving that partnering with the right industry experts, adopting sustainable hygiene practices can be easy and good for business.