Environmental management is a core company value at React Specialist Cleaning, and we take practical steps to deliver ISO 14001 processes.
It’s increasingly apparent that climate change and environmental management is a huge concern for people in the UK. Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 crisis, the polling insight company Opinium published a vital report in October 2020*. It analysed UK perspectives on the climate crisis, and one key finding is that people want business to play a bigger role in tackling climate change. Of course, there’s a lot that feeds into these goals to safeguard the planet’s future. It requires a coherent approach to tackling issues that affect the environment throughout every organisation. Here at React Specialist Cleaning, environmental management is a core company value. In this blog we’re going to look at some of the practical steps we take to ensure that we’re environmentally responsible in everything that we do.
Environmental management is at the heart of our processes
We’re a specialist cleaning company, so of course we focus on improving indoor and outdoor environments every day. But we also take seriously our responsibilities towards protecting the broader environment and safeguarding the future. We’re proud to hold ISO 14001, Environmental Management. This kitemark is the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system (EMS). As a holder of ISO 14001, we continuously work to improve our own environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste.
We’ve developed an environmental policy that reflects our commitments and established a robust EMS. We’ve identified how our organisation interacts with the environment, and the actual and potential environmental impacts of our work. We’ve identified environmental compliance requirements, and established environmental objectives, targets and programmes. We monitor and measure the progress of our EMS to achieve these objectives, and regularly review our environmental performance. Ultimately, we’re aiming to continuously improve our organisation's environmental performance across all our work.
Targeted infection control limits the damage from harsh viricidal agents
One example of our commitment to protecting the environment is in the field of our infection control methodology. This is an area which of course we’ve been delivering on throughout 2020 with our Covid-19 deep cleaning and decontamination service. We use a four-step process: test, clean, disinfect and test again. This aims to make the process as effective as possible, which means we can limit the use of harsh chemicals. While there are many choices of viricidal disinfectant, the most common use quaternary ammonium or chlorine compounds. These are potentially harmful chemicals, that if used incorrectly or too frequently can cause health issues and potentially damage the environment.
By using ATP testing, we’re able to target the use of such chemicals to particular areas where there are biological residues, such as high-contact areas and common touchpoints. We’re currently researching ways to make ATP testing, or something similar, more readily available to our clients. And more broadly, we’re working hard to find more environmentally responsible viricidal agents. We’re currently evaluating alternatives that have proven to be effective with shorter contact times and are much less harmful. We’ll publish the results of our evaluation at the earliest opportunity.
A licensed waste carrier protecting the public from harm
A further practical way in which we improve the environment is by being an upper-tier licensed waste carrier. This means we’re permitted to carry waste from whatever source it comes. Removing waste is often part of our regular cleaning contracts. Our waste removal services cover the full range of materials. We’ll always make sure that as much as possible of the waste we collect goes to recycling rather than landfill. We also deal with hazardous and biohazardous waste; we clear clinical waste from hospitals, and industrial waste from void commercial properties. And we maintain strict controls on correctly categorising and handling all the waste we deal with, to maintain public safety at all times.
We know that environmental management is vital for all our futures. We protect the environment now by making localities cleaner and neater, from targeted decontamination to secure waste removal. And we don’t store up problems for the future by the overuse of harsh chemicals that can have long-term detrimental impacts. At React Specialist Cleaning, we’re contributing to a cleaner, safer future.
* The Opinium report can be found here: Perspectives on the climate crisis through COVID-19 | Opinium
To find out more about React Specialist Cleaning and our approach to environmental management, contact one of the team today.
Telephone: 01283 550 503
Email: info@reactplc.co.uk
Website: www.reactsc.co.uk
Post by Shaun D. Doak
Shaun is the CEO of React Group plc., a business dedicated to specialist cleaning, hygiene and decontamination. He is deeply committed to making sure that every one of our company’s clients receives the highest possible level of service. An expert in HVAC and commercial and industrial cleaning methodologies, Shaun has extensive experience in the facilities management and renewable services sector.