News about the Circular Economy

In in-house laundries with only few wash cycles per day, the question arises as to whether washing powders can meet laundry hygiene requirements. Can this be done without sacrificing optimized energy, water and chemical efficiency? Is the use of washing powders with manual dosing sustainable?

For the past 14 years the respected CSR rating agency EcoVadis has assessed corporate environmental and social practices. The audit takes into account 21 criteria with a special focus on the four topics of Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, Environment, and Sustainable Procurement. The last two in particular received highly positive marks in this year’s assessment of the Werner & Mertz Professional Division, Tana-Chemie GmbH. Recognized as one of the most sustainable companies in the world, Tana-Chemie has earned the Platinum medal and a place in the highest rating class – an exclusive distinction that is awarded in only one percent of all cases. The Mainz-based cleaning products company has made the circular economy the key element in its corporate philosophy for many years. Moreover, Tana-Chemie is well aware of its economic, social and ecological responsibility for its employees, customers, suppliers and the environment.

Within the scope of its Recyclate Initiative, Werner & Mertz has reached another milestone on the way to a genuine circular economy. The company has brought to market the world’s first completely recyclable pouch of a monomaterial (polyethylene) with removable label, whose development followed Cradle to Cradle® principles. The innovative and patented pouch concept is the result of a four-year joint development project conducted by Werner & Mertz and the global packaging and paper firm Mondi. The concept solves the problem of recycling printed plastic. About 85 percent of the packaging material is not printed and therefore can be recycled with no loss of quality as it is not contaminated by ink. The remaining 15 percent, the printed label, is completely recyclable and, because no adhesives or bonding agents are used, the material can flow back into new applications. Certification recently was conferred by the independent Institut cyclos-HTP and Interseroh, which stated that the stand-up pouch has “very good recyclability that cannot be optimized any further.”

Kliks was the first professional Cradle-to-Cradle® certified assortment launched for machine dishwashing and laundry processes. The highly concentrated products offer compact efficiency and top cleaning performance. Now we have expanded the Kliks System with Kliks-Pouch, a closed dosing system that offers a controlled and precise dose of cleaning products for kitchen hygiene and building cleaning.