Overview
During the pandemic years (2020 – 2022) we experienced huge gains and steep losses in the I&I industry. Today, we are finally seeing the market has stabilized and is growing at an annual rate of 3-5%, said Laura Mahecha, Kline Company. Hygiene is top of mind these days with more people back to the offices and traveling, we see more cleaning more often.
However, along with the increase in cleaning, the industry still has not recovered from staff shortages, leading to difficulty maintaining the cleaning-to-germ spread ratio. Companies are getting creative and innovating to the challenges such as EZ Care Floor Care System, launches by SC Johnson Professional, improving operational efficiency with minimal training and less time.
According to the NRA, 2024 sales topped $1 trillion for the first time in history. The products in demand include:
Wipes
Hard Surface Cleaners
Disinfectant Sanitizers
Hand Soaps
Our MIRAPOL SURF polymers promote easier-to-clean surfaces by using Syensqo’s unique hydrophilizing technology to adsorb on surfaces, form a protective, rinse-resistant barrier and facilitate several benefits through water sheeting and soil release mechanisms:
- Prevents streak and spot-like residues and enables anti-fog on glass & mirrors benefits
- Effortless next time cleaning due to less soil attraction
- Helps water flow as a thin and homogeneous film
- Prevents soil redeposition and scale encrustation
Clorox developed their EcoClean line, launching EcoClean Disinfecting Wipes which highlight:
- 100% plant-based substrate & naturally derived
- Citric acid actives
- No bleach ammonia, or alcohol
- Gentle on surfaces, tough on grease, grime, and germs
Check out our NUGEN Citric Guard Wipes. The active is citric acid, used on sustainable wipes. Approved for EPA’s Design for the Environment program.
In addition, we’re seeing the continuation to strive for sustainable solutions as well as using less harmful chemicals, while still maintaining efficacy for cleaning and killing germs. Check out these solutions to help you achieve similar goals:
Germ hotspots
Lysol Pro Solutions released a study about how germs spread in public spaces by identifying which surfaces act as hotspots for transmission and how an effective hygiene program can cut down transmission.
Summary of study
A real-world study was conducted in the public areas of a hotel by using a ‘tracer’ a special microbe that replicates a virus but is harmless to humans.
High-level outcome
Hands pick up germs from surfaces and spread them around high traffic spaces. The results showed that the tracer spread from a door handle and elevator button to 13 other surfaces in a four-hour period.
Brian Leafblad, R&D senior manager, global business solutions, at Reckitt’s Lysol Pro Solutions stated “An effective hygiene approach, where germ hotspots are cleaned and disinfected at the appropriate time and frequency, helps to break the chain of transmission and reduce the risk of germs spreading after someone has touched a surface by 80%”
With this study in mind, it shows that it is crucial to provide cleaning formulations that target these germs and educate customers to be conscientious about their hygiene approach. Solutions for surface disinfection we offer include:
- Nugen NR RTU and NR-128 for no-rinse disinfection of direct food contact surfaces
- Nugen Citric Guard Plus 6 and Plus 16 – citric acid-based disinfectant concentrates
- Nugen EHP 32D – peroxide-based disinfectant concentrate.
Areas for growth
Now, the million-dollar question is, where are the areas of growth within the I&I business? With the increase (according to Kline) in dining out, travel, and entertainment – we see areas of growth opportunity in healthcare, food service, and hospitality.
- Arxada provides fast, effective, and versatile EPA-registered disinfection products for a variety of surfaces:
- Small Surfaces: Ultrasound probes, physician tables/desks.
- Medium Surfaces: Computers on wheels, bed railings.
- Large Surfaces: Floors, walls.
- Applications include:
- Wipes
- Dilutable Concentrates
- Ready-to-Use Trigger Sprays (with electrostatic spray use instructions on select products).
- BASF offers comprehensive food service and kitchen hygiene solutions, ensuring spotless and hygienic facilities. Their product range includes ingredients for:
- Dishwashing detergents
- Rinse aids
- Hard surface cleaners
- Relevant tradenames include:
- Dehypon® – Low foam surfactants
- Dehypound® – Specialty surfactant blends
- Glucopon® – Alkyl Polyglucosides (APG)
- Lutensol® – Alcohol Alkoxylates
- Plurafac® – Low foam surfactants
- Pluriol®– Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
- Pluronic® – EO-PO Block Copolymers
- Polyquart® – Surface modification polymers
- Sokalan® – Polycarboxylate dispersants
- T-Maz® – Ethoxylated Sorbitan Esters
- Trilon® – EDTA, HEDTA, DTPA, MGDA
- Repel-O-Tex – Crystal polymer for improved laundry detergent performance
- Sokalan Eco GP790L – bio-based dispersant polymer for auto-dishwash formulations
Sustainability gains
Kline + Company’s recent surveys indicate many respondents are willing to pay more for eco-friendly cleaning products.
Consumers are increasingly seeking gentler, yet effective alternatives to harsh chemicals in their cleaning products. Ingredients like citric acid, lavender, lactic acid, and hydrogen peroxide offer powerful cleaning capabilities without the drawbacks of harsher substances. Explore our range of solutions designed to meet this demand:
- Citric acid-based disinfectants
- NUGEN® Citric-Guard Plus 6 & NUGEN® Citric-Guard Plus 16: Fast-acting, citric acid-based solutions for hard, non-porous surfaces, offering broad-spectrum disinfection and quick contact times. Ideal for everyday cleaning and sanitization
- Hydrogen peroxide (EHP: Enhanced Hydrogen Peroxide) Disinfectants
- NUGEN® EHP RTU & RTU-TB: Ready-to-use hospital-grade disinfectants with enhanced efficacy against bacteria, viruses (including Norovirus), and TB in as little as 3 minutes.
- NUGEN® EHP 32D: A concentrated formula that delivers powerful cleaning and disinfection with hydrogen peroxide technology.
Applications to consider in sustainability:
As a formulator, you have the power to push the boundaries of sustainability while creating unique, high-performing products. By rethinking traditional approaches, you can develop solutions that reduce waste, conserve resources, and enhance efficiency.
Here are some ideas to inspire your next sustainable formulation:
- Recycled-Content Packaging– Incorporate post-consumer or biodegradable materials to minimize environmental impact
- Water-Saving Concentrations– Create highly concentrated formulas that require less packaging, transportation, and water usage.
- Use innovative ingredients like Dehypound HDG and Dehypound M, which enable concentrated, solvent-free formulations without sacrificing effectiveness.
- Automation-Optimized Formulations –Design products that support automated dispensing systems, reducing chemical overuse, minimizing waste, and cutting down on re-cleaning—leading to significant cost and resource savings.
