Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA), reports.
CHSA members have cited regulatory compliance, the drive towards environmental sustainability and escalating customer demands as the three biggest challenges facing them in 2025. Alongside product innovation and artificial intelligence, sustainability was also cited as one of the biggest opportunities.
These challenges and opportunities were identified by research conducted amongst our members. Run by our members for our members, we comprise manufactures and distributors of cleaning and hygiene products.
Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory compliance was particularly pertinent for members who manufacture cleaning chemicals. We are seeing non-members avoid the regulatory process. It leaves buyers exposed. How are they to make sure they get what they need: safe, effective solutions. Our advice is simple. Ask the supplier for the evidence that backs up their claims.
The drive towards ethical and environmental sustainability
The push towards ethical and environmental sustainability continues. Customers want sustainable solutions without compromising on performance or cost. Our members recognise the potential this offers. Developing solutions that save time, improve performance and bring sustainability benefits are winners.
Disappointingly, however, members reported more greenwashing, the unscrupulous making claims that are ill-defined, simply nonsense or lack supporting evidence. Typical claims include 100% recycled content, chemical-free and non-toxic. All these need to be challenged. They also reported greenhushing, companies keeping their environmental targets quiet to avoid being held accountable.
Escalating demands from customers
Our industry is incredibly competitive, and costs are going up. Customers want more for less. It has led to the growing trend for open pricing on the web and intermediaries promising products at incredibly low prices while paying little or no attention to quality and performance. Buyers are finding themselves facing the issues that drove us to set up our Accreditation Schemes in the first place: product short on the count, width or length, that does not match the specifications on the box or, importantly, is not fit for purpose. Our Accreditation Schemes are crucial here. The mark of the relevant Accreditation Scheme on a product guarantees ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’ and that it’s fit for purpose.
Artificial intelligence
We are only just beginning to understand how AI and the industry can work in harmony. There is plenty of potential to exploit AI in relation to sustainability and product innovation. A smarter industry will sit hand-in-hand with a more sustainable one.
www.chsa.co.uk
About the contributor

Lorcan Mekitarian
Chair
CHSA