Membership of the Charter for Sustainable Cleaning stands at more than 240 companies (manufacturers and distributors), of which 187 companies have committed to the Charter Update 2010. Interest in joining the Charter continues to be strong and the Charter community is growing: Membership in August 2017 is as follows, 108 manufacturers have officially committed as Ordinary Members to the Charter: Acdopro*, AC Marca, Aerochemica*, Airedale Solutions*, Albaad*, Alfred Kärcher*, Amway, AT Abfüllbetrieb Greven, AVT*, APS Ambalaj, Beromin Chemie*, Biochimica*, Bluesun Consumer Brands*,Bolton Manitoba, Brauns Heitmann*, Buck-Chemie*, Budich International*, Chemical Flacer*, Chubb, Colgate Palmolive*, Claro Products*, Dalli-Werke*, Danlind*, Deco*, Delta pronatura*, Deterplast*, Diva International, Diversey Sealed Air*, Donau Kanol*, Dreco*, Dri-Pak*, Dr. Schnell Chemie*, Dr. Schumacher*, Emmegi Detergents*, Eurotab Operations*, , Filer*, fit*, Fosfa, Francisco Aragon*, Galil Chemicals, Gallon-Kosmetik*, Gechem*, Global Cosmed*, Gold Drop*, Grupo Forquisa, Helichem*, Henkel*, Hermanos Soria Detergentes, I.C.E. FOR*, Ickenroth*, Industria Jabonera Lina*, Industrias Catala, Inquiba*, ITS Sisa*, Jeyes, KH Lloreda*, Kiter*, Madel*, Mantz airmotions*, Mc Bride*, Mellerud Chemie*, Messing & Keppler*, Mifa*, Militex*, Nice Pak International*, Nicols*, Nopa Nordic*, Organica, Packaging Imolese*, PCC Consumer Products Kosmet*, Pernauer Chemiewerke, Persan*, Pizzolotto*, Procter & GamblProductos Codina, Promer*,RCP Ranstadt*, Reckhaus, Reckitt Benckiser*, Relevi*, Riem*, Rieduklin Chemie*, Rosmarin*, Saci*, Samato*, Sapro Temislik*, SC Johnson*, Senzora*, Severn Delta*, SI.STE.M.*,Solent Group, SOLUTION Glöckner Vertriebs-GmbH*, Spectro*, Star Brands, Suavizantes y Plastificantes Bituminosos – SPB*, Südwestdeutsche Salzwerke**,Sutter*, Swif*, Thurn Produkte*, Tosvar, Unilever*, Van Dam Bodegraven*, Vandeputte*, Vipack*, Wareg*, Werner & Mertz*, Wet Wipes International*.
135 distributors have now signed the Associate Membership Agreement: Acdoco*, Agraplan Farmaca*, Ahold Europe*, Alco*, Aldi Nord*, Aldi Süd*, Alpheios, Amano Pioneer Eclipse Corp., Argos Hygiène, Arvid Nordqvist*, Asda, Asito*, APS Ambalaj*,ASP Cleaning Products*, Asto International Logistics*, A.S. Watson (Kruidvat & Trekpleister)*, Auchan, Avanti Blue*, Avilo Marketing*, Avodesch*, Bennet, Bertels B.V.*, BFS Group (3663)*, Bidvest Deli XL*, Billa*, Blusun Consuer Brands*, Bösch Reinigungssysteme, Boma*, Bon Preu Sau, Burnus*, Cantorclin Schoonmaak*, Caprabo, Carrefour, Coldis, Conad*, Condis, Coolike Regnery*, Consum. S. Coop. V*, The Co-operative Group*, CPH - Companhia Portuguesa de Hipermercados, Conad, Crai Secom*, Dasselaar Grootverbruik*, De Jong & Partners, Delhaize Group*, DEHAG-Dörr-Handel *, Despar Italia Consorzio, Detailconsult Formule-Management, D.H.P.*, D.L.P.*, DM-Drogerie Markt*, Dr. Weigert Nederland, Dorein, Edeka*, Esselunga*, Euriga Trading*, Eurospin Italia, Ewepo*, Facilicom Professional Products, Globus SB-Warenhaus Holding, Grandi Magazzini e Supermercati il giganteGTG Hansa*, Hema*, Hendrika Heerschap “De Tornado”,Hilco Chemie*, Hyga, Jannis*, Hygien Tech*, Jumbo Supermarkten*, IN’S Mercato*, Iwan Budnikowsky, James*, Jeronimo Martins Polska, Kaiser’s Tengelmann, Kaufland*,
King Nederland, Krabeck*, Leifheit*, Les Coopérateurs de Normandie – Picardie, Levens Cooking & Baking Systems*, Lidl*, Linz*, Lombardini Discount*, Marks & Spencer, Medimpex Solutions*, Mercadona*, Metro Italia, Metro AG, Migros, Miquel Alimentacio Grup, Modelo Continente Hipermercados, Morrisons*, Müller*, MTS Euro Products*, Musgrave Group*, Nedac Sorbo*, New York N.V. - Pama Industries*, Nipa*, Nisa, Norma, Nuvo Clean*, O’Lacy, ORO-Produkte*,OX Cleaning Systems*, Pam Panorama*, Pantos*, Penny Markt*, Plus Retail, Powder and Liquid Products Limited, Probisa*, real,- SB Warenhaus, Rewe*, Rhima Nederland*, Rossmann*, Rybrinks*, Sainsbury's, Scamark*, Staples Europe*, Selex Gruppo Commerciale*, Sisa*, SMA SpA*, SNG Commercial*, Somerfield, Spotless Punch, Stokomani, Sun*, Superunie*, Systeme U*, Tegut, Tesco, TJ Morris, Tristar Industries Group*, Unes Centro Societa Cooperativa*, Universeel, VAT Onderhouds- en Reinigingsproducten*, Waitrose, Wola, ZHG (Zentrale Handelsgesellschaft)*.
The graph below reflects the dynamic increase of company participation since the launch of the initiative:
In addition, 113 companies (from Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Dubai, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, San Marino, Syria, Turkey, the UK and the USA) are in the Charter training area, preparing for the Charter Entrance Check.
A.I.S.E encourages all companies to migrate to the Charter update 2010, in order to take advantage of the ASP system (i.e. product component) and also to access the modernised logos linked to Charter 2010. Migrating is easy, by signing the Charter version 2010 commitment letter and licence agreement.
A.I.S.E. Activity and Sustainability Report 2016-2017 The latest A.I.S.E. Annual Review and Sustainability Report was published in June and covers the period July 2016 - June 2017. This year's report presents the four pillars of A.I.S.E.'s new 2025 strategic priorities, namely cleanliness and hygiene; sustainable development; product stewardship and regulatory affairs; member-centric organisation. A.I.S.E.’s business activities and progress during 2016 and 2017 reflect a commitment to implementing these priorities in every aspect of the business. Highlights include:
- Strong industry performance: a market value of €35,6 billion in 2016 (€28,5b household sector: €7,1b professional sector) - Strong commitment to our role as a constructive partner in EU regulatory activities - Strong membership base representing over 900 companies across Europe. - Strong Charter KPI
results:
To access the latest A.I.S.E. Activity and Sustainability report, incl. the KPI data report and the KPI commentary, please visit the Charter technical website. Promoting sustainable design of products Whilst the Charter dates back to 2005, the product component, introduced by A.I.S.E. in 2010, enables companies to provide a sustainability assurance for specific products. Advanced Sustainability Profiles (ASPs) for individual products categories set sustainability criteria that are ambitious but reasonably achievable by all market players. The parameters are defined based on a life cycle analysis. For most ASPs, requirements to comply with the A.I.S.E. Environmental Safety Check (see below) also apply. This table provides an overview summary of the ASP criteria available for each product category.
Charter KPI benchmarking reports – a service for Ordinary Charter members As a service for Ordinary Charter members, A.I.S.E. continues to disclose KPI benchmarking reports; this helps reporting companies compare their KPI performance vs. the overall results published in the A.I.S.E. Activity and Sustainability Report, taking also into account the sector in which companies are operating (i.e. household / professional cleaning products) and the size of the companies. The reports can be found in the KPI reporting section of the Charter technical website (password protected company area). A.I.S.E. Charter logos recognised by German government’s Siegelklarheit’ initiative The A.I.S.E. Charter product logo is ranked alongside the EU Ecolabel as a “Good choice” by ‘Siegelklarheit’, a German federal government’s lighthouse project, which contributes to the ‘Sustainability strategy for Germany’. In addition, the Charter company logo is listed. The ‘Siegelklarheit’ sustainability standards comparison tool has been created with the objective to allow consumers
to make informed choices on products which fulfil high sustainability standards. In addition to washing and cleaning products, other product categories such as textiles, paper, food, wood, and natural stone have been evaluated. Read more www.siegelklarheit.de. A.I.S.E.'s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) pilot on household liquid laundry detergents Following a Commission’s decision to extend the pilot phase until end 2017, A.I.S.E. continues to contribute to the European Commission's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) initiative via a pilot on household liquid laundry detergents. The aim of the initiative is to develop a harmonised method in order to reduce the environmental footprint of products. In a first technical phase of the pilot, the PEF calculation methodology was used to identify the most relevant environmental hotspots for the product category, and PEF Category Rules (PEFCR) were prepared. In addition, a communications test phase programme was carried out based on findings of the technical analysis. This research included both a qualitative and quantitative phase, showing most notably that tips for consumers on how to best use a laundry detergent are relevant. This was confirmed during a B2B workshop with European retailers, the European Commission and A.I.S.E. member companies. Near the end of the project, some high-level conclusions can be drawn:
Many findings are in line with previous A.I.S.E. and company life cycle analysis (LCA) studies on detergents, which have driven A.I.S.E.’s voluntary sustainability initiatives to date.
The PEF analysis confirms the use phase as the most relevant life cycle phase. The most important challenges concern balancing the use phase and other life cycle phases, and the proposed method to
report on the products’ ecotoxicity profile. The success measure for evaluating any environmental product sustainability scheme such as PEF will be how appropriate it is in reducing the actual life cycle footprint. A.I.S.E. will assess how this overall objective can be addressed effectively. Find out more on our website at www.aise.eu/pef as well as the European Commission PEF web portal: Charter concepts exemplified in scientific journal The key concepts and the detailed use flow of the Charter Environmental Safety Check (ESC) tool are described and exemplified in an article by Pickup et al. published on the ‘Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management Journal’ and available free of charge (link above). This publication clarifies in a transparent yet concise way the functioning of the tool. In the paper the advantages of a risk-based approach are discussed. The strengths and limitations of various possible approaches to standard-setting, product ranking and driving continuous improvement in respect of potential ecotoxic impacts are considered. It is proposed that the most constructive approach to continuous improvement of sustainability as regards ecotoxicity is a risk-based one. This is particularly relevant in a context where the developments of the legislative framework and the increased consumers’ demand of transparency put pressure on product manufacturers to demonstrate their efforts towards sustainability. __________________________________________________________________________ Conferences Past events
In October last year, A.I.S.E.’s Sustainability & Communications Manager Sascha Nissen contributed to the Sustainable Cleaning Products Summit in Paris with a presentation on the industry’s approach towards Sustainability & Circular Economy. This event was organised in order to advance sustainability in the detergents industry by debating key issues in a high-level forum, tackling some of the major sustainability issues in our industry sector. In addition to his talk, he also participated in an expert panel discussion, together with Michael Braungart (Erasmus University Rotterdam, holding the Cradle-to-Cradle chair), Tom Domen (Ecover) and Jürgen Stichling (Thinkstep) on the practical use of metrics with focus on measuring environmental footprints.
Aisling O’Kane, A.I.S.E.’s Communications Manager, presented A.I.S.E’s voluntary sustainability initiatives, focusing on consumer engagement at the SEPAWA congress. This annual event is one of the biggest in our industry calendar in October, attracting over 2,500 delegates and incorporating the European Detergents Conference (see also below).
In the presence of numerous industry players and the European Commission’s DG GROW, Susanne Zänker, A.I.S.E. Director General highlighted the fundamental contribution of the cleaning and hygiene industry in Europe at the Cleaning Products Europe conference in Barcelona in March.
The 'Plant based summit', organised in Lille/France on 25-26 April 2017, was attended by 600 delegates from all over Europe. Sascha Nissen provided a presentation on A.I.S.E.’s approach on bio-based material, referring also to the Charter dimension.
Future events
From 18 to 20 October, A.I.S.E. will be represented again with a booth at the 64th SEPAWA Congress in Berlin. With over 100 technical and scientific presentations and more than 230 exhibiting organisations the SEPAWA Congress is a platform for experts involved in the Home and Personal Care Products Industry.
A.I.S.E. representatives will also talk about the Charter experience at following events:
Cleaning Products Sustainability conference, Barcelona, 16/17 November 2017 Cleaning Products Europe conference, Amsterdam, 14/15 March 2018
A.I.S.E. Cleaning & Hygiene Forum, 6 December 2017 The "Cleaning & Hygiene Forum” is a key platform that brings together high level policy-makers, academia and industry
stakeholders who hold a common interest in the development of the detergents industry. The A.I.S.E Forum, organised on 6 December in ‘The Hotel’ in Brussels, aims to contribute to the reflections necessary on the opportunities and challenges to be addressed in order to continue providing fundamental hygiene benefits to Europeans, in an improved operating framework. The intervention by keynote speaker Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska and the dialogue between other high-level speakers at this event will address innovative solutions and regulatory barriers for a fairer and deeper EU Single Market. Further info and registration via: www.aise.eu/events Back to top
