How was 2022 for Dettol Pro Solutions? What were the highlights? What were the challenges?

The last year was an exciting one for us at Dettol Pro Solutions. Combining Reckitt’s long-standing expertise in research, we continued to equip our partners such as Cricket Australia, Mirvac, Accor, MCG and the Sydney Opera House with products, hygiene protocols and expertise to help instil consumer confidence as Australia moved out of lockdowns and into the new normal. We also focused on expanding access to the same Dettol products, now for businesses, with key distribution partners across the region.

On a global scale, the two major standout highlights of 2022 were our partnership with the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the Queen’s Jubilee, where we helped protect a combined one million people at stadiums and crowded outdoor spaces. It was a crowning achievement to be trusted as the official hygiene partner at two of the year’s biggest events for the Commonwealth.

There will never not be a need for good hygiene, so preparing businesses to help encourage employees and patrons to remain vigilant has been a key focus for us.

What do you see as the main challenges the market is facing in 2023?

Across the globe, largely due to depleted factory inventories and ocean freight disruptions, supply chain delays and cost inflation have been tough. These are issues which we do expect to continue through 2023. Fortunately, Reckitt has been able to maintain the supply chain to service our partners against this challenging backdrop.

Delivery logistics for fast and reliable deployment across the country, ensuring businesses have sufficient quantities of Dettol products to meet the standards set forth by the enhanced protocols and customers’ expectations, is paramount to our program’s success.

Working closely with distributors has been central in driving access to our products right across Australia. We are proud of the new relationships we have fostered and will continue to focus on how we can work more closely with our distribution network in 2023.

Another challenge we anticipate is hygiene complacency. We are very focused on providing businesses with accurate and tailored information to help ensure they are doing all they can to help protect their employees, and customers.

What are Dettol Pro Solutions’ priorities for 2023?

It’s our priority to support businesses in any way we can, and be their go-to efficacious, commercial solution for all hygiene and cleaning needs to assist in maintaining productive, hygienic and more environmentally conscious workplaces. Studies have shown that workplace absenteeism cost Australian businesses $24.2 billion in 2022, which can impact business’s bottom line^[1].

Programs like Dettol Pro Solutions are designed to help arm businesses with efficacious products and hygiene advice to enable businesses to create clean and hygienic environments which can help to limit the spread of germs in the workplace.

We will also continue our work in consumer behaviour and how it can help counteract complacency. For example, through our work with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, we’ve uncovered insights around hand sanitiser placement to encourage compliance – an approach we will continue with next year.

Our research has shown that if a hand sanitiser station is placed on the right-hand side of a door, usage will typically increase, as opposed to if it is placed on the left”^[2]. It is these exact insights and techniques Dettol Pro Solutions implemented at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

What do you expect to be the big trends of 2023?

With uncertainty surrounding the Australian economy coupled with the rising cost of living and inflation, a big trend I think we will see across all industries is simply cutting costs.

Yet, for businesses, the need to protect staff and customers from the spread of germs when outside of the home is paramount. In order to combat these potential financial concerns, creating cost efficient cleaning and hygiene solutions allow businesses to ensure that routine cleaning is happening in an effective and efficient manner – particularly as we return to the office.

Another trend we anticipate seeing more of in 2023 is the emergence of new technologies within the hygiene and cleaning industry such as autonomous robots and artificial intelligence.

Leaning into technology offers many opportunities, from predicting trade demand, and to engage with the general public as well. During the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, we set up over 2,800 hand sanitising dispensing stations – 100 of which were ‘talking’.

Using technology was an innovative way to remind spectators of the importance of consistent hygiene behaviour and is something we anticipate seeing more of across our industry.

How do you see the cleaning industry evolving in 2023?

One of the most notable shifts we’ve seen is in sustainability as it’s no longer seen by consumers as a box to check, but rather something that should be baked into your business strategy.

It is one thing to commit to change in the future, but you need to show what actions your business is making today to make your sustainability goals actually possible.

How you communicate that to the public is really important, and will become even more so in the future. If you don’t have a sustainability strategy or have yet to set goals to work towards, I encourage you to do so as a priority in 2023.

Are there any key sustainability commitments/targets Dettol Pro Solutions has made for 2023? How will you measure your progress?

Sustainability is incredibly important to Dettol Pro Solutions, and Reckitt at large, as is innovation. Combining the two is something we’re really honing in on.

We have made a number of commitments, such as a setting the target to move 100% of packaging being reusable or recyclable by 2025^[3], and the goal to power our operations with 100% renewable energy by 2030[4] to help create a cleaner, healthier world.

A great example of these commitments coming to life are the new Dettol Tru Clean Biodegradable* disinfectant wipes which kill 99.9 per cent of germs^[5] with a plant based active ingredient and is able to be used on food preparation surfaces.

Greater than 90 per cent of the wipes biodegrade in 60 days in active landfill conditions according to ASTM D5511. By making small choices like using a product such as this, each of us can help to make our businesses and collectively the world a cleaner place.

What’s the biggest challenge facing leaders today? 

I think one of the greatest challenges facing leaders is instilling confidence in a world of uncertainty. Focusing on the things we know can have a positive impact on such as providing a clean and hygienic environment in the workplace, is a good place to start. Everyone deserves to have a workplace and workforce where protection from germs is taken into consideration.

Is there a message that you would like to share with the industry?

As an industry, it is very important that we move away from supplying businesses with product and blanket advice, and then leaving it at that.

Businesses, and consumers, expect more from us all, and we need to ensure that we are supporting organisations from start to finish. I encourage all business leaders to ensure they have a 360° comprehensive hygiene solution in place and to not let their guard down.

*Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

^[1] Rentokil Initial, The Link Between Absenteeism and Workplace Hygiene, https://www.dropbox.com/s/5fhf72lz29s9hbx/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-22%20at%204.23.04%20pm.png?dl=0

^[2] Reckitt, Hygiene that helps you protect what you love, https://www.reckitt.com/newsroom/latest-news/news/2022/july/hygiene-that-helps-you-protect-what-you-love/

^[3] Reckitt, Sustainability, https://www.reckitt.com/sustainability/purpose-led-brands/plastics-and-packaging/

[4] Reckitt, Sustainability, https://www.reckitt.com/sustainability/healthier-planet/climate-change-and-energy/

^[5] E.coli, Salmonella, S.aureus

This first appeared in the January/February 2023 issue of INCLEAN magazine. 

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