Words: Myke Bartlett

Reckitt Pro Solutions’ General Manager Jonathan Weiss says he has witnessed a growing awareness of how hygienic cleaning in commercial spaces can help strengthen businesses, particularly in the hospitality and retail sectors.

“Industry research shows that enhanced cleaning routines can lead to an 80% reduction in spread of common viruses,” Jonathan reveals to us.

“So, it’s not just a question of, is it clean but also a question of how your premises being clean helps drive your business’ success.”

Reckitt Pro Solutions champions delivering exceptional cleaning and hygiene to businesses via effective, efficient, and sustainable solutions that help to elevate and strengthen their clients’ businesses. 

A recent example of this forward-thinking approach came at this year’s ISSA expo where Reckitt Pro Solutions promoted their new Quantum Professional dishwashing range which launches in the first half of 2025. From the makers of Finish, the #1 dishwasher brand in the world, Quantum Professional delivers professional results for 5-star service for HoReCa guests and customers. 

A clean environment is conducive to productivity and wellness. 

It’s not only the hospitality sector that benefits from a hygienic, clean environment. When employees know that their health and safety are priorities for the Leadership Team, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated, leading to greater productivity which consequently results in a stronger business. 

Case in point is an insight by an Australian study which reveals that 90 percent of office workers are more productive in a clean working environment, while a lack of hygiene can have a significant impact on a business. Investing in hygienic cleaning is not just about maintaining appearances, but also about fostering a safe, healthy and welcoming environment for employees as well as customers. 

“There are one-and-a-half million workdays a year lost due to flu at a cost of around $2 billion – commercial hygiene is not just about being clean; it’s also understanding how exceptional hygiene and cleaning can drive efficiency and productivity within a business.”

Jonathan confirms that, in establishing its professional division, Reckitt committed itself to three key objectives. “These objectives were to create a cleaner and healthier world, to make access to the highest quality hygiene a right, rather than a privilege and to improve broader health outcomes while reducing the impact of illnesses on businesses,” he says.

To meet these outcomes, Reckitt has taken pride in offering effective and efficient cleaning and hygiene solutions through globally trusted brands such as Dettol, Harpic, Glen 20 and Finish. The company has also built strong partnerships with leading Australian hygiene distributors who offer the range and support businesses to include these leading brands as part of their facility cleaning provisions. 

Reckitt also provides its B2B clients with a customised Reckitt Pro Solutions toolkit which is designed to help businesses find the right cleaning and hygiene solutions for their business. The toolkit offers free personalised consultations with the Reckitt Pro Solutions Expert Sales Team, industry-specific hygiene guides, information sheets, product catalogues and much more!

Understanding environmental responsibility 

A healthier world however isn’t only about hygiene. Weiss informs us that 63 percent of business leaders rank sustainability extremely high when it comes to their business objectives and goals.  Reckitt Pro Solutions is committed to meeting the evolving needs of its customers. The R&D team at Reckitt works tirelessly to develop products that maximise efficacy and significantly minimise environmental impact.

“We’ve set really bold goals as an organisation, including a target to reduce our virgin plastic by 50 percent in our packaging by 2030, compared to 2020 levels, and our chemical footprint by 65 percent.”

Products developed in line with these goals include Finish Ultimate 0%, which is free from perfumes, dyes, and preservatives, alongside Dettol Biodegradable Wipes, which biodegrades in just six months.

“Other wipes take hundreds of years to degrade, these take less than six months and have been accredited under ASTM and EN certifications as biodegradable and compostable – even in landfill conditions – and still deliver 99.9 percent disinfection,” is what Jonathan has to say about their sustainable innovation. 

“We are always looking for ways to innovate and deliver on our brand promise in a more responsible manner, and that’s really central to what we do and is at the heart of how we operate within our business.”

Education shatters incorrect understandings of chemical use 

Jonathan comments that Reckitt Pro Solutions is conscious of the burden that sustainability targets place on businesses and facilities managers. With Quantum Professional, the company sought to create a B2B product innovation that not only reduces plastic and chemical footprint, but also enables HoReCa businesses to provide an exceptional experience for their customers whilst ensuring minimum impact on the environment.

One surprising way the company is supporting sustainability goals is by educating cleaning companies and FMs on how to use less of their products and still achieve an exceptional cleaning and hygiene standard.

“It all comes down to education,” he says. “One of the things that we’re trying to tackle in the industry is incorrect or overuse of chemicals, which can add massive amounts of cost and also drive greater pollution.”

The Reckitt Pro Solutions team offers comprehensive service and a robust customer toolkit that includes industry-specific cleaning and hygiene guides for offices, hospitality, and education sectors, product catalogues, detailed product information sheets, trade promotion activation assets and trade flyers, all of which are aimed at educating & providing guidance to businesses. 

“We’ve started to roll out industry training guides on how to clean hotspots and areas within a facility, identifying the right products to use, and then providing solutions that deliver exceptional cleaning and hygiene results”.

Use less and reap savings.

These educational programs assist facility managers in using fewer resources, saving more money and reducing labour costs. Although encouraging clients to use fewer products might seem counterintuitive, Jonathan believes that such initiatives foster stronger relationships with other businesses and partners.

“When we launched our biodegradable wipes, which came as an extra cost to us. We didn’t pass that cost on to our customers and instead bore the cost ourselves as an organisation. We staunchly believe that this will not only drive goodwill and change behaviour but will eventually pay far greater dividends in the future.”

He also believes that these educational programs, combined with more environmentally friendly products, will be a key focus for Reckitt in the coming year. In addition to business training, Reckitt has developed specialised training for the education sector aimed at creating clean and hygienic spaces for children to innovatively & effectively learn about personal and hand hygiene, whilst also helping to reduce illness causing bacteria that could lead to missed days of learning at schools. This initiative, launched in partnership with Winc and named The Hygiene Quest, offers lesson plans to educate children about handwashing and personal hygiene in an engaging, interactive manner.

“When you’ve got a brand like Dettol, you can do so much more than just sell a product — you can provide a holistic effective and efficient cleaning and hygiene solution to your customers. At Reckitt Pro Solutions, we aim to provide exceptional, effective and efficient cleaning and hygiene solutions to businesses which in turn help them become stronger!”