What does sustainable cleaning really mean for businesses?
Sustainability isn't just a buzzword anymore, it's become central to how most organisations operate. ESG frameworks are shaping business planning and reporting across sectors, which means the conversation has moved on from whether to act, to how to act. And that includes the everyday services that keep buildings running, like cleaning.
Cleaning is one of those things that happens everywhere, every day. It influences energy consumption, indoor air quality, people's wellbeing, and how much waste you generate. When you get it right, cleaning can actively support healthier spaces, lighten your environmental footprint, and help you deliver on broader sustainability commitments.
But what does sustainable cleaning look like in practice? And how can cleaning genuinely contribute to your ESG approach?
From compliance to positive change
Not so long ago, sustainable cleaning meant swapping in eco-friendly products or trying to generate less waste. Those changes still matter, but real progress means thinking more about the people involved, the systems you use, and the lasting impact you're creating.
Sustainable cleaning today goes beyond ticking boxes or meeting minimum standards. It's about taking ownership of how services get delivered, looking after the people who do the work, and caring properly for the spaces we all use. It means approaching things with intention and following through consistently.
What is sustainable cleaning and why it belongs in your ESG strategy?
Sustainable cleaning isn't just a question of which products you buy. It's about how the whole service is designed, delivered and assessed, and how it contributes to environmental responsibility, social value and solid governance.
On the environmental side, the aim is to reduce impact without compromising on results. That means using products that are non-toxic and biodegradable, cutting water and energy consumption with more efficient equipment, and minimising waste through things like refillable systems. Even choices that seem small – consolidating deliveries or moving to electric vehicles – can add up significantly when you're working across multiple sites.
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Social value matters just as much. Every clean, welcoming building depends on the people who look after it. Recognising their contribution properly means offering fair pay, maintaining safe working conditions, and creating genuine opportunities for development. When you invest in training and wellbeing, you build teams who feel confident and take pride in their work. And healthier, better-maintained spaces benefit everyone who uses them.
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Governance provides the structure and accountability. Transparent supply chains, rigorous ESG reporting and recognised accreditations give you confidence that your cleaning service is open to scrutiny and committed to getting better. Regular reviews and trackable outcomes demonstrate how you're making progress over time.
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When you bring these three elements together, cleaning stops being just another task on a checklist. It becomes a tangible expression of how you care for people, places and the planet. And because it happens daily, even modest improvements can create meaningful change surprisingly quickly.
How to align cleaning with your ESG goals
The first step is understanding where you're starting from.
Audit your current service
Begin by taking a proper look at your existing cleaning arrangements. What products and equipment does your provider use? How is performance measured? Are you tracking environmental or social metrics? Getting clear on the current situation helps you identify what's already working and where there's scope for improvement.Set measurable goals
Work out what progress actually looks like for your organisation. You might want to reduce chemical usage, bring in more energy-efficient equipment, or raise wellbeing and training standards across your cleaning contracts. Having specific, realistic goals makes it easier to track success and keep sustainability at the forefront.Choose the right partner
Find a cleaning provider who shares your priorities and can show concrete evidence of their sustainability efforts. Look for transparency in reporting, data that backs up their claims, and an approach that genuinely puts people first. The best results come from true partnership, not just transactional service delivery.Embed, measure and improve
Once you've agreed on your goals, build them into contracts and KPIs. Review the data and feedback regularly to make sure your service keeps evolving. Real sustainability isn't a one-off achievement – it's an ongoing process that depends on collaboration and accountability.
The benefits of sustainable cleaning
There are clear advantages to taking a sustainable approach. Better planning typically reduces costs. Safer products and thorough training lower your risk profile. A culture that treats people fairly keeps teams engaged and motivated. And when you visibly act on your values, you build trust with customers, colleagues and investors.
People can tell when a business genuinely cares about these things. A transparent, responsible approach to cleaning is one of the clearest ways to demonstrate that commitment.
When it's done well, cleaning becomes more than just a service. It reflects how your business values its people, its spaces, and the wider world.
How Unify helps
At Unify, we partner with customers to develop cleaning strategies that align with their sustainability objectives. Everything we do – from carbon-conscious logistics to employment practices that prioritise people – is built around creating measurable impact.
Our transparent reporting, sector expertise and focus on long-term partnership help businesses transform cleaning from a routine task into something more significant: a practical tool for driving progress and creating better environments for everyone.
If you're ready to bring your cleaning services in line with your ESG goals, we're here to help.
Get in touch to find out how our sustainable cleaning services can support both your purpose and your progress.
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