Busting The Biggest Myths About Sustainability In Cleaning
- 4 min read
- Castle
Sustainability has become a major focus across the cleaning and hygiene industry – and rightly so. From product formulations and packaging to logistics and waste, the choices we make every day have real environmental impacts.
But with growing interest has come growing confusion. Sustainability is often reduced to catchy labels, assumptions, or marketing claims that don’t always stand up to scrutiny. In cleaning especially, where performance, safety, and compliance are critical, oversimplifying sustainability can lead to well‑intentioned but ineffective decisions.
Myth 1: Products Made from Recycled Materials Are Always More Sustainable
Using recycled materials can deliver sustainability benefits – but it is not automatically the best option in every application.
It’s easy to assume that products or packaging made from recycled materials are automatically the most sustainable choice. In reality, it’s not that straightforward.
Recycled materials can reduce waste and reliance on virgin resources, but they can also require additional energy, water, and processing. In some cases, a durable product made from virgin material that lasts longer, performs better, or is easier to recycle at end of life may have a lower overall environmental impact.
Sustainability depends on context and evidence, not assumptions. The full life‑cycle of the product matters more than a single attribute.
Myth 2: Biodegradable Products Break Down Harmlessly in Any Environment
“Biodegradable” is one of the most misunderstood sustainability claims.
Biodegradability claims must clearly specify what part of the product they apply to and under what conditions. Many materials only biodegrade under specific industrial composting conditions. In landfills or natural environments, those conditions may not exist, and materials may not break down as intended.
For cleaning chemicals specifically, the term “biodegradable” legally applies only to the surfactants, not the product as a whole. Under UK and EU detergent legislation, all surfactants must mineralise (break down into water and carbon dioxide) within a defined period after entering a foul sewer. As this is already a legal requirement, declaring a cleaning product as “biodegradable” is often technically meaningless.
Myth 3: Carbon Footprint Is the Only Metric That Matters
Carbon footprinting is a valuable sustainability tool, but it is not a complete measure on its own.
Carbon footprint calculations are based on the best available data at a given time and often include assumptions. Results from different organisations are not always directly comparable.
More importantly, sustainability extends beyond carbon. Other critical indicators include:
- Water use
- Toxicity and chemical safety
- Biodiversity impact
- Resource depletion
- Social responsibility
Focusing on one metric alone can lead to unintended environmental trade‑offs elsewhere.
Myth 4: If a Product Is Certified “Eco‑Friendly”, It Must Be Sustainable in All Aspects
The term “eco‑friendly” is widely used but poorly defined.
It may refer only to the product itself and not to its packaging, manufacturing processes, distribution, or method of use. Without clear definition and supporting data across the full life cycle, the term provides little meaningful insight.
A product may perform well against one environmental indicator (for example, biodegradability) while falling short in others, such as water use, energy consumption, or packaging waste.
Myth 5: Increasing Recycling Is More Important Than Reducing Material Use
Recycling is important, but reduction comes first.
The emphasises that reducing overall raw material use prevents environmental impact at every stage of a product’s life cycle – from resource extraction to waste management. Recycling still involves environmental costs and is limited by material composition, contamination, and the economic viability of collection and recovery systems.
In cleaning, reducing packaging, increasing concentration, and improving product efficiency can often deliver greater benefits than recycling alone.
Moving Towards Evidence‑Based Sustainability in Cleaning
People generally want to opt for the sustainable solution. The challenge is when decisions are based on assumptions. By challenging those assumptions, buyers and end‑users can consider the full life‑cycle impacts of products and services and multiple environmental indicators.
Genuine sustainability in cleaning is not about labels or shortcuts. It’s about evidence, transparency, and understanding trade‑offs across the entire life cycle.
By moving beyond myths and headline‑driven claims, the cleaning industry can make smarter choices that deliver real, measurable environmental benefits.
Partner with Castle (EU), and Reap the Benefits
Castle (EU) is dedicated to simplifying your life. Our commitment to sustainability, comprehensive staff training, and efficient product supply facilities all aim to save you time, cut your expenses, and elevate the quality of service you offer to your clients.
Whether you’re just starting out in the cleaning industry or striving to advance your business, we’re your partners in progress, ready to assist, innovate, and motivate. Contact our friendly team today for further details on how we can meet your specific requirements.