Cleaning and hygiene product buyers can continue to rely on the guarantee of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association’s (CHSA) Accreditation Scheme mark following exceptional compliance during 2021.
The CHSA’s Independent Inspector conducted 143 audits during the year, inspecting every member of the CHSA. More than 3800 individual items were checked across all the Schemes, making sure ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’.
Mike Stubbs, Chairman of the CHSA Accreditation Schemes, said: “Maintaining the integrity of our Accreditation Scheme is essential so we are delighted members have again maintained standards, achieving very high levels of compliance. Buyers of cleaning and hygiene products can continue to trust the mark. Our standards, your guarantee.”
Members of the Accreditation Scheme for paper-based and woven products achieved 92% label compliance, meaning the dimensions and count of every product and other required information is as indicated on the label. Of the 1260 individual products audited 96% complied, excluding minor infringements.
The Inspector conducted 40 audits of plastic-based products. 1820 individual items were tested, and 672 labels checked. Overall label compliance was 93% and 92% of all products tested met the requirements of the Scheme, guaranteeing they’re fit for purpose. The products audited included sacks and liners.
Members of the Accreditation Scheme for manufacturers of cotton-based products achieved 97% compliance on the labels checked and 96% on the 720 products tested. The 17 members of the Accreditation Scheme for Manufacturers of Cleaning and Hygiene Chemicals were also reviewed by the inspector and their status confirmed.
Every distributor member of the CHSA was audited. Following the launch of the Accreditation Scheme for manufacturers of cleaning chemicals and expansion of the Scheme for manufacturers of paper and woven products to include wipes and cloths, these products were included in the distributor inspections.
Accredited Distributors have committed to buy products from a CHSA Accredited Manufacturer and that product from other manufacturers must conform to the requirements of the relevant Accreditation Scheme. Currently 72% of relevant products sold by distributors are from a CHSA Accredited Manufacturer.
The CHSA is establishing a new Accreditation Scheme for General Manufacturers. Inspections of these Scheme members will begin in 2022.
The CHSA conducts due diligence on every application to join the Association. This process involves confirming all marketing and product claims can be substantiated by hard evidence, for example EN test results. This process is followed by an audit of their product range and quality assurance procedures. They are welcomed into the Association only if they successfully complete due diligence and pass the audit.
Committed to the integrity of the Schemes, the CHSA’s governing Council will expel any Scheme member who, in spite of being offered the guidance required to correct issues, consistently fails to conform to the relevant Scheme Standard.
The combination of the CHSA Accreditation Scheme Mark and its Code of Practice guarantees the Association’s members:
- Trade ethically and sustainably;
- Provide quality, fit for purpose products;
- Make sure 'what's on the box is what's in the box'.
