CHSA’s Half Year Report Shows Members High Levels of Compliance with Accreditation Scheme Specifications
‘Our Standards. Your Guarantee.’
The 2023 half year report produced by the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association’s Independent Inspector shows high levels of compliance amongst CHSA Accreditation Scheme members.
By 30 June, the Inspector had completed 83 audits, just over half the total scheduled for 2023.
During the inspections approximately 1,000 labels have been checked to make sure they accurately represent the content of the packaging, guaranteeing ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’. Approximately 2,700 individual products have been checked, making sure they meet the specifications of the relevant Accreditation Scheme standard. For distributor members, the Independent Inspector has checked approximately 24,000 stock lines.
While the full year results for 2023 will be published in January 2024, the interim results indicate high levels of compliance.
“The integrity of our Accreditation Schemes is at the heart of all we do,” explained Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the CHSA. “People must be able to trust the CHSA mark wherever they see it, reccognising the Accreditation Scheme logo as a guarantee of quality. The interim audit results for 2023 provide the evidence buyers need to know our members continue to maintain standards.
“Our advice to buyers is to look first for the Accreditation Scheme logo to guarantee quality.”
The CHSA operates six Accreditation Schemes. They are for manufacturers of paper-based products, plastic-based products, cotton-based products, and cleaning chemicals, for general manufacturers and for distributors of cleaning and hygiene products.
During the auditing process the Independent Inspector checks the labels contain the required information and that the product is as stated on the label. Depending on the product, this involves checking the sheet count, width, duty, weight and or performance of the product. He also assesses the member’s quality assurance procedures. For distributors he confirms if product is from a CHSA Accredited Manufacturer and where it is not, that it conforms to the specification of the relevant scheme.
Committed to the integrity of the Schemes, the CHSA’s governing Council will expel any Scheme member who, despite being offered the guidance required to correct issues, consistently fails to conform to the relevant Scheme Standard.
Members of CHSA Accreditation Scheme for Cleaning Chemicals sign commitment to ethical marketing
The members of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association’s (CHSA) Accreditation Scheme for Cleaning Chemicals have signed a commitment to ethical marketing.
The commitment states members adhere to four ethical principles:
1. All statements and claims are truthful.
2. Supporting evidence, such as data sheets, reports and certificates, are available on request to substantiate all product and service claims.
3. All statements and claims are transparent. For example, it is clearly indicated if the claim applies to the product, the packaging or both.
4. All statements and claims are meaningful. For example, the term eco-friendly must be defined in relation to all aspects of the product and substantiated across the full lifecycle.
This formal commitment to ethical marketing was developed to address the growing problem of spurious, misleading and unsubstantiated claims being made about cleaning chemicals. Typical claims that lack supporting evidence relate to the efficacy of the products and many environmental credentials are little more than greenwashing.
All members of the CHSA adhere to the requirements of the relevant Accreditation and have signed the Association’s rigorous Code of Practice, which incorporates the Competition & Markets Authority’s Green Claims Code.
It means CHSA members:
• Trade ethically and sustainably;
• Provide supporting information for claims made;
• Provide quality, fit for purpose products; and
• Make sure what’s on the box is what’s in the box.
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