green my business

Eco friendly green cleaning oven and cooking range

2010-05-24T22:02:00.001+01:00

TBX1 - Eco friendly green cleaning oven and cooking range
See our latest video on oven range cleaning with GreenOrange.

Eco friendly green glass cleaning video

2010-05-23T18:12:00.003+01:00

Watch this video on how to clean glass and touch sensitive surfaces such as TV's etc.

Eco friendly green hard floor cleaning video

2010-05-23T18:08:00.002+01:00

Videos - Eco friendly green hard floor cleaning
Have a look at the link by clicking the above and see our new video on green eco friendly microfibre pad floor mopping. There will be more coming so look out for them!

Save money, waste, storage on bottled water!

2010-05-12T14:29:00.006+01:00

Housewater looks like a great design and a well delivered product. If you buy in bottled water, store it, chill it, serve it and then deal with the waste, you know what a pain and cost it can be.
Housewater provide a high quality filtration and refill bottle system for your food, room and meeting needs.
I really like the design and feel of the bottle and think customers will accept this system and product as a logical sustainable step for hospitality, like they did the towel card and room heating monitor. I am thinking of distributing this within our range so let me know what you think on stuart@ma-enviro.co.uk or 01647 252855.

A new government, how exciting!

2010-05-12T14:19:00.002+01:00

For some reason a change of prime minister and new government is all very exciting, it fills you with optimism to see what the years ahead will hold believing all the words spoken. I fear a few years of cuts and job losses in the public sector are guaranteed unfortunately and therefore spend will reduce and businesses will look to cutting budgets. We have been working with a few councils regards cleaning and consumable budgets and we are only too aware of the cuts they have been warned are coming.
If you are looking to save budget money spend on your cleaning or consumable supplies give us a call and if you have the will we have some real ideas on 01647 252855.

You can have it all!

2010-05-10T09:01:00.004+01:00

Talking to some customers on my rounds it is clear that whilst people are spending money they are being more choice as to what on. One city centre cafe said it was quieter than they would expect and a tourist farm shop said the cafe was busy but the local food trade shop was not doing that well.
I guess people will resort to the big four for their basics and luxury's for a bit less in difficult times. For all the principles that we all love, buy local, organic, green, Eco friendly, if it costs more than a certain amount above the other option people can not afford or perceive they can not buy into it.
I have always said that when selling green solutions they must always SAVE money. Our green cleaning fluids are high grade concentrate and therefore make up many triggers as apposed to chemical based watered down products. This is just one example that with a little effort you can have it all.
Solar power is cheaper in the long run, ground source heating, but they all demand are larger outlay. If we can get real up front support for all houses to cost out these changes we could make a real difference to do our bit in Britain. We can but live in hope!

Announcing the Goofy Green Herring Awards!

2010-05-01T10:09:00.003+01:00

Green foot, green leaf, Eco leaf, green England, The Environmental association of,green armpit awards! If I had a blah blah blah.......on a weekly basis now I get approached by one organisation or another to pay money and enrole on a buying group, website list or sign up to join some green Eco friendly motivated group who want to endorse our products, services or business. Sometimes the only criteria is money or saying the right things on a web sign up form.
I made a decision recently when we were looking at the new branding and messages of our offer. My talented marketeer asked me whether we wanted to put the name of the organisations that approved our products on the back such as one that works within a large industry sector and another relating to animal issues. We decided NO for the following reasons:
1) Why should we pay organisations to support what we know we are, when we know what we are already (get it)?
2) We have been supplying greener cleaning fluids for 10 years before most companies even realised that is what they would need to do to keep their market share and therefore the greater good and credibility of us would shine through.
3) We and our users know our products work very well and understand already without a symbol where they come from and what they are made with (they only need to ask the questions and they get the answer).
4) Despite any badge,if the product doesn't do what it should it will not sell anyway ultimately even turning people back to toxic products as results will demand.
5) Despite having a symbol if a product is not good value, it will not ultimately be a success in the future market.
6) Bottom line must be the product source, build, performance and delivery value of any product over the next decade.
7) Half the badges and groups will cease over the next 5 years due to the economy or will.

Despite this their are some fantastic groups that have furthered people's interest in such matters and have the ear of government on policy, its the profit motivated start ups that businesses need to be careful of wasting money on.

Cut down meat to make a real impact on carbon

2010-05-01T08:54:00.002+01:00

This subject is nothing new, and everybody by now should know that the meat industry is one of the biggest consumers of carbon in production. As matters evolve we need the industry to sit in the new world order so it is sustainable and that is another matter for greater minds than I to achieve. However personally we can do our little bit. Since the turn of the year, much to the bemusement of some I turned part-veggie (meaning I started as total Vegan then missed certain elements and have settled on a compromise).
I have halved the amount of meat in my diet by cutting out the unnecessary portions. For breakfast I will not take any meat in my full English, I will favour meat free lunches and eat half the portion if having it for dinner. If I have a sauce based dish such as curry It is incredible how if you take out the meat you do not miss it.
If we all were to just reduce our intake by half the impact would be incredible.
And for those with the jobs and trade argument, surely we could just reduce imports such as beef from Argentina, lamb from New Zealand and chickens from everywhere else!

Microfibre washing tips

2010-04-29T20:02:00.003+01:00

There are some basic rules and a few customers have given me a couple of pointers when laundering their microfibre materials:
1) Never use bleaches, softeners or toxic chemicals
2) Never mix with towels, dusters or other woven materials it grabs all the loose fibres
3) Try and wash cloths and mop pads separately as the mop pads have a lot more soiling on them
4) Use only a little detergent as the fibres will absorb excess causing a drop in performance (wash with no detergent if you do over dose)
5) If you want to wash all cloth colours together use our Halo detergent at 30 degrees to save energy as apposed to over 70 degrees to kill the bacteria
6) Use laundry net bags to place product in and throw in machine, its safer and easier to transport
7) Don't forget to check state and age of cloths as they last so long you can forget they are so old and become ineffective
Any more tips? Mail me on stuart@ma-enviro.co.uk

M&A on Facebook

2010-04-27T17:55:00.001+01:00

M&A Environmental have been on Facebook a while now, so don't forget to become a fan!

Vegware on Facestalk!

2010-04-27T17:46:00.003+01:00

Vegware our wonderful food to go packaging friends have a facebook site, so you can show your appreciation and fondness for all things food pack and green by clicking on the link!

Quality contract cleaning company's hard to find

2010-04-24T12:42:00.003+01:00

Having met with some of the biggest contract cleaners in this country employing sometimes many thousands of staff Nationwide,I am always amazed at the poor level of work, products and quality of staff training provided by them when I do.
Despite them referring to BIC's standards and various actions they take it still doesn't take away the fact that the products, systems and end results can be very poor and in some cases damn right dangerous to health of the buildings occupants (one company employed a lady in a South East England location shopping centre who never knew to use a separate cloth for wiping the toilet seat and then the wash hand basin, she just thought she used a red cloth for all the toilet sanitary ware!).
This is normally due to the fact that the contract company act like employment agencies paying the least they can to cleaning staff, keeping material costs to a minimum and looking to sign long high value contracts with buyers who have little idea of the nitty gritty of cleaning standards they produce but are impressed with the badges or flow charts they sell to support the tender at management level. Indeed the buyers are always looking to cut budget and save on the previous contractor without it seems a real care for wage or performance levels to sustain good hygiene levels.
An idea of a company that is building a reputation to reverse these frustrations and concerns is ButlerMaids they use our micro pore green cleaning cloths, mop pads and green fluids and train their teams in the correct use and benefits of the products regularly and focus on fair pay and team performance.
Clients notice the difference in results and hygiene levels and therefore can see the benefit of procuring their cleaning company wiser. Poor cleaning will lead to health issues, risk and a poor look and odour to your environment and impact the bottom line.
For more information see www.butlermaids.co.uk and www.greenmycleaning.co.uk.

Cleaning help for Volcanic ash victims (or VAV's)

2010-04-19T12:37:00.001+01:00

In anticipation of the panic calls seeking help for the removal of Volcanic ash as it descends from above.
The fine particles are like glass and therefore abrasive use only a vacuum or if not a high finish a damp cloth to adhere particles to. Be very careful on car bodies or sensitive surfaces on removing this.
I am sure Vacuum motors are safe to extract the size of dust particles that may fall and not experience seizure at present levels.

Cleaning flat screens

2010-04-17T12:13:00.004+01:00

Do you struggle to get a streak, lint or grease free result using cotton cloths or dusters made of woven fibres? Simply use our Microglass cloths which are lint free and have a much shorter fibre as you do not need so much for water and soil retention.
If you dampen the cloth and fold it square and use it in a circular motion then if you want to remove any excess moisture to accelerate the drying you could buff out with a dry Microglass cloth.
This will save using glass cleaning chemicals and dodgy cloths and the bonus is it actually works.

Recycling isn't the greenest option for every product

2010-04-16T18:45:00.001+01:00

Lately we have struggled to get our regular brand and source new commercial recycled quality toilet tissue from our reqular suppliers. I am told the price of pulp is going through the roof and thus recycled pulp too and therefore companies are not producing as often.
I believe that in fact we may have to concede luxury white soft and fluffy RECYCLED toilet tissue soon to the 'never worked' column! Why? For two reasons, one cause the energy and waste in producing such a product is more than to produce it from sustainable forrest plantations (FSC approved of course). Imagine the water, dyes and fuel needed to turn coloured pulped paper waste in to fluffy white toilet tissue.
Consumable paper tissue such as hand towels do not need such a cosmetically pleasing feel for the coloured heavy gauge papers and therefore would be easier to convert as would natural card products. As we are still in the great scale of things amateurs in such products and still learning I believe the directive for green awards should therefore be towards best solutions and not just a badged product for the sake of an eco term.
If you like the eco gumpf however, how about FSC approved sustainably sourced tissue paper. Also don't forget whilst the tree's are growing they are also consuming CO2 too.

Your supplier should be able to supply you with the appropriate certificate for the product to support this and the good news is most all products now are such.

Loving the sun and tourists!

2010-04-08T19:58:00.002+01:00

Great to see the sun finally and what a scorcher, should mean the second half of the holidays will see good numbers at venues.
What a fantastic attraction Kevin and Lisa have made out of the Miniature Pony Centre near Mortenhampstead on Dartmoor. We had an amazing day with my group ranging from 3 to 11.Lots of entertainment all day long from rides to children's entertainer. The food is good and reasonable as well and the place is maintained to a very high standard (and of course very clean!). Check out the events all day when you pay and don't forget the zip wire and trampolines up the top. Down the bottom is a willow craft area which has really developed since my last visit.

Now and again it comes together!

2010-03-26T14:00:00.003Z

Yesterday we received a call from a potential client, quite a large buyer in fact, that had been recommended to contact us. They said their consultant said we were the best commercial company in his opinion, for the provision of environmentally friendly cleaning products and systems to industry.
I have spent over 10 years now talking to people, green groups, businesses, helped councils launch green initiatives, consulted for free and given talks regards cleaning and buying green safe friendly cleaning products and more importantly with a greener process.
I am convinced therefore sometimes that there is no substitute for commitment, hard work and honesty to succeeding sometimes.
And whilst it may seem that we had to do nothing for that business, I think its like the man said, the harder we work the luckier we get!

Rest in peace Daisy

2010-03-19T12:02:00.002Z

For those following the progress of Daisy the pregnant cow outside the M&A office in the adjoining field. She gave birth to a healthy calf but unfortunately passed away due to a stomach infection. Rest in peace Daisy, your little girl is being cared for by the farmer by hand.

Come and see us at the MJ Baker show!

2010-02-05T21:02:00.001Z

On the 11th March to support the launch of MJ Baker stocking and distributing the M&A GreeRange cleaning fluids within their comprehensive catering range we will be exhibiting at the trade show. Everyone is welcome to see the suppliers within their offer, held at Newton Abbot Racecourse.

See Paul Kalu's new images of the Green range

2010-01-28T16:32:00.004Z

I think the new pictures of our M&A Green range look fantastic thanks to the professionalism of Paul Kalu's studio PK Photography and we will be using these and other images as we develop the brand.
Paul Kalu 01392 219753.

Save buying small bottles of washing up liquid

2010-01-28T16:27:00.002Z

Here's our little 500ml accommodation or cleaners handy refill bottle for the M&A GreenBlue washing up liquid. Some of our clients use this to place in the kitchen for guests to use and they are encouraged to leave it for refill to cut waste. Note the artwork and the stay comment.

Germ Warfare products coming soon

2010-01-28T16:24:00.002Z

See the link www.germwarfare.co.uk and check out the Dragon's performance by Paul and see the amazing product range of bug killing wipes, hand wash and detergents.

Recession can create downward cycle

2009-11-25T12:42:00.001Z

Businesses providing products that are the same as there competitors and offer no differential other than the people in the business will suffer a drop in margins as the market reduces and it becomes a buyers market place. The problem with this may be that some clients typically need the services of a sales professional to visit and specify the correct item or simply to see and demonstrate a system or product. With reducing margin company's will ill be able to afford such a luxury as a fully mobile expensed representative.
Buying solely on price in the commercial sense can end up costing more through wasteful systems or incorrect specifications for the task and sometimes many times more. Spare a thought for the sales professional as they can be your best chance of best price through best practice!

2009-11-20T17:39:00.005Z

Kitchen floors are very difficult to clean with the wrong products and systems. This week I have walked into a couple of sites where using vertical traditional twine mops are only displacing soiling and grease and staff are struggling to keep the area safe. This is very common without the use of flat micro fibre's the soiling in the pore of the surface will be pushed down into it or pushed around generally resulting in slippy and dirty surfaces.
Kitchen surfaces are the same and there is a massive over use of blue paper and woven dishcloths, j cloths and the like producing sub standard results after much sweat and work by staff.
I get a real kick when I show a business the benefits of good materials and safer fluids, however if the message doesn't become part of the culture and standard use it only takes a change of management sometimes to set things back again.

Warehouse stock clearance sale starts now!

2009-11-16T19:20:00.003Z

Call and ask on 01647 252855 or mail sales@ma-enviro.co.uk and get your copy of our crazy priced stock clearance lines. We have napkins, fluids, gloves, bulbs, safety work wear, catering and hundreds of different products we need to sell at silly prices to make way for the new year.

Distribution partners will help roll Green range out

2009-11-16T19:08:00.003Z

We are looking for more partners such as food, dry goods & other catering supply companies to carry our M&A Green range eco friendly high grade fluids to the masses. Particularly those up and down the country who could combine our products with others to save carriage costs and cut paperwork and delivery drops to sites.
If you have a supplier who is looking for new interesting products or supplys toxic chemicals and may want to offer a greener option tell them about us or tell us about them!

A star is born....not!

2009-10-26T20:44:00.007Z

At the recent business to business show in Exeter there was one very innovative company called moviecom.tv who made short films of businesses to promote themselves that you can link to. Click to see the M&A video this could be the future of better web information, maybe we could recruit a local thespian to play my part, any offers?

Low temperature laundry detergent update

2009-10-02T07:31:00.002+01:00

Having tested the new Halo product that kills every bug and can wash at 30 degrees we had a mixed bag of results as you always find with such products. Some said brilliant and better than your powder, some said smelt great and some preferred our powder.
I think from this though the BIGGEST benefit and clear place for it, is as a Microfibre cloth and mop pad laundry detergent. It will wash the product, kill all the bugs and all at an energy efficient green 30 degrees.
I have requested the first batch in 2 litres which I will offer out to customers who are using our Microfibre green cleaning system and promote it as a new line. This way it helps to keep the whole system greener right through the chain of processes.
Now to find a replacement for water!

2009-08-26T15:36:00.002+01:00

As well as supplying two Premiership football grounds and numerous live music and entertainment venues, we also sponsor and work with Exeter City FC. Large stadiums may only be full twice or three times a month, but the products used have a short sharp impact. We provide such venues with economic dispensed 100% UK recycled tissue products and safe effective cleaning products to cut cost, waste and increase health & safety with no effect on the local environment.

Busy summer despite patchy weather

2009-08-22T23:35:00.002+01:00

London was packed fall of tourists (like me) today, the centre was thronging as you would expect in holiday season. The Westcountry has also it seems realised good numbers and we have certainly been busy in the tourist sector.
We are owed an extended Indian summer and lets hope we can stretch the season out. Will the added numbers return to stay home next year? Well I must say after the week of rain we had at the end of July during our UK break, everyday I did think to myself why we hadn't plumped for the Spainish heat wave.

Peter Jones lets Halo slip

2009-08-13T20:18:00.004+01:00

Last night Halo the fantastic new laundry detergent that kills C-Diff and is non hazardous and can wash at a low energy saving 30 degrees failed to achieve investment from the Dragons Den to take it into the domestic market. In fact I thought Peter Jones looked pretty perplexed that he came only to negotiate on a 5% stake.
Quiet understandably anyone that has watched and studied the den would realise that they would have to let at least 15-20% go for an investment and to me it looked as if they were after some publicity with no intention of investment, shame cause one is left with the feeling that it will take three times longer to bring this product where it should be. See the episode at this link. Dragons Den.

30 degree bug killing laundry liquid launched

2009-08-11T17:44:00.006+01:00

One of our our manufacturing partners manufacture the new Halo laundry technology product that will kill bacteria and importantly C Diff at 30 degree's. The new non biological gentle formula is amazingly safe for something that works so well.
I understand, so great the potential of this product world wide that it is making an appearance on 'The Dragon's Den' television program this week!
We will be looking at bringing it in as a product to wash in particular Microfibre cloths and mops as it will do them safely at 30 degrees which will save energy in line with the green ethos we promote.
Let us know if you have an interest on 01647 252855.

Cheltenham gets M&A products locally

2009-08-07T12:52:00.007+01:00

Cheltenham Catering Supplies have really made a great start in the town since Phil etstablished his business last year. The company distribute our branded products in addition to other catering disposables. They really fly the green flag well and understand that promoting eco friendly cleaning detergents, recycled tissue and other associated items is the best way to look forward at the market.
So if you are in the town look out for the van or if you know anybody in the area who could be a potential client do let us know.

A big fish in our little pond

2009-08-03T09:52:00.002+01:00

18LB 6oz of Carp, proudly caught at New Barn Fisheries one of our clients by Georgie Pope our office supervisor yesterday on a visit to this wonderful Angling centre.
Georgie has spent her career in the industry and forms the back bone of our customer services at our Head offices. Customers often pass positive comments about her helpful attitude and knowledge to me. Getting the right response, attitude and answer to questions is vital in our time pressured industry.

M&A Green range fluids get label face lift

2009-07-29T15:15:00.002+01:00

You will notice now that our M&A Green range products have new artwork on them to reflect our new corporate image. I hope you like the new look and feel of the products to reflect their strong environmental credentials as our customers requested.

Good technique can make the difference between a hit and miss.

2009-07-23T11:41:00.004+01:00

If I spend one hour with a sports coach my game improves dramatically for the period that I remember to implement those technique's. After a while though I will go back to the same old habits until the next time I am told. If I receive a regular lesson however it becomes part of my make up and I do it instinctively without thinking of how or why I do it that way and I get better.
The same can be said for the work place. Staff training on good practice and understanding needs to be reinforced as a structured program. Many of the most successful businesses with the cleanest, most welcoming and high quality product have simple integrated staff training programs. Everyone knows the mission statement and how to deliver to reach it.
We offer free on going COSHH and product use training to our regular customers free to make sure they enjoy and get the best use of our products and ideas.

Get trollied up!

2009-07-16T20:18:00.004+01:00

Now that you have adopted all the wonderful joys of microfibre cleaning cloths and mop pads in different colour codes and the handles and high clean tools. Linked in with the M&A Green range product fluids to use with them, you are ready to really go for it, with a Microfibre system trolley.
If your arms are getting heavy or because of all the extras it may be a little hard to look elegant whilst working, look at this well designed range. They have cloth and pad buckets, clips for handles, laundry bags and of course ergo easy design. For more details drop us a mail at sales@ma-enviro.co.uk or call 01647 252855.

Keep a breast stroke of good hygiene!

2009-07-14T17:21:00.004+01:00

Cleaning swimming pool and leisure areas can be challenging to make sure you select a safe and non intrusive product. To remove body fats and soiling you can use M&A Green Orange power cleaner. Save buying an additional product and adding to cost and transport this product is also good for stone patios, bin deodourising and even in the kitchen cleaning the oven range and degreasing floors etc.
Cut down the amount of products on site, cross over buying and ideas to cut waste, costs and improve health & safety.
See our website for more good green budget saving ideas!

New Microfibre eco cleaning is really working

2009-07-08T16:34:00.003+01:00

Having spoken to a few customers who have recently converted to our Microfibre products with our Eco fluids. Now that the high season has really kicked in they are reporting very high satisfaction levels from staff and results. This is the time when any weakness in a product or idea would break down or show itself impacting on guests, staff and health & safety issues.
Because microfibre's are more effective soiling removers it saves time and makes surfaces streak free, preventing smeary tops, sticky tables, smokey mirrors and skirts around floor edges.
Make sure you stay up to date and don't forget to order a high cleaning tool in your kit for those high and awkward places!

NEW! Microfibre eco fluid green cleaning charts now available

2009-05-26T12:46:00.003+01:00

The new colour coded instructional charts to assist the use of Microfibre cloths and mops with our green range eco cleaning fluids are now available. Printed in full colour A3 and laminated they provide excellent support to staff awareness and training and further follow through the importance of correct use and products for common area, bedroom, washroom and food service area cleaning as well as enhancing the greener cleaning ideas.
The charts cost £4.95 each but are FREE of charge to customers who buy any Microfibre from us with any order placed, so don't forget to ask on your next despatch.

Green lady bin

2009-04-25T09:37:00.004+01:00

Love this idea for hygiene bins, a feminine hygiene waste bin that turns towels into bio waste. The chamber can be thrown to regular waste safely to save pick up charges and the waste degrades fully for a zero impact.

Happy customers, tell your friends and get £100 gift!

2009-04-25T09:17:00.004+01:00

If you enjoy what we have done for you, perhaps you have saved budget as a result of cutting out the unnecessary products that were bought through habit or perhaps by using one of our ideas it has meant the job was made easier of more effectual.
Would you do us a favour and tell your friends and let us contact them to see if we can help their business? We deal with hospitality, education, nursing and anyone who has a building and needs to clean it or provide consumables for it.
If you click on this link you can provide these details and we will give you £100 of shopping vouchers when 5 start using us. Any questions call us on 01647 252855 or mail stuart@ma-enviro.co.uk.
http://www.greenmybusiness.co.uk/gmb_source.aspx

Way to save waste, be safe and clean friendly

2009-04-03T20:42:00.003+01:00

This is the new Maximiser units with lockable cabinets for the M&A 5ltr containers. When you press the blue button you get a 20 parts mix of GreenSan cleaner sanitiser Eco friendly solution into your M&A screen printed refill trigger and the red a 30 parts mix of our Eco friendly GreenOrange degreaser cleaner. They also do a bucket fill option and we supply these to high use sites, where control of use, safety and staff welfare is an issue.
You can run other products such as our GreenWash cleaner for toilets or say a specific fluid through them too. For more details or to discuss whether this may work for you call the office on 01647 252855 or mail sale@ma-enviro.co.uk .

Fat Duck should be a warning for all chefs!

2009-03-29T14:36:00.003+01:00

Good to see the Fat Duck reopen it's doors after going through a very public hygiene scare. These high performing kitchens that prepare some of the best food in the world are like cauldrons of activity. Mostly they have less work space per chef than other restaurant kitchens due to the work force needed to produce such quality. Because everything is prepared fresh and from scratch the processes involve many cross infection and hygiene challenges.
Stainless steel preparatory surfaces are grained and under a microscope show up pores where food residue can turn to bacteria if not extracted with the correct wiper. A high grade terminal sanitiser alone sprayed and left for a contact time is good, but by using a Micro fibre cloth with fibres to extract soiling from the pores is even better. Traditional paper towels, j cloths, dish cloths, tea towels, woven colour cloths do not reach in these pores and leave a risk in my opinion.
We have shown some astounding results in food preperation areas by spraying and wiping with these cloths to show deep ingrained dirt.

It really does save serious money....read on.

2009-03-24T21:32:00.003Z

Genuine mail from a customer today:
"Hi Stuart , just thought I would let you know, A/Cs dept have just informed me that they have compared Feb 08 to Feb 09 for cleaning materials and we have saved 398.00 by using your products that is some saving, so with kitchen turning it on as well savings will be even higher. Just thought you might like to know."
This is a customer whom adopted our green products throughout the housekeeping, washroom and common areas last year.

Thought of the day!

2009-03-24T21:29:00.001Z

"If you let someone discover a way of doing something better than before, that actually works, they will adopt and own it. If it saves money and makes them happy the management will approve it. If its greener, then you can tell everyone the good news unashamedly!"

Bring the power outside

2009-03-20T21:25:00.004Z

Having opened up the back door as the sun showed itself for the first time this season the patio looked bit mossy and soiled. One slug of Orange Power and a deck scrub later and it bought the stone up a treat.
Don't forget Orange Power isn't just for your kitchen range, dustbin area, floors, boat, car, it makes a brilliant Eco friendly no impact stone cleaner for pool sides and patio areas. Dilute it about 100 to 1 and scrub with one of our brushes or brooms.

What is green cleaning?

2009-03-11T19:15:00.003Z

People often contact us and say we want green cleaning products and I say why? Well here are some justifiable motives and pointers:-
Carbon footprint
Dilutabilty of product means less ordering and less transport issues.Manufacture of product in the UK ideally with mostly UK ingredients means less carbon issues.
Landfill waste issues
Dilutability means adding your own water on site and not buying ready made hole fillers such as triggers, aerosols and bottles reduces waste.Refill bottles with good clear instructions and durable print and operation to last for multiple refills.
Environmental impact
Toxicity of product to be as close to zero as effectually possible, avoid chlorites, hydroxides etc if you can.
Phosphates are an issue with local landscape, see the web for environment agency data, however avoid products with them.
Health & Safety
Products should look green, work well and not cause breathing or skin issues for staff, therefore they will be adopted fully for ever.Operation should be clear and work for your site or ordering will slip to toxics.
Cost reduction
Unit cost should be in line or better than what you get from current product, you should not be paying a premium to go green, most toxics are costly to transport due to legislation so why should safer ingredient mixes be more?Application of green products should reduce waste and logically therefore budget.
See it's not easy being green, so for a little help why not contact us at sales@ma-enviro.co.uk. And we will endeavour to make it work for you and your staff.

Eco hinged food box is suprisingly best on price!

2009-02-27T21:23:00.003Z

The bagasse biocompostable board burger or other food white box was best price value recently when we looked at other cardboard box prices for a client, like those found in McDonald's or Burger King. I was surprised as they are much more rigid and keep the product together when handled or in transit and certainly have a better quality build and appearance than others.
Starting at less than 9p each this season call us for an order for your BBQ or food to go outlets on 01647 252855 or mail on sales@ma-enviro.co.uk .

Don't forget our amazing disappearing hot cups.

2009-02-27T21:07:00.004Z

For those of you in the food to go market offering hot drinks, don't forget these Vegware 100% biocompostable cups available in 4,8,12&16oz sizes with biocompostable sip through lids. We have distributed these for over 12 months now to good reviews as apposed to 3 other we tested that had a slight problem with the PLA lining melting (made the coffee taste a little strange!). Needless to say we never went ahead with those thankfully, but these are a proven best solution and coffee clutch insulating sleeves in cardboard are a helpful addition.

New season welcomes new oppurtunity

2009-02-14T10:30:00.003Z

As the tourist season looms over the horizon and the bottom line gets studied a little harder this year as we prepare for the media driven uncertain times ahead, do think about how you do things such as cleaning, paper tissue dispense and food to go packaging.

It is not the price that is always important it is the process where money is thrown down the drain or in the recycling literally. I can boast that we have saved people alot of money by just changing the way they do things, to the benefit also of maintenance, time and customer satisfaction.

Examples are:

1) Change your paper dispensers to avoid stub roll or excess use waste from bad systems (jumbo and centre feed rolls are the worst culprits).

2) Offer your customers a napkin with their meal don't allow them to help themselves they are only stocking up for later.

3) Don't buy chemicals you don't need just because your cleaners are set in their ways, we have sleep walked into over use, lets roll back to the 50's and look to better materials and more natural fluids.

4) Don't buy machine detergents on price, cheap drums are typically watered down heavily and perform badly creating poor results, extra work and pressure on the pass.

5) Stop buying happening in all departments of a business, have a central cleaning or consumable system that crosses over all areas. This reduces stock, health and safety issues and money.

6) Train staff constantly and make sure systems and decisions are monitored by supplier and staff member responsible so the initial projected cost savings etc are realised.

Da Vinci steel iniative

2009-02-14T10:23:00.003Z

This week we launch the brand new brushed stainless steel Versatwin micro roll toilet tissue and Multifold hand towel dispensers.These provide a more robust product for areas of security concern or simple preference of style where look is important.There is a cost element to these of around £25 each but on a supply agreement dependant on consumption can be made available free on loan.

Da Vinci systems save waste, maintenance time and cut costs as well as clearly at present being the most eco friendly paper tissue product. It's made in the UK from UK waste and contains no chlorine.

Call us for the latest brochure on 01647 252855 or mail sales@ma-enviro.co.uk.

Devon Snow report

2009-02-08T10:46:00.003Z

The snow fall on Thursday night got the better of us in the South West. Power cables came down in the valley where our Devon site is located and wiped us out till 5.30pm on Friday. Phones were off and we declared it a day for play!

The national news reported the snow fall on the A38 Haldon Hill, Exeter, a stone's throw from the office where motorists were stranded all night due to the rate at which it came down. I recieved at least a dozen calls on my mobile from concerned customers reporting our phone lines fault.

Yorkshire and London prevailed though despite the quantity they recieved but we are on the Dartmoor National Park and as well as being a beautiful and relative location for an Eco business it does have its challenges. One recalls foot and mouth, flooding, muck spreading season, power failures, no gas supply, it's not for everyone but we love it and wouldn't have it any other way.

Why not come and visit the area and try out the cool Haldon Forrest bike riding http://www.haldonfreeride.org/ there are loads of tracks and adventure activity's.

New printed version of brochure has good feed back

2009-02-02T02:37:00.002Z

In a effort to be green we send our brochure as an attachment e mail however a lot of customers have said they still prefer something tangible to sit and read easily as well as a good website. With these comments in mind we printed recently the first run of our 2009 brochure version on FSC approved paper. This has received an excellent response and we aim to print minimum runs on each new edition for those who prefer this format.
Please call the office on 01647 252855 or mail us on sales@ma-enviro.co.uk for your copy to be posted if you wish please.

Green means lean!

2009-01-29T12:36:00.001Z

Speaking to a new client today who raised a good point. He said honestly, " I am not particularly drawn to you because of your Eco friendliness it was the savings of doing the job with less products and the money that most drew me."
Interesting, by making sure the offer works better and costs less people will choose a green option out of good business sense. Surely that is the way to look at all green issues for the good of all?

M&A paper supplier ups the green marketing

2008-12-16T18:27:00.003Z

By sourcing recycled paper products from Kruger we have been certified at saving 1262 trees this year.
Kruger tissue group our supplier of 10 years whom make our tissue products such as toilet tissue, hand towels and wipes have provided a new website to demonstrate their process of UK waste recycling in the UK.
The following two links may prove of interest and use, the first their corporate responsibility document and second a link to the site.
http://www.kruger.co.uk/downloads/csr2008.pdf
http://www.greenhandprint.co.uk/
We can provide the stickers to demonstrate the unique paper credentials within the dispenser if it is important to you and your customers.
Mail sales@ma-enviro.co.uk for further details of the Kruger range that we distribute.

Carriage costs reduced by M&A eco cleaning system.

2008-12-10T18:43:00.005Z

I have been privileged to see inside and through the back of house of many a great hospitality venues of this land in the past 22 years of service to the trade but now and again I get to sample the hospitality as part of my work.

The wonderful Braye Beach Hotel on Alderney in the Channel Islands recently became a convert to our Microfibre cleaning systems and invited me over to train their staff. It wasn't so much the environmental benefits as a need to reduce shipping weight of all the cleaning chemicals and materials.After flying in the smallest plane I have ever been in to Guernsey I then boarded an even smaller plane to Alderney. Seating 12 people at a squeeze and more like a biscuit tin with wings I wondered whether this was a good idea. The pilot offered us ear plugs and then turned around and took off in a matter of minutes. An ex Virgin air steward I thought flying was fearless for me, apparently not, but I must say a real feel of getting away.

The Hotel was luxurious and ideal for down time. Following a survey, training and a report I deduced we could cut down carriage weight by over 50% through Microfibre use, high grade fluids (add water on the island!), reduce cross over of duplicate use products, optimise products and negate the use of toxic and phosphates.

So any customer that has a luxurious hotel perhaps on an island I am happy to go and Microfibre you any time, maybe I'll give my ex Virgin boss a ring, I think he has an island somewhere!

Electric bikes for commuting make sense

2008-12-04T17:37:00.002Z

Check out this website www.reactionelectric.co.uk for plug in rechargeable scooters. Imagine whizzing into work, parking the bike up, plugging it in and going to work or off to the shops into the car park and plug it in. Tourism and hospitality or entertainment venues that offered docking points would attract custom and promote less emissions.

M&A makes environmental award finals.

2008-12-04T09:41:00.002Z

Although we were pipped to the post by a car sharing scheme, we made the final four up for the greening business award as a result of our work on the design, innovation and promotion of green products to business. Of particular note to judges was our toxic free cleaning systems, own range eco fluids, recycled paper product innovation in the shape of our eco napkin.

With the Oscars when they loose they keep smiling, I didn't to be honest, I wanted to win so we will have to work harder for next years!

Dial Green are good people to do business with!

2008-12-01T12:40:00.004Z

I met Bob from Dial Green http://www.dial-green.co.uk/ again last week as he is helping me with our environmentally friendly policy of sourcing greener supplies. They are looking at taking over our call provision and making it carbon neutral.

They are a very good, competitive, ethical company who have been more than helpful regards our current contracts and how we can make the change.

I said that I would Blog about them and post up this offer regards free alcohol for just letting them review your call charges, sounds like a good deal to me! Mail Bob at bob@dialassociates.co.uk if you wish.

The death of the entrepeneur starts with solitude

2008-11-28T20:10:00.003Z

A business starts with a conversation and then develops into an idea and so on. M&A Environmental started with a conversation, and an idea to be the best supplier of products and ideas in the UK of green cleaning & consumable products to commercial business that have a zero impact to the environment and come from sustainable sources.

Stick with what you believe in, be true to yourself and your ideas and people will love it. Even when you face sceptics and doubters, be true to your ideals, always give great service and never stop evolving and one day it will happen when you least expect it.

If we stop talking and sharing ideas we stop learning and we may as well let somebody else do it.

P.S. This was all inspired by attending The Hub awards last night in Newquay a fantastic young business people networking group http://www.cornwallhub.org/ and a speech by Iain Scott of Enterprise Island.

New Integra paper towel dispenser

2008-11-28T12:31:00.002Z

I am really getting some positive remarks about the new Integra that dispenses paper roll towel flat in kitchens, washrooms, leisure etc.
Not only does this system cut waste and costs significantly but the lever device of this unit seems to please the users. The whole front acts as the lever and is easy for kids to use and ideal for speedy dispense for the professional.
The paper refills that we supply are chlorine free and 100% UK waste recycled pulp of course and available in blue, white, one ply heavy or two ply soft.
Contact the office on 01647 252855 for a trial or mail us on sales@ma-enviro.co.uk for a brochure.

Be hygienic and don't be colour blind

2008-11-18T18:41:00.005Z

Having done three training sessions on the bounce today what really worked was using the following colour coding to let the operators remember easier which Microfibre cloth to use where:
Blue for loo (toilet bowls & urinals)
Pink for sink (baths, sinks, showers etc)
Green to be seen (front of house and bedrooms for green policy)
Yellow for food (looking for a rhyme still!)
The trainees really do pick up on it and remember. Simple things like this can be key to making staff training effective and put into practice.

Slow food, slow rooms, slow down!

2008-11-16T20:40:00.001Z

Unemployment at an 11 year high, interests rates heading to 0% and inflation heading for deflation, it's alot to get your head around for Joe public. They are even talking about tax cuts to stimulate spending, I think most people are so scared by the news on TV that they are scared to spend a penny!
The media have talked us into a slower slow down and that is being felt no where more than in the hospitality trade. Certain areas I have heard are still holding their own but customers I speak to say Christmas bookings are down, tables are empty, function bookings have dried up as companies either wait and see or decide to cut non essential spending.
I worry about all the new city centre mid range hotels that have popped up in recent years such as Premier inn, ibis, Holiday Inn, Days Inn, Travelodge, Jury's, to name but a few who have rolled out sites and of course every refurbished city I visit now all have new Nandos, Wagamamma, La Tasca, Costa, Starbucks, Nero's, Chilli's etc etc as standard. This is just the corporate tip of the hospitality business plan for us not to mention those wonderful independents who have opened their own sites based on the last 15 years growth in tourism and entertainment spend.
If it all comes to a halt and as I heard yesterday it could run as deep to 2012 what will become of all these and their employees. Perhaps we will learn from this boom and bust, but I think not, it's not in our nature!

Water is a chemical too and can perform wonders.

2008-11-16T20:37:00.002Z

One of my calls engaged me in a very interesting conversation with the son of a bio chemist. Whilst the gentlemen had a remarkable in depth knowledge of cleaning chemicals and the general mis leading promotion that they are needed for all tasks, he did therefore qualify as a natural new customer of our Microfibre range that cleans simply with the use of water.
So why does the UK buy so many chemicals to clean. Well my theory is simply like most things we've become used to over use of, marketing and great packaging.
Mr Muscle, Mr Sheen, Flash, Pledge, Toilet Duck, Windowlene, Glade, Fairy, Domestos, Parazone, Cif, Brillo, Dettox, amazing brands we grow up with and in moderation have applications but not as a solution to a complete hygiene program.
Commercially it is no better with a list as long as your arm of toxic chemical ranges used to compensate for poor cloth and mop applicators and poor hygiene schedules.
Quiet simply 75% of cleaning can be done with a quality material applicator such as Microfibre and H2O. Add a little sanitiser in sensitive areas and maybe a little essence if required and save on all angles.
For more details or to see whether you could cut down your toxic in take contact us on 01647 252855 or mail sales@ma-enviro.co.uk.

Multi site change is daunting but the rewards are bigger!

2008-11-03T19:35:00.003Z

Our superstar North West sales girl Kate met with a local council this week who invited her in to discuss how we could green the cleaning of public buildings from leisure centres to libraries.The problem in the buyers mind was changing the cleaners habits and educating them to change with so many satellite sites and staff.This is pretty usual when we deal with groups the need for a will from the top to impose change for good.

We offer free on site or group training, and believe if we can change one site good news travels fast and a good recommendation of a product or system can work wonders and can be spread rapidly throughout the organisation.

We have missed out on tenders, I know due to this factor but we truly believe that Eco friendly toxic free cleaning products and systems are economic, safe and offer the best results. We could not tender a product we did not believe in and would not be in the clients best interests. The more that adopt these products the more it will infiltrate the market and become normal, we are still 5-10 years behind in the UK regards our cleaning systems but slowly change is coming.

To invite one of our knowledgeable staff to your business to discuss ways to green your cleaning and consumables click on this link green my business please.

I have found where the Dragons Den shower product would be of use!

2008-10-17T09:22:00.006+01:00

If you saw Monday nights programme a very assured professional lady came on with a product to hold a hand held shower head on to a wall (a Shuc) where a over head shower was not provided.She said it was a common problem for travellers and there was a huge market for this both in the UK and abroad. I together with the Dragon's laughed inside as it seemed another product designed for a problem that wasn't actually a problem.But wait, on Tuesday night I had the great pleasure of staying at Liverpool's famous Adelphi Hotel whilst on my national eco mission, and guess what (you know what's coming) I could have done with the holdy up the shower head thing. You see, you can sit there and laugh at your telly but some people do know whats good for you! Or was it only because I had a single room bargain suite?

"Green products don't work & cost too much!"

2008-10-08T17:59:00.004+01:00

Talking to a very well known organic farm kitchen today I was told by the buyer that she had tried greener products and found they didn't work and that she had gone back to using chemicals.

This is fairly typical as company's that want to cash in on the environment sell poor formulas, badly and taint the market place with their lack of understanding.

How can you tell the buyer that has had a bad experience such as this that there is genuine green solutions for issues that do work and do save lots money? Hopefully through good honest commitment to the cause and a genuine approach.

Fortunately we have dealings with her maintenance department and have shown them ways to clean the office and factories greener that have worked really well so we may talk again.

Eastbourne, bracing and busy!

2008-10-08T17:43:00.004+01:00

My trip to the seaside this week to green the local shopping mall was pleasant, 48 hours away from the kids makes them miss me a little if only to see if I have purchased some tat from the services for them.

Walking along the seafront and peering in the windows of the great white grand hotels that face the channel, I was amazed at how busy all the dining rooms were, mainly with the older generation.

This is their time, school holidays have finished and kids are nowhere to be seen.

What worried me was, when my generation retires in 25 years, will we flock to the coast for a cheap package holiday to keep these businesses thriving in the school term? I hope so, the formal pre dinner drink, silver service, five courses, wake up to a full English then a stroll by the front, all for £45 per head per day!

When I booked the accommodation I searched the green business website and googled for greener rooms but nothing came up. Presumably Eastbourne' s hoteliers are yet to embrace the benefits of green tourism.

We may have found a solution to the fossil fuel issues by my retirement, spending leisure time abroad. But if we will be holidaying in the UK more due to high transport costs, then lets hope the room I stayed in gets a refurb in the next quarter of a century, as it certainly hasn't seen one in the last quarter and resorts such as these prepare themselves to provide the quality that I would expect from a holiday so they remain open and vibrant.

New refill washing up liquid bottles for holiday units launched.

2008-09-30T22:21:00.006+01:00

Now available to order are these 500ml flip top refill bottles with labels displaying the green credentials of the M&A MPD product you choose inside. We hope you like the new style labels, these will be enlarged and used as our new generic design for our new M&A Green range due to launch soon.

Products such as our Eco-friendly washroom cleaner, orange power and sanitiser will be updated and given new names and a much greener marketing look including further improvements to their green ingredients. We are also further naturalising our commercial dish machine and glass wash detergents with the help of our technical chemistry genius Anthony.

M&A supports air ambulance launch

2008-09-26T13:08:00.003+01:00

We are proud at our south west branch to be supporting the launch of Devon's latest air ambulance by providing all the catering items for the hog roast and formal catering free for the event.The flying ambulance provides an amazing unique service for locals and holiday makers and on Devon's vast a varied terrain provides access and speed of service for many a stricken patient.For more information and to make a donation to this vital service see their website at http://www.daat.org/site/ .

M&A products star in TV shows!

2008-09-17T13:06:00.004+01:00

It was great to see Michael Caines our friend and loyal customer putting the Master Chefs through their paces for a place in the final three in his Gidleigh Park two Michelin star kitchen this week http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00dmfnq/ click to see it on BBC i player.

You will notice our M&A products making appearances such as our lever paper dispensers with UK recycled paper in and our clingfilm boxes. The towel dispensers help reduce waste and costs on traditional centre feed papers for this very busy kitchen.

Also this week on a new local ITV show called 'Little Chefs' you may have seen our banners around the food theatre where Peter Gorton and Lesley Waters were cooking, as we sponsored all the cooking equipment to help make the food festival event they were visiting a success.

Live a green life and don't forget you do!

2008-09-12T22:53:00.008+01:00

It's not easy being green. Our office supervisor Georgie in our South West branch
checks the main offices and facility's before she locks up every night to make sure all the lights, computer screens and electric items are unplugged or switched off, as part of our commitment of working in a green office and running a green business as instructed by yours truly.
Imagine her glee when she entered my office one morning last week to find I had left my wall heater on high, all night. Having spent years picking up people on leaving electrical items on during my work visits at the weekends and preaching on the environmental impact and cost not to mention the fire risk of such actions, I found my self choking on my own words and eating humble pie.
Georgie insisted I blogged about it, to show 'it's not easy remembering always to be green'. As nobody reads this apart from her and my kids, at least all my customers will never know and all the green networking people that I share Eco-conquests with will never find out......will they?

Housekeeping habits you must break!

2008-09-09T20:27:00.008+01:00

These are practices I have seen happening in accounts we have been called into recently.

Fortunately we worked with the clients to stop

these with practical advice and product suggestions.

If you know anymore mail them to me at stuart@ma-enviro.co.uk.

1) Washing up in guest bathroom sinks.

2) Cleaning the floors with guest towels.

3) Using the same cloth for the toilet bowl and the bathroom.

4) Not colour coding your cloths.

5) Leaving bleach in the toilet bowl.

6) Not wearing gloves.

7) Not washing hands after cleaning.
8) Using wax polish on sealed furniture.

A common housekeeping practice that could lead to health issues.

2008-08-29T16:06:00.009+01:00

Chatting with a good customer of ours that runs a group of prestigious hotels, we came onto the subject of his housekeeping team washing up tea cups and saucers in the guest bathroom sinks.

My customer stressed that it was a pet hate of his and all washing up was bought down to the kitchen to be done properly and hygienically.
"Imagine washing up in a sink used for brushing teeth and washing your face." he said. I had never thought of it much before, but it is a very common activity I see and one which we should encourage away from for obvious reasons.

I am sure the cleaners will be less than happy for the added inconvenience but the health & safety risk far out ways this and a simple rack or container on their cart would suffice to exchange clean for dirty.

Move the school holidays forward to catch the sun!

2008-08-25T21:06:00.015+01:00

"It's the last week of the school holidays, I can't believe it's already over!" (said by a tourism led business owner today to me).

The rain has severely dented the fringe benefits of the summer school holidays to the UK tourism industry. Talking to the hospitality trade, it's been another average season damaged by the uncertain weather.

One thing you can predict is that as soon as the kids go back to school the sun will come out.Why don't we start a campaign to move the school holidays forward to September and October? It looks like August will be our monsoon season and then we will enjoy 2 months of ambient pleasant days.

The pub gardens, fun parks and leisure sites will fill and realise a profitable seasons return.If we don't, tourism may suffer, businesses will disappear or trim down to fit the reduced business, the offering may then be less attractive and it will enter a negative cycle.....or maybe there is other external reasons I am unaware of why this would never work?

Teach sustainability at schools and prepare the next generation

2008-08-25T21:06:00.007+01:00

With the new school term upon us, our thoughts turn towards education, and wouldn't it be great to teach kids sustainability as part of their compulsory course work before they are sixteen as part of their appreciation of the outside world.
I don't mean subjects regards general environmental issues, but more specifically an appreciation of the challenges that will lay before them as the oil runs low and the new energy's replace traditional.
Information regards the impact that the oil price will have on their future regards prices of items such as food and energy. The impact on possessions such as the throw away clothes culture and the cost of importing cheap goods that will be hard to sustain.
Perhaps they could make needlework, crafts and cooking a fixture too as they may have to learn to be alot more self sufficient......unless like my daughter thinks she will, they marry a billionaire!!

World's biggest coffee morning at M&A offices

2008-08-22T16:13:00.007+01:00

We are holding a coffee morning at our Devon offices in support of the Macmillan cancer support 'world's biggest coffee morning' event on Friday 26th September between 10.30am-12.00pm inviting local businesses and residents to help raise for this worthy cause.
In addition there will be a chance to look around the premises and perhaps we will think of other ways of making guests dig deep, any suggestions welcome.
If you would like to attend either event please contact us at georgie@ma-enviro.co.uk or call 01647 252855.
For more details on this event and Macmillan cancer charity see http://www.macmillan.org.uk/, if you can not attend and would like to make a donation of any description to help the event please mail georgie@ma-enviro.co.uk or call 01647 252855.

“Take your shoe dirt off at the door please!”

2008-08-22T16:01:00.008+01:00

"We have trouble keeping this floor clean, it's an endless task making it look good" This is a pretty regular comment we come across and not unusual.
Did you know a good entrance mat will take off 90% of the soiling on footwear before it enters the building and would be the first step to vastly improving the situation.
Typically most sites spend money on products to remove the dirt but by putting in the correct mat of the right size the pay back would be a matter of months. Reducing water and chemical usage massively not to mention labour time.
Our Devon branch has had one of our Water hog runner mats in the entrance for 4 years now. We are on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in a rural industrial estate surrounded by mud. The mat looks as good as the day I put it down and we noticed an instant difference in dust and soil residue.
Contact our flooring expert Colin Keene at colin@ma-enviro.co.uk with your details to get a recommended size and price for your Water hog mat or call 01647 252855.

Healthy smokes and eco friendly bleach!

2008-08-16T08:23:00.018+01:00

For sure smoking will damage your health and bleach is not good for the environment, yet isn't it bizarre that we see messages twisted to win a quick sale.
If you have a toilet bowl that carries a permanent water mark or stain because the glaze or seal has eroded the chances are there is very little that's 'proper green' that will make it white again as well as bleach. You have to tackle the problem not a temporary cover up. If something smells deep clean it and remove the soiling where the bacteria is. If there is a build up of something use a bit of elbow grease or a steam cleaner. If your cloths & towels are dirty it is probably because they are woven and the bacteria is living inside it so change to non woven products where you can.

For more honest straight forward advice on tackling your toxic problems fill out our green audit to see how we can help.

Give it on one hand and take away with the other

2008-08-15T10:35:00.007+01:00

With the increase of green cleaning fluid ranges from the big commercial supply houses , I find it alarming that having spent the time and money developing a product range with care that the issue of packaging wasn't covered at the same time.
Ready made trigger sprays are convenient but the old triggers end up in land fill or if they are lucky recycled with a carbon cost. Why not just sell the idea of adding your own water at site.
Typically it's the customers saying it is just easy to pull one out of the cleaning cupboard, but if you are promoting green products they should operate in a green way. Customers should be educated that we have to optimise the use of plastics and be more sustainable. Product packaging and dispense is a quick win regards cleaning, condiments and guest bathroom giveaways.
The cost saving benefits are immense and once the staff understand the way the site operates, like recycling at home it will become the norm and the more places that eliminate unnecessary packaging the more the habit will form in the industry.
For a full range of high grade green cleaning fluids with refillable screen printed triggers with clear dilluition instructions on to add your own water and save money click on our website http://www.greenmybusiness.co.uk/ and see 'our products'.

Stub rolls and clumping waste £££'s of budget

2008-08-05T18:31:00.010+01:00

Here's one way to not run out of loo roll, but seriously with conventional single roll or stacking systems, no matter how large they are typically there comes a time when you have to make that decision to change it or run out. Empty dispensers upset customers and gives a bad impression as well as adding pressure to staff. Trials have shown up to a 25% wastage and that's not including staff time on checking and changing.
Another system that wastes paper and time are the traditional c shaped folded hand towels that you have to fight out with your thumb and fore finger and end up with a batch to try and create a surface area to dry with. Similar numbers have been recorded on these and let's not forget our friend the centre feed roll that comes out in a cone shape and allows you to walk unimpeded for miles as it free flows.
There is an answer in the form of our simple intelligent system dispensers available free on loan to customers who need 15 or more. They offer dual roll, inter folded double tabbed towels and lever down flat paper in stylish opaque units that deliver savings in excess of 15%.
In a time when a recent report outlined that the paper tissue industry is in crisis and losing money because end users want paper cheaper and cheaper. This has driven down prices by half over about a decade but raw materials and energy costs have rocketed. We need to be counter balancing the increases that are inevitable by buying smarter. Call or mail us today and find out how we can offset the increase on 01647 252855 or sales@ma-enviro.co.uk.

Lack of training can hamper progress and savings of Microfibre systems

2008-08-01T14:32:00.020+01:00

We have noticed lately on reviewing a couple of sites that had adopted our Microfibre cloths and mops that staff were still feeling the need to use chemicals to no benefit.

On questioning it turned out to be all in the head rather than attaining a better result. Worse cases involved actually using glass cleaning chemical spray together with Microglass cloths and chemicals on sealed floors with Microfibre mop pads that led to clogging and smearing.

It is a common teething problem also we find that products are laundered in too much detergent or being used with harsh chemicals leading to the Microfibre being ruined and in effect useless.

Another common mistake is using cloths scrunched up and therefore not benefiting from a flat contact with the surface and allowing the fibres to work rotationally into the pore.

Staff training is key and most of these situations have been where staff had not attended a training session and were not aware what or how the product worked and therefore proceeded as with the old woven cloths and chemicals.

Therefore we have put together a list of common mistakes to avoid.

1) Use as little as a third of your normal dose of laundry detergent for washing.

2) Avoid over use of any sanitisers used with Microfibre stick to recommended dilution rates.

3) Never allow them to come into contact with fabric softeners or bleaches.

4) Avoid any contact with harsh chemicals, use M&A recommended detergents only.

5) Check the surface to be cleaned, particulalrly old floors where they may be breaking up, Microfibre will suck up any old sealant and this will clog and ruin the product.

6) Make sure all staff are aware of what and how these products work.

7) Always use product flat/folded and in a figure of 8.

8) Use only water with Microfibre mop pads and Microglass cloths, Microfibre cloths may be used in sensitive areas with M&A natural Sanitising products only.

9) When first changing to a Microfibre system make sure the surface is as clean as possible especially kitchen floors where years of residual grease will flow out and you will be changing pads constantly.

10) Launder about a dozen mop pads seperate to about 30 cloths as the mops aquire alot more soiling and may affect the cloths.

Mail or call our team on 01647 252855 with any further suggestions.

Clock ticks on Polystyrene

2008-07-31T10:23:00.007+01:00

Here's a new material that is made from agricultural waste and performs in the same way as EPS or Polystyrene materials. It is fully biodegradable and once you have unpacked the box or finished with the container it will turn into an organic fertilizer for your garden.

The company that have developed it Ecovativedesign at http://www.ecovativedesign.com/ based in the states suggest many practical uses, it surely is only time before the technology gets put into the food to go packaging industry to produce even better hot and cold food insulating items that can perform as efficiently as polystyrene.

I hope this technology doesn't trip up as with starch products regards resources depleting food chain needs. For the meantime though we can carry on pointing all the Polystyrene distributors and manufacturers towards these guys!

5 Ways to cut your cleaning budget in a credit squeeze

2008-07-06T11:38:00.009+01:00

1 - Buy high grade concentrate detergents with printed refill triggers and add your own water, follow the dillution guidelines to get ultimate economy.

2 - Look at what products you are buying and ask whether you really need them e.g. if you have no fine furniture you do not need aerosol polish just a Microfibre damp dusting cloth.

3 - Cut down on the amount of ready made triggers, aerosol cans and bottle products more often than not they can be costing you a small fortune see 1, and stop buying glass cleaner when you can use a chemical free Microglass cloth and it works better

4 - In the washroom if you buy cubes for urinals, air fresheners, strong chemical cleaners and bleaches it may well be a problem with salts in your pipework or on the floors through poor cleaning see the 'green pee's' blog to save on water and chemicals.

5 - Look into system paper tissue dispensers instead of conventional units that have stub roll waste, high maintenance and pilfering issues these units save over 15% on cost in use and can be provided in some cases on a free on loan agreement.

'My Dermititis cleared up after using your products'

2008-06-27T12:47:00.005+01:00

It was amazing to hear this week that one of our customers actually claimed her dermatitis cleared up after she started using our range of Eco-friendly fluids.
She is a staff member at a busy pub in Cornwall and noticed the improvement in her skin shortly after using our M&A Orange Power, Sanitiser and Washroom throughout the premises.
Most of the toxic products that are sold to commercial and even domestic markets have ingredients that would make your toes curl. Even trusted brands are guilty and one particular oven cleaner can be bought at a retail shop but is banned commercially because of the level of toxin's in it (the one that's been to the gym!).
We promote the benefits to respiratory and skin issues as part of our campaign to negate the use of toxic and phosphates and promote more emphasis on sustainable fibre technologies for cleaning and the use of essential sanitisers and fragrance to assist only.
There is still a chemical obsessed market in the UK as we are suspicious of new technologies until we actually see it for ourselves working. It is not such a bad thing that we are a conservative nation when it comes to change but on these matters we need more legislation and wide access to correct information as we will continue to clean badly and hazardously unless change comes.

Air sense...without the can and the toxics.

2008-06-23T14:52:00.004+01:00

Traditional masking of foul smells comes in the form of a wall mounted plastic unit high in a corner. This has an automated finger like system to spray harsh aerosol air freshener into the area normally right above your head. It hangs around for a while then the bad odours take over again.

The new Ozmooze diffusion unit uses a natural product range in a recyclable plastic chamber to evenly and consistantly keep the area with a pleasant back ground smell. The unit has been developed for a high quality performance and extended life and retails at £99.00 each, refills list at £19.00 each and unlike aerosols which last around a month can go up to 9 months depending on the setting.

You can contact us on sales@ma-enviro.co.uk or call us on 01647 252855 for more details.

Biocompostable hot cup...are you sure?

2008-06-16T11:54:00.021+01:00

Many people are being sold eco-hot cups on the pretense that they'll fully break down. They may look perfect with their brown sides and soft colours but many have linings that will not biodegrade.

There are a lot of bio cups on the market now which will, but I've heard customers complain that they tainted the drink in some cases. In addition the plastic lids are not user friendly and unless you're as maverick as a customer of ours who got their own slip over card lid sleeve made or need the practicality that a sip lid provides they're hard to source.

When buying an eco product, ask for samples and test it in use and always ask to see the certification of it's performance. Any supplier that has difficulty producing such documentation proof may not be aware themselves of the true facts.

My friend Joe from Vegware has started supplying us with his new cups so we can put them into our supply chain in smaller quantities. The cups are attractive, white with the message printed clearly about it's make up and performance. The lids are also suitable for composting and great in use. You can order now through our web site and they can also be printed with your logo.

Green Pee's

2008-06-16T11:21:00.013+01:00

I found this fantastic product at an energy effeciency event, developed by a company in the UK. There are a massive amount of toxic chemicals put down men's urinals, including blocks and bleach that do nothing but mask the pungent smell.

The real reason for the bad odours is crystals that build up in the pipework under urinals and possibly poor cleaning around the bowl which leads to soiling on surfaces and tile grout.

This product is different to other sleeves as it's fully degradable after it's 3 month life use. The safe enzyme block inside will clear the waste pipe crystals and emit a fresh mint odour to the washroom. The product also has an odour lock and fitting is very simple. You can also reduce flushing to twice a day, morning and night just to liven up the enzymes, saving on water costs.

We've started selling this item and initial feedback is good, you can go through our sites to get it.

Stop cleaning with old rags and toxic cleaning chemicals….please, it doesn’t work!

2008-06-01T07:51:00.005+01:00

If we don't use colour coded cleaning cloths and mops that can access the micro pores in every hard surface and actually remove dirt, how can we call them hygienic? Even using toxic cleaning chemicals and hot water on surfaces can't guarantee a fully clean surface, it’s all in the application of the fluid.

The use of woven dish cloths, old tea towels, yellow dusters or old room towels to clean is a very poor habit that many accommodation providers have adopted. These products have fibres that do not remove the micro dirt but simply spread it around evenly and absorb a minority of the soiling. The old fashioned dolly vertical cotton mop heads push dirty bacteria ridden water around and remove little of the deep down dirt. Some of the kitchen floors I've seen are slippery because all the anti slip has been filled with grease that can not be removed due to poor cleaning systems.

I wouldn't say it's the cleaners or even the buyers fault, these are products generations have used and adopted. But we need to make public service sites aware of the dangers of bad cleaning practice and the fact that there is a better, cleaner, safer and more cost effective system in microfibre products available if you have the will to change the way you approach cleaning.

I've introduced our natural cleaning detergents and microfibre cloths and mops to numerous sites over the past 10 years. What they've found is that they save a significant amount of money and the staff love the products, many buying them for home use.

‘There's no bad news, where's it been all my life’ – said one of our customers.

A green and pleasant picnic

2008-05-19T16:42:00.002+01:00

This is a great new product, the compostable picnic box available in white and natural Kraft and in different sizes. Inside is a paper table cloth and the box folds out to use and then fully breaks down when disposed of. This would be a great, easy to construct promotional tool or provide a great food-to-go product package. The boxes could easily take a sandwich wedge or baguette wrap, food packets and a cold drink cup. We get asked for welcome hampers at accommodation providers, so these could also be filled with basic groceries for new arrivals.

And why not create an eco-lunch pack?

Compostable picnic hamper with a bio juice clear tumbler and flat lid on, biodegradable green drinking straw, board deep fill sandwich wedge or bio food wrap, fresh fruit or raw vegetables in a small paper bag.

Welcome to our blog...

2008-05-15T11:58:00.004+01:00

MA Environmental is a specialist company offering eco-friendly products and services to help green your business. We supply our own range of non toxic, non phosphate, natural UK made cleaning fluids, 100% UK waste paper tissue products, bio compostable packaging, eco-friendly cleaning systems, low energy catering equipment and design amongst many other ethical sourced products.

Each one of our green partner manufacturers have provided environmental policy information and proven ethical source and process of manufacture. We take the responsibility from you, so you know when you choose M&A Environmental we have done the background work we know is so important to you.

This blog will keep you bang up to date with all that's happening in my world.