Liezl Foxcroft, General Manager of Training at CrestClean, was recently invited to participate in a panel discussion at the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo, held on September 11-12, 2024, at the International Convention Centre in Sydney. Liezl was accompanied by Pinakin Patel, CrestClean’s Operations Manager for Bay of Plenty & Taupō, an expert in hard floor care. Pinakin and his family have owned a CrestClean franchise for more than 20 years. The event brought industry leaders and professionals together to discuss the latest trends and innovations in cleaning, hygiene, and sustainability.
Despite a global recession affecting the number of attendees, Liezl found the conference to be a valuable opportunity to assess CrestClean’s position within the industry. “While this year’s event was quieter than in previous years, attending it reaffirmed that CrestClean continues to lead the way in environmental sustainability and best practices in cleaning and hygiene,” says Liezl.
One of the key highlights of the expo was the focus on environmental sustainability, a topic that has become increasingly important in the global cleaning industry. During the session on “The Green Machine,” the importance of keeping up with evolving legislation was highlighted, particularly in Europe, where the EU is passing new laws on Environmental and Sustainable Governance (ESG). This legislation includes regulations requiring suppliers to disclose the life cycle of their products and adhere to warranties under the “Right to Repair” initiative, which encourages circular economies through repurposing, recycling, or reuse instead of waste disposal. “CrestClean is just way ahead of all the talk,” says Liezl. “We action and do things before they come out. Our recent Toitū Enviromark Diamond certification is a great example of how we’re driving environmental sustainability in everything we do.”
CrestClean’s commitment to innovation was further highlighted during discussions and displays on cleaning technology. While there were no major robotic breakthroughs for vertical surface cleaning or complicated horizontal tasks such as counter tops and coffee machines, CrestClean remains at the forefront of the industry with their training programmes and use of colour-coded microfibres cloths and environmentally sustainable cleaning chemicals. Liezl returned with a sample of a dual-squeegee flat mop, which presents new possibilities for CrestClean’s cleaning methods. “It’s all about finding the right tools that are sustainable, effective, and scalable for our franchisees. They can’t be a one-year wonder,” she said. Liezl and Pinakin also saw a new Pure Water Window System for internal windows being launched, in the form of a battery-powered backpack that can reach up to 18 meters. “This would make school term cleans so much easier, and it’s very affordable too,” Liezl said.
Networking during the event provided further opportunities. Liezl connected with industry leaders, including a representative who expressed interest in having Liezl speak at the ISSA USA Conference. “We’ll see where that leads, but it’s exciting to have CrestClean recognised on a global stage,” says Liezl.
Overall, the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo 2024 proved to be a valuable experience for the CrestClean team. From discovering innovative products like the dual-squeegee flat mop, to reaffirming the importance of training staff on chemical safety, the event highlighted that CrestClean is not only keeping up with international standards but is leading the way. The focus on microfibre technology, greener chemicals, and the ongoing shift toward a circular economy aligns perfectly with CrestClean’s environmental sustainability goals.
“The conference was a great check-in on where we stand in the global economy and within training, equipment, and processes,” says Liezl.
