The pandemic is becoming endemic and cleaning routines are evolving, too. Cleaning and fabric once again took center stage last month in Orlando during the American Cleaning Institute’s annual meeting and industry convention. After a year of meeting virtually, the in-person event attracted 475 industry executives.

“We are thrilled that attendees at the 2022 ACI Convention had a terrific, value-added experience. ACI was able to provide the platform for business meetings and high-level presentations, even with the challenges related to the pandemic. We persevered and were able to deliver for the cleaning product supply chain,” said ACI President and CEO Melissa Hockstad.  

According to Hockstad, the past two years demonstrated on a global level, that the industry is much more than products on shelves or ingredients in bottles.

“We are an industry that puts people first…it’s our connection and commitment to others that truly matters.”

Throughout 2022, the American Cleaning Institute will build upon its core strategic pillars in advancing the interests of cleaning product manufacturers and chemistry producers: business, science, sustainability and communications leadership and focus. This year, ACI will expand the successful “Cleaning is Caring” campaign, doubling down on outreach efforts to enhance smart hygiene and cleaning practices among numerous stakeholder communities. The campaign integrates a number of ACI’s current programs such as resources for businesses, consumers and schools; social media and the Discover Cleaning Summit that ACI develops with Good Housekeeping.

“As we look to 2022, we plan to utilize this platform to ensure cleaning, disinfecting, hygiene and health remain front and center,” said Hockstad.

Working with Regulators
Hockstad highlighted additional strategic priorities for ACI in the year ahead. They include enhancing ACI’s dialogue with and outreach to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on chemical related regulations, climate change policies, EPA’s Safer Choice program and environmental justice initiatives. She also noted ACI’s key engagement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

ACI continues its call for a federal standard governing cleaning product ingredient communication. Hockstad said ACI continues to build the foundation for congressional understanding and stakeholder engagement. This year, ACI will enhance and maintain its strategic outreach and communication with its partners, and with more members of Congress and congressional staff.

“Policy engagement on ingredient communication is vital, not only to settle the marketplace, but to avoid a potential raft of differing proposals in the states,” she explained.

At the same time, ACI is working on advancing, promoting and utilizing science to drive informed dialogue and decision making, with particular areas of focus that will include microbial cleaning products, asthma, enzyme stewardship, and strengthening ACI’s Cleaning Product Ingredient Safety Initiative.

Sustainability Initiatives
On issues of sustainability, member companies are involved in several ACI programs.

Corporate Compass is a webinar series highlighting tools and resources to help ACI members operate more sustainably while improving environmental and social outcomes.

ACI’s roadmap for achieving its Circular Packaging Ambition includes: design cleaning product packaging for reuse or recycling and improving members’ Materials Circularity Index score 25% by 2025; embrace technologies to improve Materials Circularity Index score an additional 25% by 2030; and work with external stakeholders, evolve systems of recovery to eliminate all cleaning product packaging waste by 2040.

Finally, the 1.5°C Climate Challenge strives to reach net-zero global emissions by 2050. As part of the cleaning product industry’s commitment to reducing emissions in accordance with scientific consensus, ACI seeks to reduce absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within operations and product manufacturing. ACI is working with supply chain partners, to reduce upstream GHG emissions and transition to low-carbon transportation. The association is enhancing climate resilience by restoring, conserving or creating natural climate solutions that store carbon and aid in sequestration. Finally, ACI seeks to minimize emissions from cleaning product use.

“We won’t rest on our laurels. We will be honest brokers to transparently and accurately convey our progress in the years ahead,” said Hockstad.

Helping Others
During convention week, ACI raised more than $32,000 for Clean the World. The non-profit’s mission is saving millions of lives around the world by distributing hygiene products to impoverished people. To date, ACI member companies have donated more than $200,000 to the organization.

Helping others helps you. That was the message of keynote speaker Ben Nemtin. The author of “What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?” took attendees on an inspirational journey that began with him being on the Under-19 Canadian National Rugby team. But after a crippling depression overtook him, Nemtin was dropped from the team, dropped out of college and became a recluse in his parents’ house.

That summer, his friends rallied around him and convinced him to leave town for a summer job. Inspired by the new people he met, Nemtin decided to surround himself with people that inspired him and called a neighborhood kid who was a self-taught film maker.

“I always wanted to make a movie,” Nemtin recalled. “We got another friend and Johnny’s brother together into this sort of movie-making mission.”

That was 2006. While studying at McGill, Johnny read Matthew Arnold’s “The Buried Life.” The poem, written in 1852, spelled out what the young men were feeling: that they had all these things that they wanted to do in life, but were buried by day-to-day activities. They decided to call their film, “The Buried Life.” After more soul-searching, they asked themselves, “What do we want to do before we die?” That question spawned a list which led to a summer road trip. Word spread and the group received emails from complete strangers who wrote, “Hey I saw your list of 100 things, I can help you with number nine, ride a bull, or I can help you get up in a hot air balloon.”

Nemtin describes a bucket list as doing anything that brings one joy and happiness. It’s a reminder of what’s important to you—otherwise, it gets buried.

In turn, Nemtin and his friends helped others cross off items on their bucket list.

“I thought a bucket list was selfish, but doing what you love inspires people to do what they love,” explained Nemtin. “There’s a ripple effect. That’s why we’re here.”