Newsletter | ACCI

Home

2009 e-news 3 Sustainability. What is it and how it may affect you? “Most people mistakenly believe that sustainability is exclusively about preserving the environment however it’s really everything we do socially, economically and environmentally. Sustainability could be defined as an ability or capacity of something to be maintained or to sustain itself. It’s about taking what we need to live now, without jeopardising the potential for people in the future to meet their needs. If an activity is said to be sustainable, it should be able to continue forever.” With what mankind is doing or not doing now, does anyone believe the environment is sustainable? Clearly unless we embrace sustainability the environment will cease. If the environment is unsustainable, mankind will cease. What does encap have to do with sustainability? Doing our part. Looking at the broad picture carpet cleaners need to act sustainably in all areas in order to ensure the survival of their businesses. The alternative is that the business is unsustainable and ceases to exist. Sustainability is not necessarily about improving one’s lot. If for example the business has been surviving over the years without duress then clearly it’s already sustainable. Nothing need change. It will probably continue to survive. However there are no guarantees so taking a critical look at the business may well result in decisions being made to improve all round performance socially, economically and environmentally. That allows the business not only long term chance of survival but to be indeed sustainable and at a higher level. Socially can be classified as quality of life. Carpet cleaning can be physically demanding and carpet cleaners will wear themselves out at some point. So physically, sustainability clearly has an end. Let’s face it, why do things the hard way when there is a viable alternative such as encap that is not only more profitable, easy to manage, safe and simple to perform but also has the significant benefit of low physical effort. By making focussed changes to the way we conduct our business by reducing the physical exertion, sustainable working life is extended. Quality of life is improved. Economically, for carpet cleaners at least, sustainable literally means financial survival. Looking at ways of reducing costs and increasing profits wherever possible is a means of increasing the survival rate. For example Surround encapsulation cleaning is an excellent low cost alternative to most other cleaning methods without compromising on results. Initial set up costs are low and ongoing operational costs are low. Economically there is no better method of carpet cleaning that will outperform it. Environmentally carpet cleaners pose a high threat in all aspects of the sustainable proposition. This is particularly the case with hot water extraction. No matter how you look at it HWE has an environmental disaster. For example look at the following comparison chart between Hot water extraction (Truck Mount) and Encapsulation cleaning. HWE Encap Water usage High Very low Waste water High None Noise High Very low Air pollution High Negligible Fossil fuel usage High Negligible Operating costs High Very low Capital costs High Very low Physical effort High Low Equipment Maintenance High Negligible Hot water extraction relies on high fresh water usage, creates large amounts of toxic waste water that requires high energy to process, consumes large amounts of fossil fuel and creates unnecessary air and noise pollution. Encap does not. On any level encap is a superb example of genuine sustainable carpet cleaning. Now you can Surround yourself with the carpet cleaning method that encapsulates the future. (Sorry but I couldn't help myself)