Bruce Philipps, President at Airdri Ltd, believes it is time to stop hindering the hygiene process, and speaks out against misinformation and sensationalised stories emanating from the cleaning industry.
The last few months have been challenging to say the least. As the Covid-19 crisis continues to affect our families, friends and business, we are all adapting to new ways of living and working, whilst trying our best to remain positive in a very tough situation. But the reality is daunting. There is a wealth of information out there: from official guidelines and advice from the government and respected organisations like the World Health Organisation, to opinion pieces and poorly-researched, sensationalised stories, that sadly do nothing more than instil fear.
It has been fantastic to see often-ignored industries, like the cleaning and hygiene sector, finally getting some recognition for the vital role they play in society. But what has been less inspiring is the consistent attempts by the paper towel industry to discredit the electric hand drying sector. It’s already an unprecedented time, with many people extremely concerned about their health and hygiene. To use the current pandemic as a way to take a swipe at competitors, and damage their business, is, in my opinion, highly unprofessional.
I have seen many articles over the past few weeks that have given the paper towel industry a platform to spread nothing more than opinion, and in some cases, lies. And the recent Sky News piece, calling for England’s Chief Medical Officer to ‘turn off electric hand dryers’ left me with no choice but to speak out.
Sensational headlines and stories claiming that hand dryers could spread coronavirus are simply inaccurate and we note the lack of evidence provided to back up these claims.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently advised that “we have no evidence that hand dryers are spreading the coronavirus”.
Furthermore, the World Health Organisation has confirmed that once hands are cleaned, they should be dried thoroughly using a paper towel or warm air dryer.
What I find most frustrating about this situation is that it’s not new. The paper towel vs hand dryer debate has long rumbled on, and if we’re being honest, there has never been a conclusive resolution.
It seems to me that much of the recent negative press about hand drying is spreading unsubstantiated messaging at a time where people are vulnerable to such propaganda.
At Airdri, we believe that at times like this we should all pull together as an industry and publish responsible, honest information that supports our nation at a time of real distress.
Of course, in the past we have openly spoken about our preference for hand dryers, mainly due to the unsustainable and high-waste nature of paper towels. However, since this crisis escalated, we have done our best to share factual, helpful guidance from official and reputable sources.
Until that official advice changes, we will continue to back it. We won’t be arguing our case against paper towels – despite our warranted concerns around sustainability and waste. We won’t be using this pandemic as a ‘news hook’ to boost sales. We won’t be trying to smear any business by discrediting their credentials. We will simply continue to support our customers, and the wider public, by providing the most factually correct information that hopefully provides them with some comfort around their health and hygiene.
For anyone in doubt about the safest and most hygienic way to protect yourself from Covid-19, the World Health Organisation recommends you frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.
