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Two of the most pressing issues that end-users are looking to their distributors to help manage these days are: one, to find and drive costs out of their systems; and two, to provide innovative products and services to better serve their customers.
While this conundrum may seem paradoxical at first, when it comes to providing the best overall restroom experience, you can offer the best of both worlds with a combination approach.
Cost reduction begins with waste reduction. And waste reduction makes good management sense. Where there is waste, there is inefficiency, and where there is inefficiency, there is an opportunity to reduce costs. Reducing waste also increases productivity, safeguards the environment and strengthens the customer's client base.
Many end-users have developed and implemented waste reduction and recycling as a normal way of doing business, and the returns have been favorable. And specifically considering the restroom, there are multiple places to look to find ways that can curb waste and spending.
Finding hidden costs
Primarily, you are looking at three key areas of waste reduction in the restroom: paper, water and soap. It is with these products where you will likely find the most waste, and therefore the most opportunity for savings.
To start, experts say you'll need to work with your customer to perform a waste audit of the end-user restroom to get an accurate account of use vs. need in these product areas.
Performing a waste audit is an integrated approach that examines source reduction, recycling and conservation. To be effective, the audit must be done thoroughly under the direction of those who truly understand the end-company's processes and operations. It is necessary to record all data and information to ensure no operation is missed.
There are several resources available that provide procedure forms for recording information. Additionally, it is important to remember when performing an audit that significant imbalances may occur due to measurement, time and estimation. It is best to perform audits on days that are representative of the normal traffic use of the restroom.
Choosing the right products
The opportunities to reduce waste in most restrooms are many. But by evaluating all the options and implementing the ones with the greatest potential first, you'll be showing the efficiency and cost savings that can be realized through other waste reduction efforts.
With regards to paper consumption in the restroom, look for towels and tissue that offer coreless, center-wound rolls. Studies also show that two-ply bath tissue goes further than a single ply, thus offsetting any up-front costs associated with this investment. As a complete alternative to hand towels, distributors can offer up air dryers to help reduce waste and save money for the end-user.
The latest craze in the world of soap has been the advent of foam. But not only is it now being demanded by more customers, it also uses less product than traditional liquid soap; some reports show upward of 40 percent less usage when foam is introduced in place of traditional liquid soap.
Water conservation can be accomplished by installing the latest conservation hardware in the restroom. From waterless urinals, which offer huge savings in high traffic public facilities like colleges, airports and retail stores, to automatic sensor fixtures like flushers and faucets.
There is a lot to consider when finding the balance between product and process in regards to waste and cost reduction, but a key factor is understanding that over time, investments that are made now could end up saving your customers money in the long run . . . and you'll have cemented their business in your company.
author: BY MS STAFF WRITER