Concern for the natural environment and an ecological approach to business are becoming more and more clear, also in the HoReCa industry. Many facilities include pro-ecological principles in their policies. Guests also pay attention to ecological solutions in the places they visit. And while in many cases you can use simple solutions to become an eco-friendly place, difficulties arise in the kitchen space.
Cleanliness requirements in catering.
The kitchen in a restaurant is a place where it is particularly important to keep it clean. After all, this is where meals are prepared and the equipment comes into direct contact with food. Therefore, not only “ordinary” cleaning is needed, but also disinfection.
Detailed requirements for ensuring food safety, and therefore also for activities related to the cleanliness and hygiene of places where food is prepared, are defined by HACCP , i.e. the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points System. Its aim is to “ensure the health safety of food by identifying and estimating the scale of food safety threats from the point of view of its health quality and the risk of these threats occurring during all stages of food production and distribution.” It also specifies methods for reducing these threats, including through cleaning and disinfection procedures, indicating, for example, the need to clean work surfaces, floors, and catering equipment using professional agents that eliminate all potentially harmful microorganisms.
Therefore, it is extremely important to select appropriate, professional cleaning agents that will not only remove dirt, but also disinfect the cleaned surfaces. The question arises whether the products used in restaurant kitchens can be effective and ecological at the same time?
Can cleaning products used in the kitchen be eco-friendly?
There is no single, universal definition of ecological, or environmentally friendly, cleaning products. However, their specific features can be distinguished, which include:
- production using substances obtained from plants,
- no artificial colors and flavors,
- no genetically modified ingredients,
- use of renewable raw materials in the production,
- their production process cannot be harmful to the environment.
Therefore, ecological cleaning products differ from conventional ones primarily in their composition. They do not use artificial colors or preservatives, and are free from strong cleaning and aggressive chemicals. However, this does not mean that they are less effective. They contain surfactants of natural origin that reduce surface tension, which makes dirt “detach” from the surface and is easily removed with a cloth or mop.
A good example here are the products from the Green line by Clinex, which include preparations for cleaning floors, windows, sanitary facilities, and a universal cleaning preparation for removing all typical and greasy dirt.
What do the experts say?
Replacing traditional cleaning products in a restaurant kitchen with ecological ones is absolutely possible and even desirable. It should be noted, however, that not all organic preparations have the same strength as classic ones. – explains the Clinex -N brand experthowever, in the case of substances that we use without diluting with water, the so-called Ready-to-use, ecological preparations are equally effective, but also safer for the user and the environment.
However, not all conventional cleaning products can be replaced with those with an eco label. When speed and high power of action are needed, ecological means are still inferior to traditional ones. However, in this case too, you can take a step towards ecology. Choose those whose packaging is ecological and whose production method is as environmentally safe as possible.
I believe that using ecological cleaning products in the kitchen is important for both ecological and health reasons. Ecological cleaning products are environmentally friendly and do not contain harmful chemicals. They are also safer for kitchen workers. They do not contain irritating chemicals that could cause allergic reactions or other health problems. As my clients say, more and more often they pay attention to ecological solutions in the company. Therefore, the use of ecological cleaning products in places where possible is an additional advantage. – statement by the owner of dietary catering Local Catering .
