Education and Publications
Hooray for Handwashing
Hooray for Handwashing is a handwashing and cleanliness programme for infant groups. It has been designed for 4-7 year olds as a fun and easy way to teach children good health habits. The programme comprises background information on health and hygiene, a story, posters and poems for children. It is used as part of the Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship curriculum within schools.
The UKCPI has received numerous compliments on the excellence of the material from those schools who have already received copies.
If you would like to receive a copy of the pack, please contact the UKCPI Office or alternatively to download free copies:
- Hooray for Teacher's Guide Download pdf 1.47Mb
- Hooray for Handwashing Children's Booklet Download pdf 877Kb
- Hooray for Handwashing Children's Booklet Mono Version Download 610Kb
- Hooray for Handwashing Mono A4 Colour in Pages download 254Kb
- Hooray for Handwashing Posters Download 284 Kb
Meeting Natural Expectations 
An enthusiasm for all things 'natural’ is a defining trend of our time - yet the common expectation that natural products will inevitably tend to be 'safer' is not supported by fact.
With this in mind the ‘Meeting Natural Expectations’ discussion paper aims are to de-mystify the facts about 'natural' ingredients versus 'chemicals' used in washing and cleaning products. It has been published to redress the balance of understanding and to open the debate between the Industry and society about ways to improve sustainability throughout the whole cleaning process.
The need for cleaning is self-evident in the Western world. In the past century or so, improved cleaning and hygiene have played a major role in improving our health and improving both the length and the quality of people's lives. Keeping ourselves, our clothes and our environment clean is not merely a luxury.
However, it is vital to separate popular beliefs from the scientific facts. The discussion paper points out that the separation of things 'natural' from things that are 'chemical' is irrelevant and essentially meaningless. 'All substances are just arrangements of atoms of the same 90-odd chemical elements of which the planet is made', it points out.
Commenting on the discussion document, John Emsley, the award-winning popular science writer, says: “If you believe that ‘natural’ means good and wholesome and that ‘man-made’ means alien and suspect then you need the dose of realism that is to be found in Meeting Natural Expectations. ‘Natural’ is no guarantee a product will do the job we want because Nature did not design its vast range of natural molecules for the benefit of humans. On the other hand chemists have created new molecules specifically to meet our needs, often basing them on natural molecules but with the dangerous components replaced by something safer.
“Today we need to go beyond the pointless confrontation between ‘natural’ and ‘man-made’ and ensure that what we make not only does what we want it to, but is based on sustainable resources, and poses no threat to the environment. Meeting Natural Expectations shows how the makers of laundry and household cleaners are moving in the right direction, so that ultimately we can live in harmony with Nature and the environment, and yet continue to enjoy the benefits of products that clean so superbly well’.
To obtain a hard copy of the discussion paper please contact the UKCPI Office or alternatively to download a copy:
Sustainable Cleaning - A Guide for Users of Professional Cleaning Products
In 2004 the European Commission published a handbook to give guidance to the Public Sector on procuring 'green' products and services. This general guidance was not specific to any one sector and formed one part of the Commission's 'Green Public Procurement' (GPP) initiative. After the publication of the EC Handbook, the UKCPI and BACS formed a Task Force to provide guidance on environmental aspects of cleaning product ingredients. In 2006 the initial leaflet' Guidance for Responsible Public Procurement of Cleaning Products' was produced.
In 2008 the leaflet was revised and refined and is now entitled 'Sustainable Cleaning - A Guide for Users of Professional Cleaning Products' including sourcing, design, production, product selection,transport and usage as well as raw materials. Endorsed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) the leaflet forms part of their Quick Wins 2008 Best Practice specifications.
Risk Versus Hazard
Further information regarding Risk versus Hazard is available from the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA).