Sealed Air Celebrates the WHO’s Annual “Clean Your Hands Day”

Dr. Ilham Kadri Posted on May 6, 2013 in Cleaning & Sanitation, Diversey, HCAIs, healthcare, healthcare providers, Uncategorized, WHO
by , IlhamK
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Over the past weekend, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “Clean Your Hands Day” took place around the world.  As part of the Clean Your Hands Campaign, which began in 2009, Clean Your Hands Day is part of the WHO’s efforts to improve hand hygiene in healthcare.  Since healthcare associated infections (HAIs) cause roughly 99,000 deaths annually in the U.S., the push for improved hand hygiene is critical for patient safety—and very closely aligned with Sealed Air and Diversey’s mission of creating a cleaner, healthier future globally.

As part of the fight against HAIs, the WHO recommends that healthcare employees perform hand hygiene with alcohol-based rubs and handwashing with soap and water at five key moments. By outlining the critical times when handwashing is necessary, the WHO aims to reduce the transmission of HAIs. The WHO’s five moments include:

 

1)      Before touching a patient 

2)      Before clean/aseptic procedures

3)      After bodily fluid exposure/risk

4)      After touching a patient

5)      After touching patient surroundings

 

As part of our commitment to hand hygiene in healthcare, Sealed Air is a member of WHO’s Private Organizations for Patient Safety (POPS), an online platform dedicated to improving the implementation of WHO recommendations and reducing HAIs. Through POPS, members can collaborate to help improve global patient safety by increasing awareness and providing access to hand hygiene products—even in developing countries.

In addition to our POPS membership, the Institutional and Laundry division of Sealed Air offers healthcare workers the following resources for optimal hand hygiene:

 1.  Industry leading expertise in the prevention of HAIs, with decades of experience and advanced technology platforms across a number of industry sectors, including healthcare and hospital environments.


2.  Comprehensive and innovative portfolio of a great range of hand sanitizers, surface cleaners, floor cleaners, disinfectant wipes, antiseptics and disinfectants, including the award winning Oxivir TM and SoftCare Med handrubs.

 3.  Dedicated personnel available to support on site and a dedicated website – www.cleanerandhealthier.com – to provide quick, reliable answers to protect our customers, employees and family when an illness begins to spread.

 

 

In addition to our current hand hygiene solutions, Sealed Air will continue to help further the WHO’s mission through the constant work of its Institutional and Laundry division on developing effective infection prevention and hygiene solutions.  We are committed to creating a better way for life through improved hand hygiene and are proud of the impact our products and solutions have each day.

Dr. Ilham Kadri is the President of the Institutional and Laundry Division of Sealed Air Corp., a global leader in food safety and security, facility hygiene and product protection. With 19 years of experience and throughout her career in public and private companies such as Huntsman, UCB-Cytec, Shell and more recently Dow, she has held a variety of global leadership roles in Business Leadership, Sales and Marketing and Research & Development. She joined the company in January 2013 coming from Dow Chemical, where she held executive leadership roles, in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Dr. Kadri is a chemical engineer from l’école des Hauts Polymères de Strasbourg, and she holds a doctorate in Reactive Extrusion from the Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France.
 

Diversey & Sealed Air at ISSA – Interclean Latin America

Posted on April 25, 2013 in Cleaning & Sanitation, floorcare, ISSA, ISSA/Interclean, TASKI
by , DanielM
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From March 13th to 15th, ISSA – Interclean Latin America took place. The leading facility management companies gathered at the World Trade Center Mexico City, Mexico DF, and more than 3,000 people from 22 countries of America, Europe and Asia visited the exhibition.

Diversey played a major role at the event, including different key activities that occurred previously, during and after the event in order to contribute to ISSA  - Interclean’s Latin America success. I had the honor to be part of the opening ceremony with a presentation titled “Sustainability and The Future of Cleaning.”  I explained to the audience what I see as the most pressing challenges for our industry in the region, and some of the solutions that will help us achieve our goals. You can take a look at the presentation here: ISSA Mexico Prezi.

On the show floor, Diversey had the largest booth and was the only participant with an open space to present all our innovations. TASKI machines were demonstrated in action inside the booth, with the support from our global and local professionals. Many other innovations were also presented in different corners, including our new dosing and dilution systems Quattro Select & SmartDose, our Floor Care Solution Crystal Shield, and our new e-business solutions platforms that provide significant productivity gains and cost optimisation.

During the evening of the 2nd day, a special TASKI Launch & Cocktail event took place, where 55 key BSC customer representatives and distributors had the opportunity to see the benefits of our new TASKI range and take special launch offers with them.

 

Through this event, Sealed Air and Diversey reinforce their presence in the Latin America region and consolidate as the leading player in the hygiene and sanitation industry. Without ISSA’s support, this would not have been possible.

Daniel Meier is Executive Director, Product & Application Development, Building Care Solutions for Sealed Air. In his role, Daniel is responsible for the translation of customer needs into technical products and applications that improve their labor productivity and deliver safe and sustainable solutions to their day to day activities.
 

Lighting the Way to Day Cleaning

Tips for implementing and maintaining effective day cleaning programs

Posted on April 11, 2013 in BSC, Cleaning & Sanitation, Facility Management
by , Americas Sustainability Manager
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Cutting costs and improving sustainability are two growing concerns in building cleaning. To address these issues, many facilities with traditional business hours are turning to day cleaning which shifts as much of the night cleaning duties to daytime shifts as possible to achieve sustainable energy savings.

Whether cleaning duties are outsourced or handled in-house, day cleaning can yield many benefits beyond energy savings. However, transitioning to a new cleaning operation is not an overnight change but a process that requires up-front preparation and training. To implement an effective program and ensure it stands the test of time, you can follow a simple day cleaning checklist.

1.    Learn about the advantages

Since cleaning is no longer done at night, buildings can reduce utility output and lower energy bills by turning down lights and adjusting HVAC settings at earlier hours. When cleaning is completed during the day, building occupants can see the work being done, confirming that their workplace is well-maintained. Additionally, cleaning crews have better visibility of soiled carpets or other dirty areas when working during daylight hours, which increases productivity and efficiency.

2. Gain support for the initiative

The proposed transition to day cleaning will need to be discussed with senior leaders and then cleaning staff before occupants are informed of the new program. Top management will want to understand the benefits of day cleaning as well as any drawbacks. Prepare for tough questions by considering potential issues ahead of time. Know and be able to communicate how long it will take to see energy savings and what new equipment and tools may be necessary for day cleaning.

 

  1. Educate building occupants

Since day cleaning will impact building occupants in addition to cleaning staff, it’s crucial to get them to sign off on the new cleaning routine. Emphasize that day cleaning encourages environmental responsibility and lowers building operating costs. Some occupants may be worried that cleaning during the day will be bothersome. Be prepared to deal with these skeptics by explaining the use of quieter cleaning equipment and equipment that dries floors quickly.

 

 

  1. Ensure training is comprehensive

In order to run a successful operation, cleaning staff and facility managers need to immerse themselves in every aspect of day cleaning. If you work with a BSC, confirm that a manager and employees have completed extensive training about day cleaning. Ideally, they will have attended a training academy that covers all aspects of day cleaning, including keys to success and advice for selecting the right tools, chemicals and equipment.

  1. Create a cleaning schedule

Day cleaning will require cleaning schedules to be well thought out before the program is implemented. Collaborate with occupants to better understand their schedules and to work out when it is best for cleaning to occur each day. For example, it may be ideal to dust desk areas during lunch hours if employees typically go off site for their break. Make occupants aware of the schedule before the program begins so that they will know when cleaning is to occur in designated areas each day.

  1. Supervise the program

To ease everyone into the new program, you may find it easiest to implement day cleaning in one section of the building at a time, or in one building of an entire corporate or academic campus. If everything goes well, initiate day cleaning for additional areas or buildings on a pre-scheduled basis. It is important to monitor and supervise day cleaning activities when the program kicks off. A few weeks later, survey occupants to gather feedback about cleaning effectiveness, staff attitude and safety.

 

  1. Make adjustments as needed

Contrary to belief, day cleaning is not night cleaning done during the day.  The cleaning specifications will need to be modified to meet the new day cleaning program. This includes revising position profiles as needed, changing the time and frequencies of specific cleaning tasks and implementing new cleaning tools.  Additionally, tracking mechanisms can be applied to ensure that the agreed upon tasks are performed and reported to the facility management team on a scheduled basis. If you encounter obstacles, don’t be afraid to revise your day cleaning plan.

 

Developing and implementing a day cleaning program requires upfront preparation since all parties involved will need to accept this cultural shift. However, if executed properly, day cleaning programs can provide a facility with noticeable cost savings, an increased commitment to sustainability and security, and enhanced customer service and productivity.

The original version of this article ran in the April issue of Executive Housekeeping Today and can be viewed at http://www.readoz.com/publication/read?i=1055653#page4

Contact a Diversey representative to learn more about the Healthy High Performance Cleaning (HHPC) Day program. HHPC Day is a best practice set of tools and training to enable cleaning contractors to deliver world class day cleaning. You can view a video of HHPC Day in action at www.diversey.com/hhpcacademy

 

Solutions for Food Safety

Dr. Ilham Kadri Posted on March 29, 2013 in Consumer Goods Forum, Food safety, food supply, GFSC, GFSI, Global Food Safety Initiative
by , IlhamK
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Just a few weeks ago, almost 800 leaders in the food safety industry gathered in Barcelona at the Consumer Goods Forum’s Global Food Safety Conference (GFSC) to discuss the pressing topics that affect our industry each day. Food industry decision makers from more than 60 countries discussed innovative ideas for advancing food safety.

Sealed Air, as a global leader in food safety, played a very active role by partnering with the GFSC organisers. For Sealed Air, food safety is about better handling, preparation and storage at each level in the supply chain to help prevent foodborne illness. Our expertise focuses on identifying risks and problems quickly and preventing their effects on food safety. Our solutions help combat these sanitation risks during the harvesting, processing and handling of foods. Sealed Air solutions also ensure a viable cold chain is maintained for perishable foods to prevent cross contamination within the supply chain. We also focus on educating consumers about the proper way to store, handle and cook food at home.

During the conference, I had the chance to meet with many industry experts from top leading food and beverage companies, retailers and associations, most of which are Sealed Air customers in one way or another. I was impressed by both their level of expertise on food safety and passion for the business.

To increase breadth of topics covered, Sealed Air hosted two sessions through our Diversey and Cryovac brands, which provide leading expertise in food science and microbiology. We invited top industry players to share how our partnerships protect their brands beyond the supply chain, by helping them maintain safe and hygienic environments where people eat, drink, shop and work. Partnerships and training are key ingredients for the success of food safety management systems throughout the entire food supply chain.ood and beverage companies, retailers and associations, most of which are Sealed Air customers in one way or another. I was impressed by both their level of expertise on food safety and passion for the business.

“People Power – Nurturing talent to drive economic value creation”

During this session at the conference, Joe Smithwick, Retail Food Safety Manager, Target, explained, “At Target we always go beyond what is required by law and train our people on food safety to a greater level.” This was a great example of how organizations must involve every employee in food safety initiatives.

Rachid Hassairi, Global Hygienic Sanitation and Transformation Program Leader at Heinz pointed out the philosophy of accomplishments by saying “Great partnerships take you and your partners to greater levels through respectful demands to get to a common objective.”

Marie-Paule Nowlis, VP Quality Process Guest Experience at Sofitel explained, “You can’t have a luxury guest experience without well-trained ambassadors. Strategies need to be understood by ambassadors and training needs to suit those strategies. Partnering with leading training providers guarantees success.”

“Food Safety and Packaging in a Global Economy”

In this session, we shared the key benefits for the seamless integration of packaging design, food quality and safety. As part of Sealed Air’s mission, we are constantly integrating sustainability into each part of our business. We seek to innovate and invent solutions that impact humankind on a global scale. We call this approach SmartLife™ and we apply this strategy as broadly as possible with a focus on helping the world live healthier.

As this was my first global event as President of Sealed Air, I am extremely pleased to see how the industry I have joined is working hard to find solutions to reduce food waste, improve food safety standards and create a healthy and clean environment for consumers all over the world. These are the exact reasons I joined this great company and I will continue to work hard to accomplish these goals.

 

Dr. Ilham Kadri is the President of the Institutional and Laundry Division of Sealed Air Corp., a global leader in food safety and security, facility hygiene and product protection. With 19 years of experience and throughout her career in public and private companies such as Huntsman, UCB-Cytec, Shell and more recently Dow, she has held a variety of global leadership roles in Business Leadership, Sales and Marketing and Research & Development. She joined the company in January 2013 coming from Dow Chemical, where she held executive leadership roles, in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Dr. Kadri is a chemical engineer from l’école des Hauts Polymères de Strasbourg, and she holds a doctorate in Reactive Extrusion from the Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France.
 

Listening and Responding through Social Media

Werner Linders Posted on February 24, 2011 in Featured, Industries, News/Events, Public Health, Sustainability
by , Director, Europe Middle East & Africa, Diversey Consulting

 

Last Friday I had the distinct opportunity of hosting a session at the Global Food Safety Conference in London on the growing influence of social media on corporate-consumer communications in food safety and other industries. Diversey is a partner to the conference’s main organizer, the Global Food Safety Initiative, which every year brings together more than 600 food safety specialists from more than 40 countries to discuss the trends and issues impacting food safety. Many of the world’s leading manufacturer’s of food and beverage products are in attendance.

Joining me for the session were Robbie Vorhaus, internationally recognized management consultant and crisis communication expert, and Jean-Jacques Vandenheede, senior retail industry analyst for ACNielsen Europe specializing in mapping the changes that affect the grocery retailing industry.

We had a very interesting dialogue and discussion, which began with a review of a well-known food outbreak case study in the United States – when a huge amount of attention was focused across multiple channels in a compressed timeframe – and offered some examples of best practice responses to food borne illness and contamination.

In January 2009, after five people had died and more than 400 people had fallen ill due to salmonella contamination, the Peanut Corporation of America issued a recall for products made over the previous six months. The recall was later extended to over 400 consumer products made in the previous two years.

What made this particular case study unique was the significant spike in attention it drew in the social media universe. Consumers used a variety of social media channels to discuss and voice opinion about the recall. The FDA Peanut Butter Recall widget was used 1.4 million times in 9 days, and appeared on more than 5,000 different websites. FDA’s Peanut Butter Recall blog received over 14,000 total page views within a month of the recall announcement.

Because the peanuts processed by the Peanut Corporation of America were sold to many food companies for use in various products, major consumer brand companies reacted to the outpouring of opinion in different ways. Some used the opportunity to engage with consumers in unprecedented, highly-transparent communications. Unlike many previous recalls, companies not responsible for contaminated products also used social media to protect their brands from negative association.

Our panel of social media experts offered some interesting perspectives on this case study and provided some good lessons for everyone – corporations and consumers – about the role of this growing media channel in food safety discussions. Here are a few highlights of their comments:

Jean-Jacques Vandenheede pointed out that to have real credibility in a crisis a company should have an evergreen presence, “sharing examples of positive things going on with the product, so you’re more credible when things are in crisis.”

Robbie Vorhaus: “If you’re a market driven company, social media is a tool to listen. You want to listen. You may not always like what you hear. But if you’re intent is to grow and be a market leader, you need to be willing to take the risk.”

Jean-Jacques: “This is a learning zone for everyone. It’s new for everybody. It’s new for us, for companies and users. We’re going to have to see over the next couple of years how this will evolve and no one is sure yet.”

Robbie: “We have not been used to communicating this way as corporations. Over time, the conversation will become more flowing and two-way.”

Jean-Jacques: “If you, as a company, as a brand, follow your heart and tell your story, you can change the world.”

You can view slides related to the case study presented here: http://scr.bi/SMediaGFSC

In May 1999 Werner joined DiverseyLever Consulting with the responsibility for the development of the food safety and brand protection consulting business within Asia Pacific. In 2001 he returned to Belgium to take up the lead role for JohnsonDiversey Consulting - Europe. In 2005 this was expanded to include Middle East & Africa. He is a member of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Technical Committee (Paris, France).
 

Portable and Internet Based Tools Critical For Business Success

and customized E-procurement systems

Pedro Chidichimo Posted on July 11, 2011 in Efficiency, Featured, IT, Technology
by , President, Sealed Air’s Diversey Business

 

Last week I wrote for the European Cleaning Journal on the benefits for facility management companies of implementing and running IT systems and procedures to improve front and back office operations.

In today’s era of ubiquitous portable technology I am surprised at the low level of adoption within our industry of such easily available resources. Internet based applications can differentiate a business from its competitors through improved service quality, and efficiency and profitability of back office procurement tasks.

Despite the availability of standard or customized internet based solutions I have seen facility management companies and executives struggle with key tasks such as workforce planning, service programming or online purchasing automation.

For a service deployment manager one of the least desirable things is to have a poorly programmed day with resources sitting idle. And for a procurement VP, dealing with more than 100 product and equipment suppliers, the net provides amazing opportunities for automation. Let me explain where I see the two biggest potential areas for facility management companies.

Front end applications for improved service quality

Having worked for many years with the leading actors in the field, I have seen the best innovation coming from tools such as computers or hand-held devices that are simple to operate. Centrally managed and locally deployed, these tools offer a powerful way to achieve optimal work-loading and allocation, labor and cost estimation, inspection, and optimization:

  • Work-loading and allocation: scheduling routine/daily tasks, balancing workloads, generating and printing assignments
  • Labor & cost estimation: calculating employee and budget needs, managing inventory, supplies and equipment.
  • Inspection: PDA and PC-based inspections helping to capture critical observations and identify areas demanding immediate attention
  • Optimization: real-time reporting, employee performance analysis and continuous improvement.

These workforce planning tools allow your facility management company to do more with less, and significantly differentiate you and your business; they elevate professionalism, enhance productivity and improve the level of cleanliness of buildings.

And then there are the labor savings…

Back end applications for efficient and profitable procurement

Knowing that the number of tools regularly used to deploy a good facility management task is just too high, there is a level of complexity that needs to be managed efficiently.

There is a need to enhance cleaning operations through optimization of the supply chain. E-procurement systems are good at this, with the capability to deliver significant benefits by streamlining processes and improving financial performance.

Because there are very few dedicated online procurement systems for building service contractors, my suggestion is to create a small team to research the options available and ask your chosen vendor to customize a system that is right for you.

The main benefits of E-procurement systems are:

  • Standardization and harmonization of product ranges to streamline business processes
  • Control and visibility of spending to lower operating costs
  • Robust reporting to deliver powerful business intelligence
  • Improved operational efficiency and supply chain management.

For one building service company with 2,500 customer locations – spending of 17 million euros with 58 suppliers for janitorial, uniforms, office supplies, etc. – a procurement system designed for cleaning operations supplies and consumables achieved annual product spend reduction of 10 percent and reduced admin processing costs by 80 per cent, saving 346,000 euros per year.

Another European building service contractor was able to reassign 16 full time employees in its accounts payable department by using electronic invoice matching capabilities.

We call upon businesses in our industry to start adopting such tools – for their own sake. The bigger your business, the bigger the rewards. There is nothing riskier than doing things the same old way.

Read the full article in the European Cleaning Journal here.

Pedro Chidichimo is the President of Sealed Air’s Institutional & Laundry Business. He has held executive leadership roles at Diversey and its legacy companies since 1994. Previously, he led the Europe, Middle East and Africa region from October 2006 to January 2011, and held several leadership roles in the Latin America business, including a year as the president of that region from July 2005 to October 2006.
 

A legacy of strength sets the path for the future

Diversey customers continue to count on expertise, superior products under new Sealed Air structure

Pedro Chidichimo Posted on February 17, 2012 in Corporate, Diversey, Efficiency, I&L, Institutional & Laundry, News/Events, Products/Innovation, Sustainability
by , President, Sealed Air’s Diversey Business
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Times of change often spark periods of reflection – for individuals and businesses alike. That’s been my experience of the past several months as Diversey has become a part of Sealed Air. Assessing the new opportunities ahead of us has reaffirmed my confidence in our essential strengths as an organization and added to my excitement about the new era we have entered. We are stronger than ever and poised to bring even greater levels of service, product innovation and expertise to our customers around the world.

I’d like to share with you some of my thoughts about what these new and exciting times will bring for the new Sealed Air’s Institutional & Laundry (I&L) business and for our customers.

Same passionate experts and trusted brands, new business alignment

Our new company represents the start of a new era of opportunity for our customers.

We will offer  further innovation, a broader array of trusted brands and deeper expertise to our customers as well as high quality products with excellent service. The I&L business unit of Sealed Air is a global integrated supplier that manufactures and distributes chemicals, tools and utensils, machines, and training and consulting services for the Institutional and Laundry sectors. We continue to deliver solutions in building care, food safety, laundry and infection control for our broad customer base in sectors such as:

  • Building Service Contractors and Facility Management
  • Retail
  • Food Service
  • Hospitality
  • Health Care

Sustainability is our passion

Businesses around the world continue  to recognize sustainability as a competitive advantage and are doubling efforts in establishing sustainability strategies and practices, much in the same way Sealed Air has done for its own business.

Here at Sealed Air, our main priority is to create solutions that enhance sustainability – by improving our customers’ profits through reduced operational costs associated with energy and water conservation, and through waste reduction, regulatory and legal compliance, positive labor relations, and a healthy and safe workforce.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainability. Our commitment is to help customers choose the right options for their needs – cleaning and hygiene solutions that help safeguard human health and improve our customers’ operations while reducing waste and saving energy and water. In everything we do, our customers count on our expertise and our commitment to partnerships just as much as they rely on our superior products and tools.

Partnering with our customers

In nearly 20 years working among and leading Diversey’s people, I have been impressed time and again by their genuine desire to fully understand and meet customer needs. Our people work within a rich legacy of more than two centuries of trusted brands paired with industry leadership. We are able to deliver the highest Value creation for our customers being the best at Problem solving and Solutions delivery.

We create Value through:

1. Innovative products, applications and solutions delivering Operational Efficiency and lower total costs to our customers

2. Risk Management programs focused on Labor Safety,  Food Safety and Infection Control

3. Differentiated sustainable solutions

In the coming weeks and months, my colleagues and I will use this blog to share resources, ideas, best practices, innovations, sustainability news and commentaries on trends in the industry. We invite you to join us. Ask questions and let us know what you think, and which topics you’d like us to address.

Pedro Chidichimo is the President of Sealed Air’s Institutional & Laundry Business. He has held executive leadership roles at Diversey and its legacy companies since 1994. He led Global Customer Solutions and Innovation for Diversey from January through October 2011. Previously, he led the Europe, Middle East and Africa region from October 2006 to January 2011, and held several leadership roles in the Latin America business, including a year as the president of that region from July 2005 to October 2006. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Universidad de Buenos Aires and a master of business administration degree from Universidad Austral in Argentina.

 

Pedro Chidichimo is the President of Sealed Air’s Institutional & Laundry Business. He has held executive leadership roles at Diversey and its legacy companies since 1994. Previously, he led the Europe, Middle East and Africa region from October 2006 to January 2011, and held several leadership roles in the Latin America business, including a year as the president of that region from July 2005 to October 2006.
 

New ‘Made in Asia’ Line of TASKI Floor Care Machines Launched in China

Machines combine innovation with superior design to meet Asia’s needs for a durable and high performance floor-care solution

Yagmur Sagnak Posted on February 22, 2012 in Asia, BSC, Efficiency, facilities, floorcare, Institutional & Laundry, Products/Innovation, TASKI, Uncategorized
by , President, Asia, Middle East, Africa and Turkey (AMAT) region
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
 

For many years, our customers around the world have relied on TASKI by Diversey products to deliver superior cleaning performance. The TASKI brand is backed by more than 50 years of innovation, proven effective technology, superior manufacturing and reliability. When our customers buy a TASKI machine, they know they are getting truly innovative floor care technology that enhances operational efficiency and delivers clear sustainability benefits.

Recently, I was honored to host more than 100 customers and business partners in Shanghai on the occasion of the launch of a special Made-in-Asia line of our award-winning and comprehensive TASKI portfolio, which ranges from scrubber driers and single-disc machines to dry/wet vacuums and carpet care solutions.

We are extremely pleased that our Asian customers can now benefit from this innovative floor care technology. In fact, our Asian team has built on the TASKI legacy by developing a new line of machines for the region. In China, for instance, many of our customers face unique challenges and requirements when it comes to cleaning and hygiene. China’s high population density and unique environmental conditions create challenging floor-care cleaning requirements. Dirt build-up is greater and climates and temperatures are more extreme. Effective cleaning means that floor care machines need to be built and designed to meet these unique challenges. This is what we have achieved with our new TASKI machines. China is the first stop in our Asia launch of the new TASKI line of solutions and it was a great success. Our team is certainly exciting and looking forward to rolling out the new line in more markets to come.

In addition to the new line of machines, we are also launching a new line of TASKI tools and accessories that caters specifically to Asia’s needs. The range of cleaning tools, which includes cleaning pads, cleaning trolleys, mops and handles, microfiber cloths and buckets, completes the TASKI integrated floor care solution to meet all floor care needs. In particular, the new TASKI cleaning pads, when combined with the new TASKI machines, will deliver high performance cleaning results.

Our company has also gone to great lengths to assure that the quality of the new machines deserves the TASKI brand. We have invested in sophisticated testing equipment and hired a new staff of engineers and quality control specialists to assure that every machine that comes off the production floor in Asia is made with excellence to withstand the conditions to which it will be exposed.

Our new TASKI floor machines include some very innovative and patented features including the V-shape and W-shape squeegee system that picks up 99% of water from the floor and the Intelliflow system which dispenses the right amount of cleaning solution and water onto the floor according to the speed of the machine. This helps to reduce the consumption of water and chemicals by up to 50%.

The new TASKI machines come in a variety of sizes and functionality to suit different scale and mode of operations. They range from the TASKI ergodisc HD®, the rugged single-disc machine that is built with a resilient metal chassis and extra weight to handle the most challenging floor surfaces; to the TASKI swingo 4000, the largest in the scrubber drier range that delivers faster cleaning speed with greater power for large floor areas. The other scrubber driers include the TASKI swingo 350B, a battery-powered auto scrubber with a low profile that can reach under obstacles such as tables or racks; the TASKI swingo 760 with a 40-liter tank, available in a battery-powered or cable-powered model; the TASKI swingo 1260B with a large 60-liter tank; and the battery-powered TASKI swingo 1660 with a large 85-liter tank.

For more information on the TASKI portfolio in Asia, please visit:

www.TASKI-performance.com

For all other regions, please find us at:

www.TASKIbyDiversey.com

Yagmur Sagnak has been serving as the President of the Asia, Middle East, Africa and Turkey (AMAT) region since January 2012. This region also includes the Caucasian and Central Asian Republics. Prior to this, Sagnak was the President of the Asia Pacific, Middle East-Africa and Turkey (APAT) region for Diversey. Prior to his regional role, Sagnak served as Diversey’s Vice President, Institutional & Laundry in the Europe, Middle East, Africa region for more than two years. Sagnak holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Istanbul University in Turkey.
 

World’s Leading Food Safety Experts Gather at The Global Food Safety Conference

Pedro Chidichimo Posted on March 5, 2012 in Food safety, food supply, food waste, GFSC, GFSI, Global Food Safety Initiative
by , President, Sealed Air’s Diversey Business
Tags: , , , , , ,
 

In February both Sealed Air and Diversey were once more the main partners at the Consumer Goods Forum Global Food Safety Conference, which gathered close to 1000 food safety senior leaders from over 50 countries.

The key difference this time was our integrated approach as a single, united company, comprising both Sealed Air and Diversey.

For the first time, we showcased the combined value proposition that the two companies bring to food safety and security at the event, which was held in Orlando, Florida. With the key combination of leading experts in food science, packaging and microbiology, we demonstrated strategies for protecting and enhancing the entire food and beverage supply chain – from farm to fork – by collaborating to reduce contamination, extend the shelf life of food, and elevate the food and beverage experience for the consumer.

As part of our presence at the event, we hosted a breakfast session titled “Facing the Challenge of Building an Effective Food Safety Management System Across Cultures.”  The session focused on the ways in which culture can positively impact the building of an effective food safety program, globally, to ensure comprehensive risk management across the supply chain.

Werner Linders and Catherine François from Diversey introduced the round table, stressing three key areas of work where Sealed Air is focusing their efforts:

  • To change the industry’s way of thinking to tackle the three most pressing issues facing our food supply – Food Safety, Food Waste, and Food Access
  • The challenge of not creating more arable land and growing more food, but providing “access” to sufficient amounts of safe and quality foods – especially in developing countries.
  • To manage food safety globally, and contribute to making a safer and sustainable global food supply chain.

The round table members were:

- Alain Dewael, Senior Manager, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs, EMEA, Starbucks, Netherlands

- Vera Petrova, Safety Services Manager, Food Safety, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, USA

- Joan Menke-Schaenzer, Chief Global Quality Officer, Research, Quality & Innovation ConAgra Foods, Inc.

On Thursday, senior leaders from Sealed Air participated in a panel discussion called “Using Innovative Technologies to Implement a Safe and Sustainable Future Supply Chain.”  The program discussed how technology can reduce cost, increase transparency, and help an organization remain competitive.

I was honored to open the debate with a key question around the use of technology: In the Food Processing, Food Packaging and Food Retailing industries – How can technology be used to reduce waste and cost, while preserving fabricated foods and ingredients during transportation and retailing and to point of consumption?

Bob Gravani, Professor of Food Science at Cornell University, USA, moderated the round table, which convened:

- Tatiana Koutchma, Research Scientist, Food Process Engineering, Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada

- Ron Cotterman, Executive Director, Sustainability, Sealed Air Corporation

- Aldin Hilbrands, Senior Manager, Product Integrity, Royal Ahold, The Netherlands

The above are critical issues, especially in light of a recent UN study finding that one-third of all the food produced on the planet – about 1.4 billion tons of food – is wasted every year.

At a Diversey-hosted VIP dinner for our customers, the guest speaker was one of the leading voices on food marketing and the food industry environment of the future, Dr. David Hughes, emeritus Professor at the University of London. He is a strong proponent of building vertical alliances between members of the food industry value chain: farmers, life science and input companies, ingredient firms, food and beverage manufacturers, retailers, and food service professionals.

David’s presentation underscored comments made earlier in the week by Sealed Air CEO Bill Hickey: “Nearly every step in the food production and consumption chain affords the opportunity for business involvement and contribution, and we have committed our company to a path of innovation to help the world increase access to food, to keep it fresh, and make it safe and secure for all people.”

These areas represent a critical nexus between business development and humanitarian needs.

We will continue to push the envelope on both counts. Stay tuned for more news.

Pedro Chidichimo is the President of Sealed Air’s Institutional & Laundry Business. He has held executive leadership roles at Diversey and its legacy companies since 1994. Previously, he led the Europe, Middle East and Africa region from October 2006 to January 2011, and held several leadership roles in the Latin America business, including a year as the president of that region from July 2005 to October 2006.
 

New Dilution Control System from Diversey Improves Employee Safety, Enhances Accuracy and Reduces Costs for Foodservice Organizations

Easy-to-use system streamlines cleaning operations

Stephen Dalton Posted on March 13, 2012 in Cleaning & Sanitation, Dilution control, Diverflow, Food safety, Kitchen Hygiene, Restaurant, Sanitation
by , Senior Director, Technology & Innovation for Sealed Air's I&L Business Unit
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At Sealed Air’s I&L Business Unit we have a proud history of innovation in dilution control. For example, Diversey was awarded the 2011 International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) Innovation Award for the SmartDose dilution control system. This system minimizes maintenance costs and contact with chemicals.

It’s time to announce another major innovation.

Sealed Air’s I&L Business Unit has launched the Diverflow with Sure Link™ dilution control system. This is a wall-mounted chemical dispensing system that provides foodservice organizations with a safe and easy way to clean multiple kitchen areas – while reducing environmental impact.

Diverflow overcomes a number of challenges inherent to traditional solutions, including in the areas of safety, ease of use and risk of dosing and dilution errors.

Representing a safe and easy way to clean multiple kitchen areas, it:

  • Reduces hazards and errors by ensuring that employees avoid contact with chemicals and that concentrated solutions are not mistakenly mixed or improperly used. With the push of a button, the desired type of solution is safely delivered to achieve consistent and accurate results every time.
  • Is designed for simple employee training with straight forward color-coded equipment and a push-to-dispense design. Consistent dilution and dispensing capabilities ensure workers are cleaning with the correct strength solutions to eliminate overuse and waste. Color-coded cap and bottle lock-out features ensure that employees use the correct product for each application while reducing exposure to concentrated solutions.
  • Includes six easy-to-load pouches of concentrated formulas for glass, washroom, floorcare, multipurpose, manual ware wash and sanitizing needs.

The vacuum action of the Diverflow system allows customers to see the pouches collapsing until they are completely empty so virtually no residual chemical remains. This enables kitchen workers to maximize solution use while eliminating unsafe spills and exposure to chemicals. The wall-mounted design also reduces trip-and-fall hazards by removing chemical containers from the floor.

With Diverflow, foodservice operations also have the ability to reduce their environmental footprint. Reduced plastic and cardboard packaging lessens waste and promotes recycling.

We are very proud of the fact that McDonald’s awarded Diversey its Best of Green classification, in an exclusive guide given by the company to its franchise holders, and which lists suppliers recommended for the best combination of sustainability and efficacy. Our inclusion here comes significantly from the continuous improvement in our product offerings, and from recent successful tests of Diverflow, which debuted in McDonald’s restaurants in Germany, Poland and France. McDonald’s employees gave the new product range high marks for ease of operation, safety, and space optimization and reduction of clutter in the work area.

To obtain Diverflow in your locale(s), please find details for the Sealed Air Diversey offices in your country or region at http://diversey.com/about-us/global-reach

Dr Stephen Dalton is Senior Director of Technology & Innovation for Sealed Air's I&L Business Unit, responsible for development teams in the USA, Brazil, Netherlands, Switzerland and Japan.
 

Risk Management Summit Lines Up First Class Speakers

Amsterdam, May 10

Pedro Chidichimo Posted on April 5, 2012 in Amsterdam, ISSA/Interclean, RAI Amsterdam, Risk Management
by , President, Sealed Air’s Diversey Business
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Risk Management Summit Lines Up First Class Speakers

Amsterdam, May 10

Five weeks from today, on 10th May 2012, I will have the great honor of opening the first ever Risk Management Summit for senior European business leaders at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam.

At this Summit we are bringing together some of Europe’s most influential leaders from the Building Care, Retail, Lodging, and Food & Beverage industries, who will help promote the critical role that risk management must play in business strategy. They will focus on the most innovative current initiatives on business and corporate Risk Management.

The carefully selected speakers will focus attention on how leading corporations are addressing, mitigating, and ultimately eliminating business-related risks in areas such as food safety, people safety and infection control.

The purpose of the Summit is to showcase the strategic thinking of major businesses from selected industries on Risk Management practices from three different angles: Food Safety, Labor Safety and Infection Control.

Each session will present practical ideas for business leaders to take away and rapidly integrate into their own organizations in order to enhance their commitment to protect employees and customers’ lives, and to improve the bottom line.

The event brings together speakers who are senior executives from blue chip global corporations, including McDonalds, Coca Cola, Metro, ISS, Accor, Compass, Autogrill, Friesland Campina. We are delighted and honored that the keynote speech will be delivered by Her Royal Highness, Princess Laurentien of Orange-Nassau.

We will be welcoming an audience of several hundred specially invited senior business leaders from corporations, associations and non-governmental organizations, who have been selected from across Europe to attend. There will also be participation from qualified visitors to the ISSA/INTERCLEAN exhibition, which is being staged concurrently, also at the Amsterdam RAI.

Simultaneous translation will be provided into the main European languages, and a feedback system will be in place for the audience to interact with the speakers during the panel discussions.

In summary, three reasons to attend:

  1. Top level speakers with deep understanding of the topic
  2. Interactive event to facilitate audience participation and networking
  3. Free entrance to the Summit and complimentary entrance to the Interclean Exhibition

We are very excited about this Summit and it will be great to see you in Amsterdam!

To find out more about the Risk Management Summit, including the registration process, please visit: www.risksummit.com.

Pedro Chidichimo is the President of Sealed Air’s Institutional & Laundry Business. He has held executive leadership roles at Diversey and its legacy companies since 1994. Previously, he led the Europe, Middle East and Africa region from October 2006 to January 2011, and held several leadership roles in the Latin America business, including a year as the president of that region from July 2005 to October 2006.
 

Rezidor and Diversey: Partners in Sustainability

Solutions for Sustainable Hospitality

David Dreschner Posted on April 19, 2012 in Efficiency, energy efficiency, facilities, Hospitality, Hotel, Rezidor
by , Rezidor Hotel Group: Vice President Corporate Purchasing Services at Rezidor
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As one of the fastest growing hotel operators in the world, we at the Rezidor Hotel Group have entrusted Diversey with providing housekeeping and kitchen solutions that deliver superior cleaning results with minimal impact on the environment and improved profitability for the hotels.

As a visionary green pioneer, we launched the hotel industry’s first Environmental Policy in 1989, followed by the first comprehensive Responsible Business Programme in 2001 – both with the clear pledge to minimize our environmental footprint. Today, 55% of Rezidor hotels  have achieved eco-label certification.

In January 2012 we launched Think Planet, an ambitious energy saving initiative that aims to reduce energy consumption by 25% by 2016. Building on our environmental successes of past years, we at Rezidor will continuously strive to reduce our resource consumption, by focusing on operations and investments.

Through its expertise and superior solutions, Diversey helps its customers reduce the environmental and operational impact of their businesses, saving water, lowering energy consumption, and reducing labor costs, while also making facilities safer, cleaner and more hygienic. Working with Diversey product chemicals in the housekeeping department has allowed us to minimize on packaging and the use of chemicals, which is required for all our hotels – and even more so for those with an eco-label.

Diversey delivers a mix of products and services that greatly support Rezidor hotels. Among the innovations helping Rezidor meet its environmental commitments and improve its operational profile are:

•            Diversey’s innovative, wall mounted Revoflow® dispensing system for dishwashing, which utilizes lightweight, easy to handle off-the-floor containers, helping to ensure a safe and clean workspace. (The patented Revoflow cap automatically doses the right mix and quantity of concentrated powder and liquid to suit the cleaning specifications of each hotel.)

•            Divermite™ brand packaging and dispensing systems for housekeeping departments, which ensure the correct mix of cleaning chemicals – with as much as 97 percent less plastic waste per liter of solution when compared to conventional, ready-to-use packaging.

•            SoftCare® brand soap in hotel washrooms, which also delivers superior hand-washing results with less waste than conventional products.

Most recently, Diversey has delivered another innovation in operational and environmental management for Rezidor’s hotels: the new Environmental Packaging Calculator. This tool has helped us quantify the environmental benefits to be achieved from Diversey’s innovative packaging, dispensing and dosing expertise, and superior product formulations, which require less water and energy use at the customer site.

The calculator delivers side-by-side comparisons of similar cleaning and hygiene products that come in different packaging, thereby allowing us to make more informed choices in regard to cleaning products. This also allows us to better manage our operations and reduce our environmental footprint.

It was found, in an analysis for Rezidor’s UK business, in a single year, that Diversey reduced Rezidor’s environmental impact by:

•            41% in total packaging waste

•            61% in greenhouse gas emissions related to materials and shipping

The Environmental Packaging Calculator tool also helps us meet our sustainability and compliance objectives. Eco-certification programs such as Nordic Swan and the Green Key International ecolabel system for hotels require participants to document their total use of plastic and cardboard packaging – a process Diversey has made much simpler.

The array of solutions provided demonstrates the value of Diversey’s highly integrated solutions for the Hospitality industry, and we are proud to partner this great organization.

 

David Dreschner is Vice President, Corporate Purchasing Services, at Rezidor Hotel Group, based in Brussels
 

Risk Management Summit Updated Program Details

Amsterdam, May 10

Pedro Chidichimo Posted on May 2, 2012 in Amsterdam, Food safety, ISSA, ISSA/Interclean, RAI Amsterdam, Risk Management
by , President, Sealed Air’s Diversey Business
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Today I am writing to announce exciting further details of the Risk Management Summit we will be hosting at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam on 10th May 2012, Forum Room, starting at 12:00pm.

As the global demand for food increases, food and labor issues in developed countries are still burning matters that need to be tackled. Long delivery times, short product shelf life and food borne pandemics, such as the recent EHEC crises, are challenges which remain more pressing than ever. The question is not if, but rather when, these problems will strike again. And the question for both businesses and consumers is how to face these challenges.

The Risk Summit will create a forum for major global brands such as Coca Cola, McDonald’s, Metro, Accor and others to answer some of those questions and showcase their strategic thinking on Risk Management practice in the areas of Food Safety and Labour Safety.

Laurentien van Oranje-Nassau will be Keynote Speaker at the Diversey-organized Risk Management Summit

The closing speaker at the Summit will be Laurentien van Oranje-Nassau. Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands has a long track record on literacy issues, as UNESCO’s Special Envoy on Literacy for Development and other responsibilities. Her speech will be titled “Driving long-term value: the human dimension of risk management”. Many of the critical sectors in the food distribution chain such as Retail, Food Service and Facility Management employ low-skilled labour, and with a low level of literacy, these types of workers are exposed to a significant number of risks. Her Highness will use practical examples from the areas of both literacy and sustainability, highlighting the link between employee safety and literacy.

First Session: Food safety – Managing the Impact on People and Profitability.

Speakers at the Food Safety panel discussion include:

-        Neil Marshall, Global Director of Quality and Food Safety at The Coca-Cola Company

-        Suzan Horst, Corporate Quality Director at Royal FrieslandCampina

-        Nicki Crayfourd, Global Director of Health, Safety and Environment at the Compass Group

-        Peter Overbosch, Vice President of Corporate Quality for Metro

These top executives from different sectors will share valuable insight gained from their experiences and challenges in managing food chains. Discussion topics will include how these business leaders are adapting to new food safety regulations and operational challenges; how food service and catering operators ensure perfect food quality at the point of consumption; and how companies can measure the impact of their investments in food safety in their P&Ls.

Second Session – Labor Safety -The Virtuous Circle of Efficiency and Safety.

In order to ensure the health of consumers, managers must establish a focus on workers’ safety. Employers are obliged to provide a safe workplace for their employees, including the provision of adequate infection control procedures as well as the right equipment and training. Five senior executives from key sectors will discuss their goals, systems and the way they minimize the risks associated with managing people.

-        Richard Short, Health, Safety and Environment Director at Accor

-        Dr. Bizhan Pourkomailian, Director of Food Safety and Supplier Workplace Accountability at McDonald’s Europe

-        Joseph Nazareth, Group Vice President, Head of Group Health, Safety and Environment and Corporate Responsibility for ISS

-        Andrea Zironi, Global Strategic Sourcing Director at Autogrill

-        Andreas Voss, Professor of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control at the Radbound University, Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Netherlands, will provide his insights about the healthcare related risks

We are organizing this Summit to expose our customers to the most innovative initiatives on business risk management. We have already received a lot of interest for the Summit and thanks to the Interclean exhibition also taking place at the RAI Exhibition Center, we expect to have outstanding attendance from European business leaders. The event will be moderated by Martin van Putten, an experienced journalist and communications consultant. It will be highly interactive, in several different languages, with opportunities for open questions to the speakers and individual interviews by request.

For more information on the Risk Management Summit, including a detailed agenda and the registration process, please visit: www.risksummit.com

See you next Thursday!

Pedro Chidichimo is the President of Sealed Air’s Institutional & Laundry Business. He has held executive leadership roles at Diversey and its legacy companies since 1994. Previously, he led the Europe, Middle East and Africa region from October 2006 to January 2011, and held several leadership roles in the Latin America business, including a year as the president of that region from July 2005 to October 2006.
 

Risk Summit Highlights Critical Imperative of Risk Management

Urgent Need to Raise Awareness of Associated Issues

Pedro Chidichimo Posted on June 5, 2012 in Amsterdam, Facility Management, Food Service, Global Food Safety Initiative, healthcare, healthcare providers, Hospitality, hospitals, I&L, Institutional & Laundry, Public Health, RAI Amsterdam, Risk Management, Videos
by , President, Sealed Air’s Diversey Business

 

As many readers of this blog know, on May 10th , Diversey, now a part of Sealed Air, organized a Risk Management Summit in Amsterdam to share with our customers the most innovative initiatives on business risk management. More than 200 senior business leaders of world-class standing – blue-chip organizations in Building Care, Retail, Lodging and Food & Beverage industries – attended this Summit.

The findings were amazing. In an age when confidence in our Food Safety and Labor Safety policies is higher than ever, still the chance of acquiring a hospital acquired infection (HAI) in developed countries is 30% and considerably higher in the Third World; still 0.1% of salmonella cases result in death; and still the threat posed by pandemics is on a more global scale than at any other moment in human history. And in this modern age 1 in 5 food safety businesses do not treat infection control as a business risk.

For these reasons, Diversey’s initiative in convening the Summit was timely, as acknowledged by all participants.

The attendees, drawn from 18 different countries, heard world-class presentations from global leaders including ISS, Metro, Coca Cola, Compass Group, AutoGrill and McDonalds.  Lively and fiercely debated panel sessions added different and often conflicting perspectives on a diverse and topical range of food safety and labor safety challenges in the workplace.

 

Divergence of opinion among global players on the most pressing Food Safety and Labor Safety challenges

Welcoming the increased attention that the Summit and other initiatives were putting on Risk Management, it was noteworthy that speakers at the event held markedly different views on what the key issues in food safety and labor safety were, and how these challenges should be tackled. The results of our live polling of delegates at key moments during the Summit confirmed the divergence of opinion on the major threats, and the optimum strategies to mitigate or eliminate these risks.

Specifically with regard to food safety, when asked what was the single biggest challenge for the food distribution chain, three different answers came to prominence. A majority of 56% named the complexity of differing regulations across borders and jurisdictions, a vocal 13% were strongly critical of the sheer cost of implementing food safety measures, while for 31% the critical issue was ensuring collaboration between all parties in the value chain from farm to fork.

When polled on what was the biggest opportunity for food safety compliance, attendees recognized technology as the greatest enabler (40%), while common regulations (34%) and common sourcing (26%) were also popular choices.

Most staggeringly of all, in a separate question, almost 19% of attendees admitted that they did not consider infection control as a food safety risk or a threat to their businesses – and therefore were not focusing on this.

This lack of foresight and preparedness is shocking in the modern age. At Sealed Air we create solutions that protect and enhance the food and beverage supply chain, ensuring that products are processed, sold and prepared in a safe and efficient environment. We are also actively engaged in improving productivity, efficiency, and consistent brand experience while reducing our customers’ risks by integrating cleaning and hygiene solutions, food packaging and food safety knowledge. By protecting what is important we see the daily benefits that having the correct people, processes and safety products in place brings throughout the food service industry.  Given the role that risk management must play in business strategy it is absolutely inexplicable that there is any business in operation that is not making this a major focus and ensuring that their systems are as risk-free as humanly possible.

 

Labor Safety and The Virtuous Circle of Efficiency and Safety

Princess Laurentien speaks on Driving long-term value: the human dimension of risk management

When it came to the Summit’s second principal theme, lively debate revealed that consensus was also difficult to find between both speakers and attendees.

When asked what was the biggest challenge faced in regard to labor safety, surprisingly only 33% of attendees said that reducing injuries was the biggest challenge – trailing behind 52% who voted for increased employee engagement.

When asked about the primary result of improved labor safety, 53% responded that it was improving the consistency of customer service, ahead of the other popular answers of optimizing operational productivity and reducing employee downtime.

 

We will continue to follow this important topic as we expand this debate of critical importance across sectors, offering tremendous opportunity for our customers to improve their risk coverage or decrease the risk associated with the goods and services they provide.

Thanks to everyone who made the event possible, especially the outstanding speakers who shared their insights and business experience with the audience.

All materials, presentations from the Risk management Summit, and a short video overview of the event are available by request from news@diversey.com.

Pedro Chidichimo is the President of Sealed Air’s Institutional & Laundry Business. He has held executive leadership roles at Diversey and its legacy companies since 1994. Previously, he led the Europe, Middle East and Africa region from October 2006 to January 2011, and held several leadership roles in the Latin America business, including a year as the president of that region from July 2005 to October 2006.
 

Sealed Air Partners with World Health Organization to Fight Healthcare-Associated Infections

New global, web-based platform promotes proper hygiene in healthcare organizations and implementation of WHO recommendations

Pedro Chidichimo Posted on June 21, 2012 in Developing countries, HCAI, HCAIs, healthcare, healthcare providers, hospitals, hygiene, I&L, Public Health, Sanitation, Technology, Uncategorized, WHO
by , President, Sealed Air’s Diversey Business
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We are honored to share with you that Sealed Air has been selected by the World Health Organization (WHO) to join its Private Organizations for Patient Safety (POPS) platform. As part of this major initiative, Sealed Air will bring the expertise of our Diversey brand portfolio together with leading healthcare professionals to promote best practices in facility hygiene for healthier patient care environments.

Cleanliness is essential to limiting the spread of infection within a healthcare institution. To give patients the best care possible, healthcare providers must be equipped with proper knowledge about Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs) and solutions for keeping themselves and their patients safe at all times.

HCAIs present a growing problem and result in lengthened hospital stays, additional costs to hospitals and patients, disability and even death. To prevent the spread of HCAIs, WHO recommends specific hand hygiene methods involving soap and water or an alcohol-based formula. However, lack of awareness and resources limit hand hygiene in healthcare facilities.

According to WHO, seven hospitalized patients in developed countries and 10 in developing countries will acquire a HCAI for every 100 patients admitted.

This online platform aims to improve implementation of WHO recommendations and reduce healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) by sharing information regarding hygiene. As a participant in the POPS platform, we at Sealed Air will work to increase adoption of WHO recommendations by providing information about hand hygiene and encouraging product availability and accessibility, especially in low-income countries and during crisis situations.

As a leader in the cleaning and hygiene industry, Sealed Air is working to deliver effective infection control practices, products and tools through its Diversey branded products.

We are dedicated to helping customers reduce HCAIs and believe that this collaboration will provide healthcare institutions with actionable information on hygiene which will ultimately result in improved healthcare, and saving lives.

It is an honor to be part of this initiative.

Pedro Chidichimo is the President of Sealed Air’s Institutional & Laundry Business. He has held executive leadership roles at Diversey and its legacy companies since 1994. Previously, he led the Europe, Middle East and Africa region from October 2006 to January 2011, and held several leadership roles in the Latin America business, including a year as the president of that region from July 2005 to October 2006.
 

Sealed Air At The Consumer Goods Forum 2012

20-22 June, Istanbul, Turkey

Jean-Marie Demeautis Posted on June 28, 2012 in Asia, BSC, CGF, Cleaning & Sanitation, Consumer goods, Consumer Goods Forum, Corporate, Developing countries, Diversey, emerging markets, facilities, Food safety, Food Service, food supply, food waste, GFSC, Global Food Safety Initiative, hygiene, I&L
by , JeanMarie
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The weather in Istanbul could not be more perfect as the city hosted the Consumer Goods Forum – The Global Summit – from 20 – 22 June, 2012. The keynote speaker was the President of the Republic of Turkey H.E. Abdullah Gül who addressed an audience of some 800 CEOs and senior leaders of retailers, manufacturers and service providers across many countries.

It was a great turnout, not only in terms of people but also, significance. The combined turnover of all the participating companies represents a total of $3.0 trillion and if the Global Summit were a nation, it would be the 5th largest nation in the world.

Speaking of nations, Turkey is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and for Sealed Air, it is one of our high-growth emerging markets.  Situated at the crossroads of trade and culture and straddling the East and West, the country is a fitting venue for the forum delegates to share the latest insights on the dynamic consumer goods industry.

Bill Hickey, President and CEO of Sealed Air, led a team of senior Sealed Air executives at the forum and it proved to be an invaluable opportunity for us to exchange ideas and discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.  This was the first time that the new Sealed Air presented its ‘one face’ to the retail world at the global summit, representing the best of both legacy companies. Alongside other global companies such as Coca-Cola, L’Oreal and Danone, Sealed Air was a key sponsor of the Global Summit, and also the sponsor of the retail store visits, which are always a highlight at any Consumer Goods Forum.

This is the value that Sealed Air is providing to our retail customers, with our proven farm-to-fork expertise that delivers risk management and food safety while maximizing retail efficiency and enhancing the overall customer experience. In other words, it is about protecting all that is important to our customers.The custom-made store visits held on 19 June showcased the best of grocery retail on the Asian and European sides of Istanbul.

Store Visit at Carrefour, Istanbul

Over 120 people participated in the 3-track store visits to experience first-hand different retail formats – hypermarket, supermarket and discount stores and open bazaars. The participants visited stores such as BIM, Metro, Watsons, Migros Ticaret, Marocenter,  Tesco Kipa, Carrefour and Istinye Park, learning how retailers are catering to Turkey’s youthful population and discovering the behind-the-scenes of retailing and best practices on the shop floors.  It was an opportunity to witness how food processors, packaging and hygiene specialists, and retailers, are all working together to deliver a seamless customer experience.

Bill Hickey’s message below aptly describes how our company is partnering with customers around the world:

“Technological, cultural and economic changes in the world keep the retail stores ever changing and ever dynamic. And the only true way to appreciate that is to experience it first-hand. It is for this reason that Sealed Air chose to be the proud sponsor Consumer Goods Forum Store Tour in Istanbul this June. This is a special year for Sealed Air, following the acquisition of Diversey Inc. last October. We are the new leaders in Food Safety & Security, Facility Hygiene and Product Protection.

“Through our Diversey and Cryovac brands, we now deliver leading expertise in food science and microbiology.  We create solutions that protect and enhance the food and beverage supply chain, ensuring that products are processed, sold and prepared in a safe and efficient environment. We are improving the shopping experience in both the front and the back of the store, with solutions that extend the shelf life of food, provide value added merchandise appeal and convenience features, and create a healthy and clean environment by integrating cleaning chemicals, floor care equipment, cleaning tools, and a wide range of value-added services.”

Jean-Marie Demeautis is Chief Marketing Officer for Sealed Air Corp. He has served as Vice-President, Cryovac Food, Europe after Sealed Air acquired Cryovac from W.R. Grace; President of the global Cryovac Food Solutions business unit; and is now Chief Marketing Officer for the whole of the Sealed Air Company, serving concurrently as Vice-President of Sealed Air Corp.
 

Leading innovations for 2013

Exciting innovations to be launched at ISSA Interclean Exhibition in Chicago next week

Sergio Pupkin Posted on October 10, 2012 in facilities, News/Events, Products/Innovation
by , Vice President, Global Facility Management Sector, Sealed Air
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With ISSA INTERCLEAN North America fast approaching, we’re gearing up to showcase numerous innovations that can be utilized for cleaning in a variety of industries. As always, these new solutions will provide a smarter approach to building care by improving sustainability, safety and operational efficiency.

As many building managers know, stripping and recoating floors is a complicated and lengthy process that requires a great deal of dedication and resources. In order to help facilities better maintain concrete, terrazzo and other stone surfaces, we’re introducing the Crystal Shield System, a unique floor care program that eliminates the costly and
time-consuming chemical stripping process and significantly reduces maintenance frequency. The total integrated system includes chemicals, tools, machines and services, and reduces stone floor maintenance costs by up to 30 percent when compared to traditional strip and recoat programs. In addition to reducing costs, the system also improves sustainability and worker safety by limiting chemical use and exposure.

We’re launching the TASKI IntelliDose at the show.  The TASKI IntelliDose is an easy-to-use system featuring closed chemical pouches for TASKI machines that optimizes chemical consumption, increases productivity and guarantees quality results. The system eliminates the need of manual dosing and the range of product covers all floor types. This increases safety by eliminating operator contact with chemicals, and promotes sustainability by reducing unnecessary chemical waste.

We’re also excited to introduce the TASKI Quantum this year.  TASKI Quantum is a revolutionary mopping system comprised of a unique mop holder and two-sided flat mops that allows customers to clean more square footage per mop. The system cuts water and laundry detergent used for mop cleaning by 33 percent since fewer mops are used during the cleaning process.

Finally, to combat the 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) acquired each year[1], we’ve developed the VeriClean™ System and will be showcasing this on our booth as well. The programmatic, evidence-based approach to cleaning integrates products, processes, training and validation to enhance staff knowledge and improve the cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces in hospitals. This in turn reduces risk by limiting the transmission of HAIs and shrinks the more than $35 billion in costs generated by HAIs each year.

To learn more about these solutions, please visit our booth #1702, Oct. 17-19 during ISSA INTERCLEAN in Chicago. We hope to see you there!

Sergio Pupkin
Sergio Pupkin is Vice President, Global Facility Management Sector for Sealed Air. He has previously held leadership roles in Sales and Marketing in Europe and Latin America for the Diversey business.
 

Best Initiative in Sustainable Development

Pedro Chidichimo Posted on November 14, 2012 in Diversey, facilities, Featured, Hospitality, Sustainability, Uncategorized
by , President, Sealed Air’s Diversey Business
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Last Monday, November 12th I attended the 13th annual Worldwide Hospitality Awards in Paris, and presented an award for the “Best Initiative in Sustainable Development” to Tsara Komba, a luxury Ecolodge located on Lemur Island in Madagascar.

The Worldwide Hospitality Awards program promotes initiatives from around the world and is representative of the international hospitality industry. The awards celebrate innovation in nine categories for hotels and three categories for hospitality schools. The “Best Initiative in Sustainable Development” honors a hotel brand or group that demonstrates sustainability best practices within its operations and/or social responsibility towards the local population, staff and tourist sites.

Other finalists include NH Hotels and Accor. NH Hotels submitted its “UP! For Hospitality” program, which builds positive relationships within the communities in which its hotels operate. Accor submitted two programs. The first is ReBorn, an innovative program that allows its hotels to dispose of their old furniture after renovations through an e-shop on eBay.fr. The second is Accor’s e-learning tool which trains employees on sustainable development.

For me personally, and for Diversey, it is an honor to be a part of this year’s Worldwide Hospitality Awards program and to present the award to Tsara Komba, such a deserving organization. Diversey is committed to providing a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations, and Tsara Komba’s purpose is totally aligned to our vision.

This property is located among one of the world’s richest ecosystems, so preservation of this sublime environment is of extreme importance to their organization. According to Maryse Zohar, Tsara Komba Lodge Director, in addition to implementing sustainable best practices within its operations such as recycling, water conservation and use of low-voltage lighting, they are also committed to sustainable development for the benefit of the local population. Tsara Komba created a non-government organization (NGO) that acts in favor of the local community. The NGO developed 30 new houses and a nursery school staffed with two teachers for a local village. It also established a system of water adduction, a rain drainage system and provided bathroom appliances, showers and laundry facilities. Check out their initiatives in Sustainable Development at http://www.tsarakomba.com/developpement-durable-nosy-be/

I would like to congratulate Tsara Komba for winning this award, and thank the rest of candidates who submitted their outstanding cases.

Pedro Chidichimo is the President of Sealed Air’s Institutional & Laundry Business. He has held executive leadership roles at Diversey and its legacy companies since 1994. Previously, he led the Europe, Middle East and Africa region from October 2006 to January 2011, and held several leadership roles in the Latin America business, including a year as the president of that region from July 2005 to October 2006.
 

Crystal Shield System Helps DTZ Clean Miami International Airport

Crystal Shield System better handles airport foot traffic and improves efficiency

RichardMcEvoy Posted on January 23, 2013 in Cleaning & Sanitation, Efficiency, floorcare, Products/Innovation, profitability, TASKI
by , RichardMcEvoy
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We recently helped DTZ, a global property services company for stadiums, schools and airports, become more efficient and more profitable. DTZ had a contract with Logan International Airport in Boston, Mass. and wanted to find a more efficient floor care system for the facility. Their current method was decent, but it required staff to scrub floors repeatedly to keep them looking presentable.

DTZ recognized there was room for improvement and decided to use Miami International Airport as a test location for a new floor care system. The airport was selected for a pilot program because it is extremely busy and has a lot of flooring.

DTZ approached us for a floor care solution that could be tested against a leading competitor. Over the course of six months, we worked with the Miami DTZ crew to design the perfect system that would meet their unique needs. We now call this solution the Crystal Shield System, an alternative floor care program for concrete, terrazzo and other stone flooring. As a totally integrated solution, the Crystal Shield System uses diamond floor pads, chemical protector and maintainer and our TASKI machines to eliminate chemical stripping from facility maintenance. Reducing maintenance frequency is especially key in a busy airport setting. Our system also helped floors keep a high gloss, despite traffic from the 100,000 daily airport visitors.

We‘re proud of the Crystal Shield System and how well it has worked for DTZ. The trial at Miami International Airport helped us to better understand what would maintain flooring in a busy setting, without requiring too much effort. Alex Gomez, the General Manager of DTZ at Miami International Airport shared his thoughts on the system:

“The results achieved by the Diversey system far exceeded those of the prior, conventional floor care program. If the Crystal Shield System can withstand Miami International’s trying conditions, we know it will work well within the many other large facilities that DTZ services nationwide.”

Our relationship with DTZ is just one great example of our ability to work closely with customers to develop custom solutions that increase profitability and efficiency in their daily operations. We’re especially excited to see what solutions may emerge from future collaborations.

 

Richard McEvoy is Regional President, North America, Australia & New Zealand for the Institutional and Laundy division of Sealed Air. He has previously held a variety of leadership positions at Diversey, JohnsonDiversey and Unilever.
 

The Road to the 2013 Global Food Safety Conference

March 6-8 at the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I in Barcelona, Spain

Dr. Ilham Kadri Posted on February 26, 2013 in Consumer goods, Consumer Goods Forum, Food safety, Food Service, food supply, food waste, GFSC, GFSI, Global Food Safety Initiative, Kitchen Hygiene
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In just a few days, more than 1,000 leaders in the food safety industry will gather in Barcelona at the Consumer Goods Forum Global Food Safety Conference (GFSC) to discuss the pressing topics that affect our industry each day. The annual three-day event brings food industry decision makers together from more than 60 countries worldwide to discuss innovative ideas for advancing food safety.

Sealed Air is a top sponsor of the Conference, in fact the only partner to GFSI, and together with our Diversey and Cryovac brands, we will be taking an active role throughout the conference by focusing on our specific solutions which help enhance food safety. In a world with growing demands for food, effective food safety measures play a key role in protecting the food supply chain, preventing food waste and improving overall food access.  For example, Diversey Consulting, as part of Sealed Air, will be showcasing Food Safety In a Box (FSIAB), a suite of food safety tools designed to help food service operations create consistent, compliant and cost-efficient food safety programs.

As part of our partnership with the organisers of the conference, we will be hosting two discussion groups that are already oversubscribed:

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Breakfast Session on March 7th from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

“People Power – Nurturing talent to drive economic value creation.”

Motivating your team through the transfer of knowledge in new and innovating ways can deliver value to your business. We will learn from a range of experts through practical case studies on how and why they are succeeding in creating value for their business by investing in people.

Introduced by Catherine François, Global Risk Management Director, Sealed Air & moderated by Werner Linders, Director Diversey Consulting Europe.

Invited Speakers:

     Joe Smithwick, Retail Food Safety Manager, CP-FS, Target, USA

     Rachid Hassairi, Global Hygienic Sanitation and Transformation Program Leader, Heinz

     Marie-Paule Nowlis, VP Quality Process Guest Experience Sofitel, EMOA

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 Breakout Session on March 7th from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“Food Safety and Packaging in a Global Economy”

  • Dispelling the myths around packaging

Understand how packaging can reduce microbial risks and act as an enabler of sustainable, quality and safe products within your business.

Dr. Helene Roberts, Retail Director Europe, Sealed Air, Cryovac

  •  Case Study : Martinez Loriente—Managing food safety risks in fresh meat packaging

Learn from a leading Spanish fresh food supplier about the development of safer packaging solutions for fresh meat. Fernando Villasante, Technical and Quality Manager, Martinez Loriente, Spain

  •  Active Packaging – The Future

What are the challenges of the future in relation to food safety and packaging? What steps should we take to address the consumer expectations of the future? How can active packaging and technology help to extend shelf life, monitor freshness, display information on quality, improve safety and improve convenience?

Alistair Irvine, Principal Consultant, Food Packaging Safety, Smithers Pira, Pira Testing, UK

Moderated by Cindy Jiang, Senior Director Worldwide Food Safety, Quality Systems, and Nutrition, McDonald’s Corporation, USA

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We invite you to attend one or all of our events and stop by our booth at the conference. We are looking forward to meeting with food safety thought leaders and discussing how our innovations are leading the way in solving global food safety and security issues.

Follow Diversey on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin for up to date information

See you in Barcelona next week.

Dr. Ilham Kadri

 

Dr. Ilham Kadri is the President of the Institutional and Laundry Division of Sealed Air Corp., a global leader in food safety and security, facility hygiene and product protection. With 19 years of experience and throughout her career in public and private companies such as Huntsman, UCB-Cytec, Shell and more recently Dow, she has held a variety of global leadership roles in Business Leadership, Sales and Marketing and Research & Development. She joined the company in January 2013 coming from Dow Chemical, where she held executive leadership roles, in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Dr. Kadri is a chemical engineer from l’école des Hauts Polymères de Strasbourg, and she holds a doctorate in Reactive Extrusion from the Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France.