The cleaning product industry has been put under the microscope in recent times for the unsustainable practises it encourages, for consumers and for production processes.
Research has found that consumers have put a greater importance on products that are defined as ethical, responsible, and sustainable. The demand to be environmentally friendly is not just coming from the planet, but from customers as well.
Wendy Thomson, the founder of WendyGoesGreen began her journey in sustainable cleaning 11 years ago. Over an 8-year period WendyGoesGreen cleaned approximately 5,000 bathrooms, 12,000 sinks, 7,000 toilets sustainably and this has given her a wealth of knowledge of what works.
Although offering cleaning services is not the focus of the business anymore, her expertise in this area is being used to develop a range of laundry and cleaning products with a simple strategy; less is more. Wendy has reduced the number of ingredients in her products to only include ingredients that do the cleaning job, which also reduces their carbon footprint making them more sustainable.
Now, more than ever, the public and various industries have put significant importance on cleanliness and hygiene because of the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic. This increase in importance has brought with it a surge in sales and manufacturing of cleaning resources. Wendy Thomson does not just produce sustainable cleaning products for WendyGoesGreen; she is also an advocate for ethical and eco-friendly living, which is mimicked in her approach to how she runs her business wanting to be fair and trustworthy.
What were Wendy’s biggest challenges in going green?
Calculating scope emissions: Measuring your carbon footprint begins with measuring your scope emissions. This can be a lengthy process as it takes time to not only get your carbon emissions validated, but your suppliers carbon emissions that also contribute to your products’ carbon footprint. While there are many tools that can be used to measure your scope emissions, Wendy found that there was not one that could easily convert her small business processes as data was not readily available that was applicable.
On-going/ planned projects with a green motive:
Although her business runs at a very local scale now, Wendy wants her business to go national. She wants to partner with universities and mainstream stores to raise awareness on how to clean sustainably. Wendy also wants to create a network for businesses to be able to openly discuss ongoing climate issues.
Business Commitments:
- Pledge to Net Zero - Society for the Environment highlighting the support into the UK's transition to Net Zero carbon economy
- The Terra Carta - Sustainable Markets Initiative
- The Climate App - Encouraging action to protect our planet
Key learnings and advice that you would like to give to others:
“There is no denying the demanding work that goes into being a sustainable business. Collaboration is key, we cannot just be focused on ourselves. Network with other like-minded businesses and set an example for those who are not there yet. Your climate journey doesn’t have to be a lonely one.”
“Don’t be so reliant on technology. Too often these days we rely on Google searches for everything. It is important to remember that some local, small businesses don’t have a web presence. If you are trying to look for local providers, don’t always presume you're going to get the best results by looking online. Join community groups, talk to people, connect with them. We won’t beat climate change on our own.”
Wendy Thomson
Has Business West helped you in any way to achieve your sustainability goals?
“Like a lot of businesses, I struggled throughout the pandemic and was even facing the possibility of having to give up on my business. My faith was restored when I was accepted onto the Innovate UK Growth Scheme through Business West. Business West accepted what my business is about and was willing to support such a tiny enterprise.”
Wendy Thomson