Vernacare goes green to reduce costs

Vernacare goes green

Reducing costs of cleaning and disinfecting wipes

Vernacare has reduced the cost of its Tuffie range of cleaning and disinfecting wipes by up to 30%, through introducing new 'greener' flexible packaging.

Both Tuffie Detergent and Tuffie 5 wipes are now available in flexible space-saving canisters made from flexible material that is 70% lighter than traditional tubs. Soft refill packs and new wall-mounted dispensers have also been developed.

"By using significantly less packaging we reduce both manufacturing and transport costs, meaning we can pass that financial saving on to customers", said Chris Socratous, Vernacare Product Manager. "Customers also consume less packaging and can fold the cartons flat to reduce the cost and environmental impact of waste management."

The new packaging has been developed in partnership with clinicians across the NHS who were consulted throughout the 12 month design and development phase.

A unique single wipe dispensing mechanism has been designed into both the flexible canister and the wall mounted dispenser, preventing over usage and helping hospitals to save money. With minimal hand contact, refill packs can be easily loaded into the dispenser - helping to avoid contamination. Both variants make use of simple closing mechanisms to ensure that wipes are kept moist.

The new Tuffie 5 flexipacks are available both direct and via NHS Supply Chain, complementing the existing tubs that will still be available to customers.

Tuffie 5 has been heralded as a major step forward in infection control as an all-in-one cleaning and disinfecting wipe that eradicates all five major groups of pathogens, including Clostridium difficile, Norovirus and MRSA amongst many others. It is also certified to be effective against the H1N1 (swine flu) virus and most recently the newly identified NDM-1 superbug.

The pre-impregnated wipes avoid nurse time spent preparing chlorine disinfecting solutions and help trusts meet NHS Saving Lives Initiative 'High Impact Intervention No7' for cleaning in the event of an outbreak. Tuffie 5 begins to work instantly on contact, with industry tests showing that its disinfecting properties continue to work for 12 hours after the initial cleaning has taken place.

The wipes are fragrance, chlorine and alcohol free, and are cosmetically approved to EU standards as skin safe, with the product currently in use in more than 90 acute NHS Trusts.