Safer feminine hygiene units

In 2015 the EU, under the Biocidal Products Regulations (BPR), launched an approved suppliers list to better regulate the supply of biocidal products in Europe; improving safety for users and product quality. Only products containing biocidal materials from an approved supplier can be legally traded in the EU market.

The technology was created to tackle two key issues: To stop odour forming at the source by controlling the growth of malodour causing bacteria; and to protect washroom users from harmful pathogens which may reside inside the feminine hygiene unit.

Effectively treating sanitary waste in washrooms and feminine hygiene units is a pressing issue for the facilities management industry.

While odour control improves hygiene perception, Genesis Biosciences says that odour neutralising products do not offer sustainable protection from harmful bacteria found in sanitary waste units.

In particular, it is of paramount importance that sanitary waste is treated effectively as sanitary protection products can contain pathogens that can survive in untreated hygiene units. The humid, nutrient rich conditions found within a feminine hygiene unit are ideal to propagate the growth of micro-organisms to levels that could pose a threat to human health.

The Health Protection Agency estimates that infectious intestinal diseases (IIDs), commonly spread through public and work washroom facilities, cost English businesses £530m every year through absenteeism.

Genesis Biosciences’ feminine hygiene products are said to provide up to 99.999% protection against harmful bacteria, including E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The company says the active ingredient and vapour action within the unit germicide has been scientifically proven to effectively combat harmful bacteria in the waste throughout the full length of the service cycle, even when the unit is full of sanitary waste.

The anti-microbial active ingredient is harmless to its surrounding environment, making its application and storage safer.