DETERGENT MARKET UPDATE
Clearly, many wrinkles must be ironed
out before smart garments replace that
favorite Van Halen T-shirt as workout
garb. The industry, too, faces plenty of
issues that must be addressed, noted
Ernie Rosenberg, president of the
American Cleaning Institute.
Issues to Iron Out
According to Rosenberg, there’s
a great chance that the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA) will
be modernized in 2015. That’s the
good news; the bad news is that states
and local communities continue to develop their own versions of chemical regulations in place of a new TSCA.
“We expect real movement on TSCA early in
the session,” predicted Rosenberg. “But it has to
have bipartisan support. To be characterized as
an improved TSCA, it has to have the right people on board.”
With the right lawmakers behind it on both sides of the aisle,
Rosenberg said TSCA will have the credibility to help dampen
activity by NGOs and retailers alike.
“We have a narrow window to make a move before the
Presidential silly season gets underway,” explained Rosenberg,
referring to the 2016 Presidential Election process, which seems
to capture the attention of lawmakers earlier and earlier.
Away from Capitol Hill, ACI is moving forward with its clean-
ing product ingredient initiative. In 2015, the Association will add
exposure information on top of hard data sets; ensuring that the
ACI and its members are going further than
other industry, Rosenberg insisted.
ACI also issued an analysis on enzyme management and sensitization at member companies’ facilities
around the world.
“Those facilities that followed our
guidance saw diminishing low levels
of allergy symptoms. That convinced
us that we are on the right track,”
explained Rosenberg. “Facilities that
follow the guidance had minimal if
any allergy problems.”
Rosenberg was quick to point out
that in use, enzymes are not a concern.
ACI also conducted a surfactant review
spanning five decades and concluded that, as
used today, surfactants don’t present any health
problems. Rosenberg estimates that the industry
has spent $30 million ensuring surfactant safety.
“This is an industry that takes the safety of its products very
seriously,” he told Happi.
In 2014, ACI expanded its iSTREEM web-based computer
model to include the Great Lakes and Canadian watersheds.
iSTREEM predicts the concentration of a chemical used in
“down-the-drain” products at the discharge of more than 10,000
wastewater treatment plants, at the intake of 1,700 downstream
municipal drinking water treatment facilities, and in approximately 30,000 river reaches covering over 200,000 river miles
across the continental US.
“We are not just a lobby shop; we are a science shop,”observed
• The global detergent industry will head to Orlando later this
month for the American Cleaning Institute’s Annual Meeting & Industry
Convention, which will be held Jan. 26-31, 2015 at the Grande Lakes
Orlando.
The theme of the event is “The World of Cleaning in One Convenient
Place,” which is an apt theme considering ACI’s Annual Meeting &
Industry Convention attracts hundreds of executives up and down the
supply chain. In 2014, the event attracted nearly 900 attendees and at
press time, registration was ahead of last year, according to ACI.
“Our members tell us that they can save a lot of business trips by
being able to plan plenty of meetings on sales, product planning and
strategic alignment,” explained ACI President Ernie Rosenberg. “It gives
suppliers a chance to discuss new technology with key customers.”
•;A;global;industry;update;with;international;association;executives;
•;A;presentation;by;Fisk;Johnson,;chairman,;SC;Johnson;
•;A;panel;presentation,;“From;Innovation;to;Collection,;Public;Policy
and;Consumer;Packaging;”
•;A;Women’s;Networking;Forum;entitled,;“Lessons;from;the;White
House—Women;in;Leadership;”;and
•;A;breakfast;session;featuring;Jack;Uldrich,;a;futurist;and;expert;on
global trends.
Plus, the event will include a presentation by former Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. In his talk, “Keeping
America;Strong,”;Romney;will;share;insights;on;the;current;political;envi-ronment and business today, as well as his ideas on the future of the nation, focusing on solutions to the debt, private sector growth, education
and immigration, according to ACI.
The ACI Annual Meeting & Industry Convention will also include an
array;of;social;programs,;such;as;a;Fun;Run,;President’s;reception;and
closing reception. There will also be opportunities to support Cleaning
for a Reason through the Quack for a Reason Charity Duck Race and
participate in building Clean the World ONE Project Hygiene Kits.
More Info: www.cleaninginstitute.org
GET REAdy FOR THE ACI ANNUAL MEETING
Gain has made big gains in the unit
dose segment, where the brand’s
share is approaching 18%.