Trends Impacting Soap and Sanitizer Products

How is your company innovating to meet the increasing demand for sustainable hand hygiene solutions, specifically in terms of packaging reduction and the use of recyclable or reusable materials? 

Spartan: Our patented foamyiQ is recyclable and made from 25 percent post-consumer recycled material. Our Safer Choice formulas in this line now make up 20 percent of the total line sales. Demonstrating that customers have a preference for third-party certified Safer Choice solutions. 

GOJO Industries: Our goal is to contribute to a world where plastics are used responsibly, waste is minimized, and materials remain in motion rather than being discarded. Introduced in 2024, GOJO’s ES10 Dispensing System, is the company’s most sustainable touch-free dispensing solution to date, balancing efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental responsibility while continuing to deliver the hand hygiene experience that customers expect. By streamlining its refill design and eliminating unnecessary plastic components, GOJO significantly reduced material waste and emissions while maintaining the durability and reliability required in any touch-free environment.

Ecolab: Ecolab aims for reusable or recyclable-by-design packaging for non-regulated products by 2030, with 91 percent of its packaging currently meeting this standard. In 2024, Ecolab launched the Disinfectant 1 Wipe, a plastic-free, degradable wipe, and ReadyDose, a tablet-based cleaning program reducing plastic waste by 98.8 percent. Ecolab’s SmartPower technology replaces traditional plastic pails with shrink-wrapped blocks, cutting plastic use by up to 99 percent. 

Reckitt's Lysol Pro Solutions: Reckitt focuses on biodegradable packaging for Dettol products, driven by Jon Dommisse’s strategic oversight as vice president of strategy and corporate development. We focus on a shift towards consumer and commercial demand for greener hygiene solutions, integrating post-consumer recycled materials into packaging to align with 2025 sustainability trends. 

What are the emerging trends in hand hygiene and how might these impact the market in the next few years? 

GOJO Industries: Emerging trends in restroom hygiene are increasingly focused on smart building technologies and IoT solutions, bringing intelligence to daily servicing operations. Onvation is a connected software solution that provides real-time data and predictive insights, adding flexibility to restroom servicing with reliable and easy-to-use technology. Featuring the most trusted and customer-preferred Scott and PURELL products, these innovations are set to drive greater efficiency, reduce waste, and improve operational precision, transforming the market with smarter, more sustainable restroom management in the coming years. 

Ecolab: Our focus on advanced ingredients includes biodegradable disinfectants, like the 2024 Disinfectant 1 Wipe, which uses wood pulp fibers. IoT-enabled dispensers provide predictive maintenance, impacting the market by reducing operational costs. Our CEO has placed an emphasis on “science-based solutions” to meet infection prevention needs, planning for a future of integrated hygiene systems. 

Spartan: As far as sustainability is concerned, another great thing about foamyiQ is that there are no batteries to stock, manage or change, yet each time the refill is depleted, you can pop on a fresh, clean dispensing cartridge. Users don’t have to interact with dirty paddles or dispensers that fail to dispense because the battery is dead — easy, convenient, and clean. 

What are the most significant shifts you've observed in customer preferences regarding hand soap formulations, particularly concerning dye and fragrance-free options?  

Reckitt's Lysol Pro Solutions: We’ve seen increased customer preference for hypoallergenic, dye-free soaps driven by consumer awareness of skin irritation risks. We've also seen a significant shift toward formulations that prioritize skin health and environmental impact, aligning with a renewed focus on gentle, sustainable products.  

What are the key advantages and disadvantages of foam versus gel hand soaps, and how should distributors position these products to different customer segments? 

Ecolab: Ecolab’s foam soaps reduce water usage and enhance user satisfaction, but gels are preferred for heavy-duty cleaning in food processing. We suggest distributors target foam soaps to education and hospitality for aesthetics and gels to industrial sectors for efficacy.  

What advancements in dispenser technology are you seeing, especially related to battery life, ease of cleaning, and the implementation of closed cartridge systems for enhanced sanitation? 

GOJO Industries: Sustainability was a driving force behind the development of GOJO’s ES10 Dispensing System, motivating decisions behind everything that it was engineered to offer:
- Touch-free Operation, reducing cross-contamination and promoting better hand hygiene and increased well-being.
- Lower Maintenance Demands, with a battery-on-the-refill, eliminating the wasteful need to regularly change C and D cell batteries found in traditional touch-free dispensing, so hand hygiene is always ready.
- Smart Technology Integration, enabling facilities to monitor usage in real-time through PURELL SMARTLINK, leading to less product waste.
- Less Plastic Used in Refills, helping further reduce environmental impact while still delivering the same amount of product our end-users expect. 

How are regulatory changes impacting the formulation and marketing of hand hygiene products, and what advice do you have for distributors to remain compliant?   

Spartan: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has increased its involvement in the regulation of hand hygiene products. Prior to 2022, manufacturers were only required to register over-the-counter (OTC) hand hygiene products. With the addition of Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) in 2022, all cosmetic products (including non-OTC hand hygiene) are now regulated by the FDA. This means manufacturers must register facilities and products with the FDA, maintain records supporting that there is adequate substantiation of safety for each product, report serious adverse effects to FDA, and follow mandatory Current Good Manufacturing practices (cGMPs) for cosmetics. My advice to distributors to remain compliant would be:  
1. Stay current with FDA rulemaking updates. Their website provides a wealth of information about MoCRA and provides guidance documents and frequently asked questions.  
2. Take the opportunity to look at resources offered by industry associations such as Personal Care Products Council (PCPC). These organizations offer support to their members to help them comply with federal regulations.  
3. Utilizing regulatory consulting firms can help navigate regulations. They provide expert guidance and support that is tailored to the specifics of your individual business needs. 

What are the most common misconceptions distributors have about hand hygiene products? 

Ecolab: Misconceptions often involve overestimating antimicrobial coatings’ effectiveness. Ecolab counters with evidence-based marketing, emphasizing alcohol-based sanitizers’ superiority. We often offer webinars and use other opportunities to clarify technical differences. 

What resources and training do you provide distributors to help them effectively communicate the value proposition of hand hygiene products to their customers? 

Spartan: We offer several videos and printed visual guides to remind facility occupants of the importance of hand hygiene. My favorite is “Kids teach us about handwashing,” which comes with a cute handout for students to reinforce the message. We also have a very knowledgeable sales team to provide direct support to distributors and answer any questions they may have. 

 

Correction: Some responses in this article were pulled from research and incorrectly attributed to GOJO Industries, this online article has been updated with correct responses as of June 24, 2025.

 

Jackson Silvanik is the managing editor of Facility Cleaning Decisions, Contracting Profits, and Sanitary Maintenance magazines, as well as CleanLink.com.

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