3 Cleaning Industry Predictions for 2025

The means to a better clean may change over time, business priorities may shift, and new innovations will surely emerge, but one thing is for sure: clean spaces are and always will be a priority. As we prepare to recycle our 2024 calendars, we’re looking ahead to 2025 with3 cleaning industry predictions, highlighting how businesses will seek out more sustainable solutions throughout all aspects of their operations.

Wiping Products with Recycled Materials Will Reign Supreme

Globally, 85% of consumers have shifted purchasing to prioritize cleaner, greener options. And businesses are no different. Our team predicts the demand for eco-friendly products that are certified sustainable will increase in 2025. When choosing wiping products, businesses will seek products that contain recycled materials while maintaining a similar or improved performance level and price tag.

For distributors, it’s important to provide clear, searchable sustainable options including wiping products, cleaning solutions and more. With the right amount of sustainable swaps, businesses can pursue sustainable certifications such as Leadership in Energy and Environment (LEED) or Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM). But sustainability goes beyond recycled fibers, make sure it's also easy to understand fiber sourcing and the overall manufacturing process too.

Education is Paramount for Sustainable Products

The beauty of wiping products is that nearly any towel or wiper can clean up a mess, but choosing the ideal product can clean up messes more efficiently and use fewer sheets at a lower cost per use. As companies look to decrease spending to combat inflation and potential tariffs, education and training will be more important than ever in 2025.

Our team is witnessing a growing increase in distributors seeking training materials to educate customers and end-users on the features and benefits of products, especially sustainable ones. Many end-users assume that products containing recycled materials will cost more and have a lower performance. Quite the opposite holds true. Through educational marketing materials and resources, distributors can detail recommended use cases, dispel misconceptions about recycled products and highlight different put-up options to reduce waste and improve cost-effectiveness. Going into 2025, ensure you are placing a priority on updated, easy-to-understand materials and even online training programs to enhance education and support effective selling.

More Businesses Prioritize a Circular Economy

Reduce with training, recycle with sustainable product and reuse by focusing on closed-loop systems when possible. A traditional economic model, known as a linear economy, involves making a product, using it and then throwing it away. A more lucrative model called a circular economy encourages reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling to get the most life out of every item and resource in our economy. The earth's resources are finite, after all. Businesses will likely prioritize a more circular economy in 2025.

With the right cleaning and wiping products, each sheet can be reused, reducing waste. And for put-ups, cardboard pop-up containers can be recycled (and maybe, one day become a DRC wiper) while Sellars’ patented Big Grip® Dispenser can be used again and again while adding protection and portability to the wiping products within.

Looking to add more sustainable wiping product options to your catalog in 2025? Sellars offers various wiping products that are manufactured using innovative double re-creped (DRC) technology. This manufacturing process involves mixing raw virgin fibers and recycled fibers to develop a wiper with enhanced strength, bulk, absorbency, softness and appearance all while meeting EPA Compressive Procurement Guidelines.

Browse our DRC products here.