The market
The current global market for cleaning services exceeds $150 billion. Of this amount, over $60 billion is generated in Europe and nearly $50 billion in the United States alone. It is arguably the most entrepreneurial and labor-intensive sector in the world, with growth rates approaching 10% for consecutive years. There are 135,000 cleaning companies in Europe and 386,000 in the United States. Worldwide, approximately one million companies offer professional cleaning services. The European cleaning sector employs 3.5 million people, three-quarters of whom work part-time, averaging 24 hours per week. Three out of four employees are women. The United States employs just under one million people, indicating that the size of individual companies is indeed very small.
Cleaning services have experienced rapid growth due to the widespread adoption of outsourcing by both the private and public sectors. In Europe, market penetration has reached nearly 65%, meaning that two-thirds of businesses and agencies have opted to outsource their cleaning services rather than employ in-house staff. While hundreds of thousands of small companies still exist, large conglomerates have emerged, such as ISS in Denmark and ABM Industries Inc. in the United States. ISS operates in 50 countries worldwide and employs 485,000 people to manage some 200,000 business-to-business clients. Over the past decade, ISS has acquired more than 600 companies, fueling its growth strategy by professionalizing the industry.
The growth of cleaning and janitorial services has catalyzed the development of related businesses. It has led to strategic alliances between service providers, janitorial companies, and chemical suppliers. While labor represents by far the largest portion of costs, the cleaning services industry accounts for over $30 billion in annual capital and operating expenditures. This sector represents the largest application of the industrial franchise concept in the world, with approximately 100,000 outlets worldwide.
Innovation
Since labor is the largest expense, the industry has invested in labor-saving devices. These range from automatic dispensers that dispense the correct amount of water and soap, to automated building maintenance units that clean exterior windows, and the development of maintenance systems that expand beyond basic cleaning to include health and environmental management by introducing a new range of chemicals. The search for innovation is focused on automation systems and chemicals, thereby reducing the workload for workers.
Wilhelm Barthlott, director of the botanical gardens at the University of Bonn (Germany), began mapping biodiversity worldwide and became fascinated by (1) carnivorous plants and (2) the self-cleaning properties of biological surfaces. His first passion led to one of the world's largest collections of carnivorous plants, while his second passion enabled the development of self-cleaning surface technologies in cooperation with industry. This effect is known as the "Lotus Effect," which is based on hydrophobicity (water repellency) combined with a nanoscale surface design that significantly reduces particle adhesion. This allows dirt to be removed by tiny water droplets, as little as morning dew. This means that not only is labor reduced, but the business model eliminates the regular use of chemicals. One day, this could bankrupt car wash companies, as cars will be clean on rainy days.
The self-cleaning properties of lotus flowers have been described in Chinese and Japanese literature for hundreds of years. The field of self-cleaning technology has interested Asian universities for decades. Dr. Emile Ishida, as Chief Technology Officer of INAX, Japan's second-largest producer of sanitary ceramics, observed how water flows through seashells, processing hundreds of liters without ever becoming soiled inside. He studied snails, keeping their interiors clear. He identified another surface pattern at the nanoscale, different from the lotus flower, but equally effective. This led to the development of a surface coating for toilet bowls that ensures a spotless appearance. In fact, most toilet bowls become stained over time, not from contact with human waste, but rather from the harsh chemicals applied to achieve a clean appearance and odor at low temperatures without friction. Physics and physical chemistry are replacing chemical and automated equipment. Unfortunately, most of the applications that have emerged still rely on fluorine chemistry. Further innovations are needed to make this breakthrough truly sustainable.
