As 2022 draws to a close, I am very proud of the new innovations and proactive approach our teams have brought forward to enhance our support to your businesses.
As we all face the challenges of the post-pandemic economic climate, market pressures from rising input costs persist, along with residual supply chain issues. While the labour market seems to have begun to stabilize, inflation remains stubbornly high. Single-use plastics bans in Canada now require businesses to rethink their packaging product and material choices, without affecting their customers’ experience, and yet continue to manage their cost base. It’s a lot to navigate, and I’m pleased to share with you some exciting new initiatives designed to keep you compliant and help you prepare for, and stay ahead of, market conditions as they evolve.
Our Category Management team has worked tirelessly to prepare you for the single-use plastics bans that take affect this month. You’ll learn more about that legislation in the lead article in this issue, including pending extended producer responsibility and post-consumer recycled content requirements. Rest assured, we’re ready with your transition program regardless of the current substrate you are using. We’ve sourced our own supply of product to ensure you have the inventory you need, and we’ve developed a new, environmentally preferable packaging system we’re very excited to show you.
Sustainability is top of mind in cleaning and hygiene, too. More and more, you’re telling us that your business objectives include sustainable maintenance operations for your facilities, so in the first half of 2023 we’ll be launching a comprehensive line of environmentally preferable cleaning chemistries as part of our well-known REGARD product portfolio. Each product has been carefully developed to ensure maximum efficacy with minimum environmental impact.
Of course, there are other issues to contend with as cold and flu season returns, and facilities have more people in them. It’s created significant interest in innovative technologies such as our new air purification system from Surgically Clean Air .
Workplace Health and Safety is always top of mind, and Bunzl Safety’s mobile safety services now include daily stops at construction sites across the GTA. In 2023, they’ll expand into Montreal as well. Our Mobile Safety Units carry a full line of the most commonly required equipment and our mobile safety experts fit, test and train on proper use to help keep sites safer and more productive.
We continue our digital transformation and our new, upgraded e-commerce platform for Bunzl Cleaning & Hygiene is now in pilot testing. Its new tools to help set and manage budgets, monitor order patterns, and review consumption are receiving very positive feedback from customers and will be fully launched in early 2023.
As we head into the New Year, we have much to do to continue to enhance our support to your businesses. Until then, I hope you enjoy reading this edition of the Bunzl Business Insider. I’d like to personally wish you, your teams, and all your families a happy, safe, and healthy holiday season.
Best Regards,
John Howlett
President, Bunzl Canada