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2025 at a glance
25th of March 2025 Article by Lotte Printz
ECJ’s Lotte Printz looking into new legislation and some challenges facing the industry in Denmark.
To raise awareness in the general public and among politicians and to gain the necessary impact, the cleaning industry must do a proper clean-up among themselves. If there’s just one black sheep or shitstorm, the sector itself should take action as one ‘car crash’ is likely to attract more media attention than the positive stories.
That was one piece of advice offered by Poul Madsen, communications adviser and former editor-in-chief of one of Denmark’s most popular tabloid newspapers, at a cleaning industry conference.
And there seems to be plenty of positive stories to go by as well as a strong will among industry leaders to set higher standards, both when it comes to complying with collective agreements, price-setting, adopting new technology and sustainable practices.
But accidents will happen even in the best regulated families and hardly had a new year begun, before the first supposed ‘screw-up’ hit the headlines.
The Capital Region of Denmark, which is in charge of healthcare services in the Danish capital area, has allegedly accepted a tender for window cleaning at eight large hospitals that is unrealistically low. According to other bidders in this open procedure, 66 per cent lower than the second lowest tender submitted, presumably.
They say there might have been a breach of the Danish Procurement Act and ask for the window cleaning to be put out to a new tender. They even suggest this is not a one-off, but rather a tendency for the public sector to put price over social responsibility, the green transition and quality, which could undermine collective agreements.
Speaking to the Danish industry magazine Rent i Danmark, which has filed for access to tender documents but so far in vain, Jack Kimbork, who runs Quality Window Cleaning and is a board member and spokesperson for VIPU (a body of window cleaners), raises the question: “How are we supposed to make our business operations sustainable if the public sector only has its eyes on price?”
At the above-mentioned conference, former European commissioner for climate action, Connie Hedegaard, urged companies to do exactly that: lead the way in the green transition. It’s not only their duty, it’s also a business opportunity likely to strengthen their market position, as she put it.
Quite a few companies within the industry are well aware of this and well underway.
However, it also seems likely (in an industry traditionally and notoriously known for ‘black sheep’ - and I do hate becoming a party-pooper!) there will be those who have their eyes on price alone, who bend under the weight of whatever requirements or simply think they have enough on their plates already to invest in the future.
As of 2025 Danish companies are faced with a green tax reform. A carbon tax has been introduced to reduce emissions from energy use and transport and may affect companies within the cleaning industry as well. As may the road tax introduced on lorries of 12 tons or more or the tougher controls on waste separation that took effect on January 1.
So, there seems to be plenty to do for the industry as a whole in 2025. Making demands or cleaning up in its midst, holding its head up high and focusing on the positive stories that will change its image.
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