COP26: Dettol Pro Solutions’ UK launch to support 25,000 delegates at conference

Image CC credit: Metro Centric – flickr

Reckitt and Dettol Pro Solutions – Dettol’s business-to-business offering – have developed a tailor-made targeted hygiene program for the COP26 Conference. In a conference space bigger than 30 football pitches, as the event’s official hygiene partner, Dettol’s protocols and products will help against the spread of bacteria and viruses across 50,000 hotspots.

The program marks the official launch of Dettol Pro Solutions into the UK market, following Reckitt’s successful roll-out of Lysol Pro Solutions in the USA.

Dettol Pro Solutions is being introduced at a time when 78 per cent of consumers are still concerned about germs. Following the pandemic, consumers have a heightened awareness of how germs spread and a strong expectation that businesses will do their part.

Dettol Pro Solutions has already delivered hygiene programmes for industry leaders in the UK including WeWork, British Airways, Avis Budget Group and The Professional Golfers’ Association, with further partnerships expected to be announced soon.

Rahul Kadyan, Executive Vice President at Reckitt’s New Growth Platforms, said: “Following an impactful launch in both the US and Australia, we’re proud to bring the Dettol Pro Solutions brand into the UK market. We recognise the increasing need to restore consumer confidence in workplaces – as well as travel, hospitality and leisure spaces, and it’s brilliant to be working with reputable partners to help enhance hygiene in their respective sectors. We will be harnessing our expertise across four key areas: tailored training and protocols for businesses; effective products that help to kill bacteria and viruses; innovative global logistics and servicing; and leveraging our brand power to help businesses clearly communicate the steps they’re taking to help make their spaces and teams clean and hygienic.”

Targeted hygiene at COP26

As the official hygiene partner of COP26, Dettol Pro Solutions conducted a review of the conference plans to identify high-traffic, high-touch areas across the event. This work was carried out by Reckitt’s team of virologists, microbiologists, and medical scientists, who worked closely with the Cabinet Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Fifteen scientists dedicated over 1,000 hours of technical support to develop and deliver the COP26 Hygiene protocols. The targeted protocols span the two main areas of the COP26 venue – the Blue Zone (which will house global delegates), and the Green Zone (open to the public and hosting a variety of events for local Glaswegians, schools, and universities).

As part of the targeted hygiene protocol, Dettol selected its favourite products, including antibacterial surface cleansing sprays (Tru Clean range) formulated with a plant based active ingredients proven to kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria and viruses including SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Reckitt’s program includes targeted cleaning interventions, hygiene-centred messaging, and personal sanitiser options. It will:

• Enhance hygiene for 25,000 delegates and official negotiators representing 138 nationalities, and over 100 world leaders.

• Over the 10-day conference, help to ensure cleanliness for 123 office spaces, 99 large meeting rooms, 745 toilets, and 694 wash basins.

• Cover 12 key Zones with a total of 60 different high-risk surfaces identified across the site, including entrances and exits, meeting rooms, crew spaces, and more.

• Install over 600 hand sanitising stations throughout COP26 sites to support visitor hygiene, including Wi-Fi-enabled Savortex smart stations that monitor usage and alert when refilling is required.

• Each delegate is provided a Hygiene Kit with a personal face covering, pack of Dettol Biodegradable Disinfectant Wipes and Dettol Hand Sanitiser which can be refilled at the Hygiene Service Counter, for top-up disinfection measures as they move around Glasgow.

• Deploy three environmental health officers (EHOs) to quantitatively determine hygiene levels through use of ATP testing, enabling Reckitt to refine protocols in real-time. 4800 ATP swab tests will be carried out on high-touch points for verification of protocols during the COP26 event.

Using signage and other communications about the science-based protocols in place, Dettol Pro Solutions will help address attendees’ concerns around hygiene.

Dr. Lisa Ackerley, Director of Medical and Scientific Engagement, Hygiene at Reckitt commented: “We are incredibly proud to be the official hygiene partner of COP26 as we take on one of our largest endeavours yet. Our work has set a new standard in hygiene for live events, designing custom protocols that deliver thousands of germ-killing interventions every hour across the 12 Zones and 60 high risk surfaces throughout the conference. We look forward to a successful COP26 event, providing peace of mind and confidence on hygiene to all who attend.”