India’s cleaning industry: Reflecting India’s growth as a global leader

Even as the doors of Hall No 1 of Bombay Exhibition Centre were closing at the end of three eventful days of the Clean India Technology Week 2023,–    Clean India Show, Waste Technology India Expo, Laundrex India and Autocare Expo– visitors were still queueing up at the registration counter to explore over 200+ stalls and interact with representatives of hundreds of brands related to the cleaning, waste management, pest management, laundry and auto care industries.

A large number of  high-level and decision-making visitors from a wide range of segments –  from  airports, ports and Indian Railways to manufacturing facilities, corporate real estate and the government sector – explored, tested and chose to procure the most advanced, high-tech solutions that fulfill their requirements.

From tissue dispensers that prevent wastage to giant laundry machines which need less power for washing and drying, automatic car washes that minimise the need for water to floor cleaning robots that use only a small amount of chemical, the focus on sustainability was evident in every product of every Expo.

The government’s push for the circular economy influenced the number of exhibitors offering solutions for material recovery facilities, plastic waste management and municipal solid waste management. Simultaneously, Chief Sustainability Officers of corporates came to find ways to help them meet their ESG goals. The Corporate Real Estate Facility Management Awards recognised corporate success stories in sustainability, with the promise of growing bigger and better next year.

The thrust on mechanised street cleaning and sewer maintenance was evident in the giant road sweeping and drain cleaning machines being assessed by representatives of urban local bodies and Smart City Missions. Every exhibitor of cleaning machines spoke of the shift towards mechanised cleaning even in smaller facilities, while procurement heads spoke of their preference for environment-friendly, user-friendly chemicals.

The Make-in-India mission was reflected in the number of startups, as well as the proportion of exhibitors exporting their products to other countries. While reputed international companies made their debut at the Expo this year, many more global exhibitors are expected to participate in the next Expo, which will mark 20 years of the Clean India Technology Week.

“The exponential growth of the Indian economy over the years is reflected in the growth of the Clean India Technology Week over the years. As India scales up its infrastructure and built environment, the facilities management sector is keeping pace with the booming demand for various services”, said Jayaraman Nair, Chairman, VIS Group (organiser of the event).