A new range of eco-friendly sanitisers, made in New Zealand, launches and will challenge reliance on harsh chemicals and alcohol to keep our environments and hands clean in an increasingly germ sensitive world.
The EcoChemist is a new brand with products made using electrochemistry that produces a naturally occurring super disinfectant, Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL), in an electrically charged water-based solution - laboratory testing confirms this kills 99.99 percent of germs.
Products include a Surface & Air Sanitiser that uses a dry fogging process to efficiently sanitise indoor spaces. As it is environmentally friendly it can be used whilst people are present, meaning life can continue in a clean environment, without disrupting individuals, public services or businesses.
It also includes a Foaming Sanitiser that is gentle on the skin, so it can be used as often as needed, whether for sanitising multiple times per day, or even per hour, such as in healthcare or retail.
The EcoChemist came into being during the lockdown, over video calls, and is a partnership between healthcare company Pharmaco (NZ) Limited, and AWS Group, an Auckland based specialist in antimicrobial and cleaning chemistry.
Managing Director of Pharmaco, Chandra Selvadurai, said the range has great prospects in a product sector set to grow globally by 30 percent in three years.
“These products will revolutionise the way we sanitise - they are highly effective, 100 percent Kiwi created and made, and an example of great Kiwi innovation.
“We are all sanitising more and becoming increasingly aware of cleanliness in the places we live and work, and how to keep our hands and environment as germ-free as possible - it’s part of our routines and is becoming second nature.
“However, maintaining an expected level of cleanliness can be challenging, especially when harsh chemicals are used such as bleach, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite. A lot of cleaning happens at night but with our products, it can happen anytime, even when people are around during the day.
“The potential is enormous, in New Zealand and overseas, including sectors such as healthcare, rest homes and retirement villages, retail, education and transport.
“The products provide people, public services and businesses a way to maintain sanitation standards, in an eco-friendly and sustainable way.”
The electrochemical process behind the hand and surface & air sanitisation products is deceptively simple and results in the production of naturally occurring Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL), which is then used to create Anocide-STM, a liquid that is the power behind these products.
The power of Hypochlorous Acid has been understood for a long time and occurs naturally in the human body; white blood cells produce small quantities of HOCL when fighting off infections. However, it is AWS’s technology that has enabled it to be manufactured as a stable, high-quality product in viable commercial volumes.
Dr Ian Calhaem, Scientific Advisor to AWS, said the production of Hypochlorous Acid using electrochemistry is a niche science that now has mass-market appeal.
“The naturally occurring HOCL is the powerful germ killer that is the base of the hand, surface and air sanitiser range and is an effective and environmental solution for constant hygiene. Being eco-friendly, as well as very potent, provides peace of mind with minimum disadvantages.
“HOCL has been used in the food industry for many years but with the demand created recently, there’s now a much wider application. Another benefit is it does not contribute to the growing bacterial resistance shown by many traditional chemical products in recent years.”
The EcoChemist range includes four products in total: in addition to the Surface & Air Sanitiser and Foaming Sanitiser, there will be two others: Sanitiser & Surface Protectant and Coating Protectant Paint. Both are specialised commercial products that protect surfaces from pathogens, for up to three years, from a single application.
