Nick Robertson-Vousden
Solution World of Clean
- Thread starter
- #1
I was recently involved in a debate on one of the Facebook pages regarding use of the term Woolsafe, following claims made by one or two people, and manufacturer supplier.
Having recently gone through the process of undergoing testing certification and approval for three of our products.
M-Power™
Fusion 8™
Dry Carpet Powder
I stood up and challenged the use of the term only to end up with one bully getting very unpleasant. ( not unusual on facebook) so I forwarded the conversation to Woolsafe for clarification, and received a detailed response, which I though I would post here, for those who are unaware on the process's behind the WoolSafe Mark. It highlights what you should and should say or indeed assume.
Hi Nick,
Sorry for the slow reply but we have a lot going on here with moving all our files and emails to a new platform.
I read through the messages you sent and wanted to post a reply to Mark. However, none of us here are members of this group, so I need to ask you to put it on in my name. Even if the conversation has moved on, there would be some benefit to put the record straight – but you can never stop misinformation being posted.
So here we go:
Hi, I did not come on this forum to tell anybody which products to use; I just want to help you separate fact from fiction. ‘John Texatherm’ says “WoolSafe are a private for profit organisation that derive income from membership and product testing…” – true, and what’s wrong with that? All chemical suppliers, carpet mills, retailers and carpet cleaners we work with are private companies striving to make a profit for a living. The alternative is state subsidy or going under. All other test houses and most certification bodies (even GreenSeal) are companies too.
“… to a standard that they have devised and implemented” – not strictly true. The WoolSafe test methods were worked out jointly by scientists and industry experts under the guidance of the International Wool Secretariat. The tests are based on international standards that must be strictly followed, not like something made up and improvised, as you imply. It (like all other international standards) is constantly reviewed and kept up-to-date.
“The term officially recognised is misleading” – no, it is not. Like it or not, WoolSafe is a global authority in product testing and carpet care. It is one (the first) of only two such organisations in the world, the other being the Carpet and Rug Institute in the US. It is not for everybody, as training and associations are not for everybody either. That’s fine, if you do not want it, leave it, but do not try to devalue it.
Yes, Textile Cleaning Solutions (maker of Texatherm) was a member for 5 years, from 2001. Their two products were last tested by WoolSafe in 2005, which says nothing about them now, 14 years later; or about all the other products (like Biotrax and Blitzz) which have never been tested.
I am sure Texatherm develop their products with care, test them and take pride in them. So do the other chemical manufacturers. Prochem, Chemspec, Kärcher… they all have their dedicated R&D departments, but they still send their wool lines for WoolSafe to test and certify. Many have been doing it for over 25 years! If you feel independent testing and certification is not for you, that’s fine. If you do not value WoolSafe, you do not have to have it, but then you should not be using the WoolSafe name, like Adrian Mitchell does in relation to a non-approved product. If you think WoolSafe does not add any value, then why claim it?
Thanks again, Nick.
Yours
Ágnes
Dr. Ágnes Zsednai
Managing Director
The WoolSafe Organisation
49 Boroughgate
Otley, LS21 1AG, UK
Tel: 01943 850 817
Registered in England No 4543752
Having recently gone through the process of undergoing testing certification and approval for three of our products.
M-Power™
Fusion 8™
Dry Carpet Powder
I stood up and challenged the use of the term only to end up with one bully getting very unpleasant. ( not unusual on facebook) so I forwarded the conversation to Woolsafe for clarification, and received a detailed response, which I though I would post here, for those who are unaware on the process's behind the WoolSafe Mark. It highlights what you should and should say or indeed assume.
Hi Nick,
Sorry for the slow reply but we have a lot going on here with moving all our files and emails to a new platform.
I read through the messages you sent and wanted to post a reply to Mark. However, none of us here are members of this group, so I need to ask you to put it on in my name. Even if the conversation has moved on, there would be some benefit to put the record straight – but you can never stop misinformation being posted.
So here we go:
Hi, I did not come on this forum to tell anybody which products to use; I just want to help you separate fact from fiction. ‘John Texatherm’ says “WoolSafe are a private for profit organisation that derive income from membership and product testing…” – true, and what’s wrong with that? All chemical suppliers, carpet mills, retailers and carpet cleaners we work with are private companies striving to make a profit for a living. The alternative is state subsidy or going under. All other test houses and most certification bodies (even GreenSeal) are companies too.
“… to a standard that they have devised and implemented” – not strictly true. The WoolSafe test methods were worked out jointly by scientists and industry experts under the guidance of the International Wool Secretariat. The tests are based on international standards that must be strictly followed, not like something made up and improvised, as you imply. It (like all other international standards) is constantly reviewed and kept up-to-date.
“The term officially recognised is misleading” – no, it is not. Like it or not, WoolSafe is a global authority in product testing and carpet care. It is one (the first) of only two such organisations in the world, the other being the Carpet and Rug Institute in the US. It is not for everybody, as training and associations are not for everybody either. That’s fine, if you do not want it, leave it, but do not try to devalue it.
Yes, Textile Cleaning Solutions (maker of Texatherm) was a member for 5 years, from 2001. Their two products were last tested by WoolSafe in 2005, which says nothing about them now, 14 years later; or about all the other products (like Biotrax and Blitzz) which have never been tested.
I am sure Texatherm develop their products with care, test them and take pride in them. So do the other chemical manufacturers. Prochem, Chemspec, Kärcher… they all have their dedicated R&D departments, but they still send their wool lines for WoolSafe to test and certify. Many have been doing it for over 25 years! If you feel independent testing and certification is not for you, that’s fine. If you do not value WoolSafe, you do not have to have it, but then you should not be using the WoolSafe name, like Adrian Mitchell does in relation to a non-approved product. If you think WoolSafe does not add any value, then why claim it?
Thanks again, Nick.
Yours
Ágnes
Dr. Ágnes Zsednai
Managing Director
The WoolSafe Organisation
49 Boroughgate
Otley, LS21 1AG, UK
Tel: 01943 850 817
Registered in England No 4543752
The WoolSafe Organisation - promoting quality carpet and rug care since 1991
Europe - North America - Australia - South Africa
www.woolsafe.org
Europe - North America - Australia - South Africa
www.woolsafe.org
