Reimagining frontline services
Bunzl
Sustainable cleaning through innovation
As Mitie’s strategic provider of cleaning and hygiene products, Bunzl plays an important role in helping us reduce environmental impact, drive innovation and support customers on their sustainability journeys. Together, we are transforming how cleaning products are sourced, delivered and used, embedding sustainability across thousands of customer sites.
Our partnership extends beyond product supply. Through sustainability data, carbon forecasting, responsible product innovation and collaborative ESG programmes, Bunzl helps Mitie make informed procurement decisions that reduce emissions, minimise waste and support Scope 3 reduction objectives.
During FY26, the partnership delivered measurable progress through smarter procurement and operational improvements. By increasing the minimum order value for cleaning consumables from £75 to £100, Mitie encouraged greater order consolidation, reducing deliveries and associated emissions. Combined with Bunzl’s increasing use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, these changes contributed to a 35% reduction in carbon intensity per £1,000 of spend since April 2025, equivalent to 66 tonnes of CO2e avoided.
The partnership also enables Mitie to bring innovative solutions to customers. During the year, Bunzl supported the deployment of safer and more sustainable cleaning products, including biotechnology-based descaling solutions from BioHygiene and plastic-free consumables from Serious Tissues. These innovations reduce chemical hazards, minimise plastic consumption and support circular economy principles while maintaining operational performance.
Previous reporting showed that 83% of Mitie purchases were classified as sustainable award-winning products, outperforming industry benchmarks. Together, Mitie and Bunzl demonstrate how strategic supplier partnerships can create environmental and social value at scale through data, innovation, responsible sourcing and continuous improvement, helping both organisations and customers achieve their ESG ambitions.
FY26 highlights
- Increased use of HVO fuel across Bunzl delivery operations
- Sustainable procurement embedded across major cleaning product categories
- Product innovation supporting reduced plastic use, lower chemical risk and circularity
- Winner of Mitie’s Environmental Impact Award for supply chain sustainability leadership
Key facts
35%
reduction in carbon intensity per £1,000 spend
66
tonnes CO2e emissions avoided
Robotics
Scaling robotics for measurable impact
Robotics
Scaling robotics for measurable impact
Mitie’s rollout of robotic cleaning technology continued to accelerate during FY26, helping customers reduce environmental impact while improving operational efficiency.
Following the award of Mitie’s Robotics Programme in July 2025, strategic partnerships were established with Industrial Cleaning Equipment (ICE) and Bunzl to support the deployment of next-generation autonomous cleaning equipment across customer sites. The programme forms part of Mitie’s wider commitment to using technology and innovation to create healthier, safer and more sustainable environments.
Recent advances in robotic cleaning technology have delivered significant sustainability benefits. New machines incorporate water-recycling capabilities that substantially reduce water consumption while maintaining cleaning performance. Enhanced software and telemetry also provide real-time visibility of environmental performance, enabling customers to measure and verify sustainability benefits directly.
Between July 2025 and January 2026, robotic cleaning machines deployed through Mitie’s partnership with ICE saved more than 540,000 litres of water, reducing resource consumption across customer sites. The technology also supports lower chemical usage through more precise dispensing systems and improved cleaning efficiency, further reducing environmental impact.
In addition to environmental benefits, robotic cleaning technology improves productivity, enables greater consistency of service delivery and supports data-driven decision-making through enhanced operational reporting.
As demand for intelligent and sustainable cleaning solutions continues to grow, Mitie will continue to expand its use of robotics to help customers improve resource efficiency, reduce environmental impacts and accelerate progress towards their own sustainability objectives.
FY26 highlights
- Strategic robotics partnerships established with ICE and Bunzl
- Reduced chemical consumption through improved cleaning technology
- Enhanced reporting and transparency through real-time environmental data
- Increased operational efficiency and service consistency
540,000
litres of water saved between July 2025 and January 2026
ICE
Strategic robotics partnerships established with ICE
Ozoklenz chemical‑free cleaning solution
Ozoklenz chemical‑free cleaning solution
Mitie and Network Rail faced the challenge of finding a more sustainable way to clean their sites. Traditional cleaning methods relied heavily on chemicals, which contributed to carbon emissions, single-use plastic waste, and posed safety risks for staff. Additionally, managing chemical deliveries and storage created logistical headaches, particularly for remote or hard-to-access locations. The goal was to adopt a solution that would reduce environmental impact while improving safety and simplifying processes.
The chosen solution was Ozoklenz, a chemical-free cleaning system that uses aqueous ozone technology. This innovative approach creates a powerful cleaning agent on site using only water, oxygen, and electricity, eliminating the need for harmful chemicals. Ozoklenz offers handheld units for mobile cleaning and wall-mounted systems for larger sites, ensuring flexibility across different environments. The rollout was carefully planned with site surveys, tailored system recommendations and training for cleaning teams to ensure a smooth transition without disrupting operations.
The system has improved safety, continuing Network Rail and Mitie’s journey in embracing biotech and chemical-free cleaning to continually reduce the use of chemicals, reduce Control Substances Hazardous to Health risks, and lower personal protective equipment requirements. It has also eliminated the need for chemical storage, reducing manual handling accidents and freeing up space. Cleaning teams have embraced the technology, reporting excellent results and ease of use, making this a key step towards a greener, more sustainable future.
The product has been nominated for ‘Product of the year 2026’ at the Spotlight Rail Awards.
Ozoklenz has been a great initiative from Mitie which cleans effectively and has such obvious environmental benefits.
Vicky Edmunds
Route Property Facilities Manager, East Coast, Network Rail
Key benefits
6,594
litres of chemical product removed from use
1,069
five-litre plastic containers and caps avoided
683
one-litre bottles with triggers avoided
754
750ml bottles with triggers avoided
Cobots
Innovation with purpose
How Mitie’s cobots are transforming service delivery
In 2025, Mitie continued to show how innovation can deliver operational, environmental and social value, through the continued growth of its autonomous cleaning robot (cobot) fleet.
Scaling automation at Heathrow
The most significant deployment came at Heathrow Airport, where Mitie supplied the UK’s largest fleet of automated cleaning robots to help support record passenger numbers. The fleet of 32 fully electric cobots works alongside 850 cleaning colleagues, combining advanced technology with human expertise to maintain some of the busiest terminals in the world.
Using smart sensors and autonomous navigation, the cobots independently mop, polish and maintain floors while operating safely around passengers and airport activity. They continuously map their surroundings, avoid obstacles and adapt to changing conditions, ensuring effective cleaning, even in high-footfall areas. After up to three hours of operation, each cobot automatically returns to its docking station to recharge before resuming work.
Freeing colleagues for higher-value work
Beyond efficiency gains, the technology allows colleagues to focus on specialist cleaning tasks and customer-facing activities, improving both service quality and operational resilience. The cobots have quickly become a familiar, popular feature within the terminals, showing how technology can enhance both the working environment for colleagues and the experience for passengers.
Innovation as social value: the carolling cobots
Our cobots have also shown how innovation can create social impact beyond operational performance. During the festive period, several autonomous cleaning robots were transformed into ‘carolling cobots’ at London Bridge station, surprising thousands of commuters with seasonal performances in support of Crisis at Christmas, the charity supporting people experiencing homelessness.
The initiative showed how technology can be used creatively to engage communities and raise awareness of important social causes. While cobots are typically deployed to maintain hygiene standards across busy transport hubs and commercial spaces, their appearance as festive performers revealed a different, more playful side of innovation, generating positive engagement from commuters while supporting a worthwhile cause at a critical time of year.
Environmental performance
4,800m2
Up to 4,800m² cleaned per cobot per day, equivalent to around eight football pitches
18
As little as 18 litres of water used daily, with water recycled during operation
Fully electric operation, supporting Heathrow’s ambition for a more sustainable passenger experience