A BOLTON business is set to challenge the chemical industry with the launch of bacteria friendly cleaning products.

Cleaning products supplier We Are Probiotic, of Columbia Mill, Bedford Street, has introduced a new eco-friendly way to clean.

Co-founder Samantha Kitchen believes cleaning with nature’s own beneficial bacteria is the way forward – and is flying the flag for a transition from ‘eco-friendly’ to ‘earth-beneficial’ products.

The company has embarked on a year-long study in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) to test probiotic cleaners against standard products with support from GC Business Growth Hub’s eco innovation team.

Brewed at a farm in Wiltshire, probiotic products have shown to be far more effective at cleaning than chemical equivalents, with evidence suggesting they can protect surfaces from re-contamination for up to three days after cleaning.

Once the study has been finalised, Samantha plans to break into the commercial market, initially targeting the hospitality and leisure sector.

With a degree in environmental science in 2018, Samantha has recently embarked on a master’s course in environmental management and views scientific study as crucial to growing the business.

She said: “This is a relatively new way of cleaning, so to successfully sell it to consumers we have to explain what the science suggests they can achieve.

“But we can’t make grand claims or be over-certain in our explanations without direct evidence. Last year, we undertook a trial in a care home which gave us incredible results.

“But we need to be able to replicate this many times in a laboratory environment for it to hold any weight.”

The company’s aim is to have a published research paper in the next two years. The partnership with MMU was made possible with the support of the Hub, which helped secure 50 per cent of the funding through its Innovation Voucher scheme.

Dharma Nurse, their senior innovation development manager, said: “This firm is challenging the industry with its eco-friendly sustainable cleaning products.

“Research into the effectiveness of probiotic cleaners is still in its early days, but this study is going to have a massive impact on the sector.

“It will provide Samantha and her team with huge opportunities to accelerate the company’s growth.”