Hollu - ecological cleaning made in Austria
Cleaning companies in Austria focus on environmentally friendly cleaning agents and cleaning products. Outstanding among them is the Tyrolean GmbH hollu, which has been in existence since 1905. At that time, the founder Julius Holluschek laid the foundation stone of the hygiene specialist's production.
hollu has integrated the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its corporate strategy. Since 2012, hollu has been launching the ecological product line hollueco, and back in 1984, hollu says it developed the first phosphate-free detergent. It has not stopped there: In the meantime, all products in the comprehensive cleaning range have been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel as well as the EU Ecolabel.
Hygiene innovations of tomorrow
In the hollu Research & Development department, the laboratory team is working on further ecological products for the hollueco line. One of the latest innovations is hollueco San Top: the sanitary cleaner is based 100% on biodegradable raw materials and contains an innovative biosurfactant obtained as a by-product of food production. According to hollu Managing Director Simon Meinschad: "The demand for ecological cleaning and hygiene solutions has increased enormously in recent years. For this reason, we are continuously developing our hollueco products based on biodegradable raw materials (...) to make them even easier to use for our customers."
Best practice example: the largest concert hall in Tyrol
Congress Innsbruck had long been looking for an environmentally friendly substitute for the solvent- and petrol-based wooden floor cleaning products used in its Tyrol Hall, which is completely lined with wooden panels and used for concerts. After a thorough preliminary and test phase, the entire wooden floor was treated with the ecological products developed by hollu. The formulations are made from natural, renewable raw materials and guarantee sustainable cleaning.
Production soon CO2-neutral
Another major undertaking: The company's own site in Zirl, Tyrol, is currently being redesigned, with the aim of making all production CO2-neutral by 2025. Heating and cooling energy will be generated by high-performance heat pumps. The photovoltaic system on the roof of the warehouse has already been producing its own green electricity for hollu GmbH since June 2022. Once again in the words of hollu's Managing Director Simon Meinschad: "We live our vision of a better world and want to contribute to ensuring that the earth remains liveable for future generations. The topics of environmental protection and sustainability are an integral part of hollu's DNA. We have been certified according to the international environmental management standard ISO 14001 since as early as 2010, and in 2015 we (...) received the European Union's valuable seal of approval - one of the most demanding environmental awards."
Since June 2022, the photovoltaic system on the roof of the warehouse has been producing its own green electricity for hollu GmbH. Copyright by Hollu.
Partnership with Uni Innsbruck
New since the end of June 2023 is also a cooperation between the University of Innsbruck and hollu: In order to continue to actively shape the future of hygiene, creative new solutions through research and development as well as additional know-how are needed. Therefore, the University of Innsbruck and hollu are launching a strategic research and cooperation partnership. As a symbol for the sealed partnership - in the nature recreation park at the hollu campus in Zirl - a lime tree will be planted together, which stands as a strong tree for a thriving, strongly growing and long-term cooperation.
At the start, hollu Managing Director Simon Meinschad presented the lime tree to Rector Veronika Sexl. She explained the advantages of the partnership for the university: "As an institution, the University of Innsbruck is committed to the sustainability goals," says Veronika Sexl. "This also includes using the comprehensive knowledge created at the university to support external partners on their way to a sustainable future. Through the cooperation with hollu, we can use the university's know-how for new, sustainable solutions in the hygiene industry."
Vice Rector for Research Gregor Weihs also sees a lot of potential in the new partnership with hollu: "Research at the University of Innsbruck should also always find its application in new technologies and drive innovation. With hollu, a company that is committed to a sustainable future in its industry, we as a university have found an ideal cooperation partner".