George Olden: ‘consumers Are Demanding Higher Cleanliness’

Historically, hygiene might only be spoken about when the lack of led to a noticeable issue, such as an outbreak of infections or illnesses. However, the pandemic has showed us the importance of hygiene and how killing invisible micro-organisms can help protect our health. Consumers are demanding higher levels of cleanliness and organizations must be proactive and must innovate to keep environments cleaner and safer. As part of Manchester United’s efforts to keep players, staff and fans safe, I was appointed as the Ecolab Hygiene Director, to provide technologies and scientific expertise that can help prevent infections.

In keeping with Sir David Brailsford’s marginal gains theory, our team has mapped out a fan and player journey throughout the stadium, identifying 380,000 touch points. We have classified these touchpoints by level of risk, and we have deployed cleaning and disinfection protocols to help break the chain in transmission. That means finding the most suitable products, applied most effectively and at the right frequency.

The most common and visible practice available to fans is hand hygiene. We have installed more than 2,000 stations across Old Trafford to help with increasing compliance. We have strategically placed the dispensers in locations that are both easily accessible and that naturally encourage use. Regular hand hygiene at communal locations, such as at a food kiosk, after touching the turnstiles or handrails, or coming out of the bathroom, can reduce the risk of catching coronavirus by 36 percent. More than 250 litres of hand disinfectant, the same type we provide to the National Health Service, is used at each home match. Over the current season, it means we have helped to clean more than five million hands – and counting!

But the pursuit of continuous improvement also takes place behind the scenes. The chefs cook up to 30,000 meals across the stadium’s 27 kitchens on a match day. Every dish is meticulously prepared, from assembling the food on perfectly clean plates, to dicing ingredients on disinfected surfaces and grilling meat on immaculate stoves. Nothing is left to chance to ensure the highest standard of food hygiene. On a busy match day, speed and scientific precision make a difference, helping to deliver delicious meals to more than 75,400 fans.

Keeping the operations running and environments as clean and safe as possible is what we aim to deliver. I also supported the club to reset the Carrington training ground in December 2021 after an outbreak of COVID-19 cases. In 24 hours, I mobilised a team of experts who accompanied me to bio-decontaminate critical areas of the facilities using our Bioquell technology to eliminate 99.9999% of pathogens. Our overnight operation helped the club to restart training activities promptly.

We are bringing the most advanced technologies and essential solutions to help improve Manchester United’s operations at every turn. The clean geek in me lights up with the science of hygiene, and I believe the solutions installed at Old Trafford will make a lasting impact on the club’s community. Manchester United is leading the way and acting as a role model, for its teams and its fans. Hygiene has been seamlessly integrated into the experience at the Theatre of Dreams. That’s why we work with Manchester United and will do our utmost to support any organization to make the world safer for all of us.

George Olden is the Ecolab Hygiene Director, a new position that provides Manchester United with sustainable practices and solutions to help create a cleaner and safer environment for players, fans and employees.