Nuwkem: The Future of Commercial Washroom Hygiene

What began in an apartment in 2006 with four hand dryers, 12 cans of insecticide, and two 25-year-olds determined to build a business has grown into a major name in South Africa’s commercial washroom hygiene industry.

Founded by Veronica Vivier and Charl Broodryk, Nuwkem Hygiene Solutions today has branches in Johannesburg and Cape Town, supplying professional hygiene solutions to customers across South Africa and other African countries. It’s a story built on determination, quality and an understanding that good hygiene is about far more than the products we see on a washroom wall. Nuwkem has built its reputation by understanding that effective commercial washroom hygiene requires a complete, considered solution.

SA Décor & Design sat down with Nuwkem CEO and co-founder Veronica Vivier to talk about those early days, the importance of getting washroom hygiene right, how expectations have changed over the past 20 years and where technology and sustainability are taking the industry next.

Veronica, take us back to the beginning. How did Nuwkem first start, and what inspired the journey into professional hygiene solutions?

“We started in 2006, when Charl and I were 25. Life took an unexpected turn, and we had to decide what we were going to do. Rather than accept the situation, we decided to start our own business.

We were both already working in the hygiene industry and knew there was one brand we wanted to build the business around – Technical Concepts, which is now Rubbermaid. At the time, we weren’t able to buy from them, but somehow we managed to convince them to sell to us. We built our reputation around that brand and the quality it represented.

In the beginning, it really was just the two of us. We would walk around shopping centres trying to make enough sales to cover what we needed at the end of the month. We were both so nervous about approaching potential customers that we’d sometimes stand outside a shop arguing about who had to go in! But we did it, and gradually the business grew. We became known for good-quality products, having stock available and providing great service, and eventually moved into wholesale.

Later, we realised we needed to broaden the range beyond what Rubbermaid offered. We sourced products such as paper towel dispensers and hand dryers and eventually began manufacturing some of our own products under the Ticra name. It became our stamp of approval, something customers could see and know that a lot of thought had gone into the product. Twenty years later, we’re still here and still growing.”

Hygiene is vital, no matter the environment. Why should good washroom hygiene products be a priority everywhere, from hotels and public spaces to workplaces and our homes?

“When people walk into a space and feel cared for, it creates a sense of safety. It can be something as simple as having soap in the dispenser, toilet paper where it should be, and proper sanitary facilities available. These might seem like tiny details, but together they tell people that the space is being looked after.

That feeling can influence the perception of a brand, but it can also have a very practical impact on a business. Good hand hygiene can help reduce cross-contamination and absenteeism among employees, which in turn supports productivity.

Washrooms also say a lot about how you run a business. Customers, employees, or even someone arriving for an interview notice when these spaces are cared for. If you pay attention to something as seemingly small as the washroom, it creates confidence that you pay attention to the rest of the business too.”

When it comes to high-traffic environments such as hotels, restaurants, offices and public facilities, what are some of the most important washroom hygiene considerations that are often overlooked?

“One of the most important things people overlook is that hygiene isn’t a product; it’s a solution. A soap dispenser isn’t simply a soap dispenser: it’s part of a system designed to help prevent cross-contamination.

You need to consider how many people are using the washroom, how often they’re washing their hands and the quickest and most appropriate way for them to dry them. How many women are using the facilities? What size sanitary bin do you need? Are there odour issues in the men’s washroom? How much paper is being used?

I like to think of the washroom as an ecosystem. Everything needs to work together and be appropriate for the number of people using the space. A building with 500 people, for example, might go through enormous amounts of paper if the wrong system is installed. An auto-cut or sensor dispenser that releases a controlled amount at a time could be a much better solution.

That’s why it’s important to work with someone who understands professional hygiene and can look at the whole washroom rather than simply sell individual products. The solution needs to be specific to the building and the people using it.”

You’ve worked in the industry for 20 years. How have expectations around washroom hygiene changed during that time?

“The truth is that hygiene itself hasn’t changed that much. People still need to wash their hands, dry them properly and have somewhere to dispose of waste. What has evolved is people.

People are far more aware of hygiene now. They understand what they need, and they’re more willing to question what they’re being told rather than simply accepting whatever a service provider recommends. We’re also seeing more businesses wanting greater involvement in managing their own hygiene products and servicing.

Sustainability has become much more important too. Increasingly, our customers have environmental requirements they need to meet, which is a positive development. It also fits very naturally with the Ticra approach. A dispenser shouldn’t be a consumable. It should be installed on the wall and continue working and working. People are becoming much more conscious of that longevity and are starting to demand it.”

Looking ahead, what innovations, technologies or sustainable solutions do you believe will shape the future of washroom hygiene, and how is Nuwkem responding to these changing needs?

“Touch-free technology is definitely becoming more important. When we were recently at Interclean in Amsterdam, one of the things we saw throughout Europe was dispensers concealed behind mirrors. The hand dryer, paper towel and soap are all positioned behind the mirror, and everything is touch-free.

I think that frictionless approach is where washroom design should be heading. You shouldn’t have to wash your hands in one place and then walk across the room dripping water to reach the paper towel dispenser. Bringing everything together creates a much more intuitive system.

Sustainability will continue to be a major focus as well. We all have a responsibility, and many of our products are already moving in that direction, particularly when it comes to longevity. We also have solutions such as the Pulse Mop, which uses only 750ml of water, and energy-saving electric hand dryers.

Then there is IoT – the Internet of Things. Sensors in dispensers can tell facilities teams through an app when something needs refilling, so someone can be sent to service it exactly when necessary. That has the potential to reduce waste and make facilities management much more efficient.

The technology already exists internationally, although it is still relatively expensive here. From a facilities-management perspective, I think it could be a game changer in South Africa, and it’s something we’re working towards. Technology certainly isn’t going to overlook hygiene.”