Bulk disinfecting wipes sit on nearly every environmental service (EVS) cart in healthcare, yet their packaging has seen little meaningful innovation in years. PDI, a longtime leader in infection prevention, set out to change that with PDI Bulk Packaging, a flexible format designed around the daily work of the people who disinfect patient rooms.
Small steps add up fast
EVS workers manage a long list of details on every shift. Proper disinfection, overall room cleanliness, patient satisfaction and efficient room turnover all compete for their attention. When the same task repeats across hundreds of rooms, one extra step at the cart can become a real interruption. PDI approached the redesign with that reality front and center.
Instead of filling a separate pail, teams dispense directly from the bulk package. That removes the refill step and the additional expiration tracking and inventory management associated with a pail-and-refill system—giving staff fewer details to manage between uses.
Engineering a better fit
Cutting plastic was only part of the challenge. PDI needed to fit a roll of large 11- by 12-inch wipes into a flexible package without hurting dispensing or eating up space on EVS carts. The package also had to hold more wipes, which means less frequent restocking and smoother workflows across very different healthcare settings.
The design team balanced material durability against plastic reduction and built a brand-new lid for easier dispensing and secure resealing. The resealable lid helps keep the remaining wipes wet and ready for the next use.
PDI treats the package as part of the product. The packaging, the wipe and the disinfectant formulation are engineered to work as one complete system. That system is built to support Sani-HP1™, Sani-Cloth® AF3 and Sani-Cloth® Bleach.
Fewer steps beyond the cart
The benefits extend to the people who order, stock and manage supplies. A self-contained package eliminates the need to manage separate pail and refill SKUs for each disinfectant. Its flexible format also supports convenient storage and placement on EVS carts.
For facilities evaluating a change, this creates a practical conversation across EVS, infection prevention, purchasing and sustainability: How does the package fit existing carts? How often will teams need to replace it? How can ordering and stocking be simplified? Looking at those details together helps connect packaging innovation to everyday operations.
Less plastic at facility scale
The result is a flexible format with up to 76% less plastic packaging than a standard pail refill system. At the scale of a large healthcare facility, PDI reports that reduction can add up to thousands of pounds of plastic packaging avoided each year*. For facilities working toward sustainability goals, that progress comes without giving up the disinfectant performance healthcare depends on.
The bigger idea goes beyond a new container. PDI rethought the work surrounding every wipe, with the goal of helping EVS teams do more with less.
See it for yourself
Watch the PDI DemoXperience to see the new bulk packaging in action
Learn more about PDI Bulk Packaging here.
Explore PDI’s full line of infection prevention solutions at pdihc.com.
*Plastic reduction comparison is based on the plastic packaging weight of one PDI pail and refill. Annual reductions vary by facility usage.
