Seldram Supplies have been a preferred supplier of hygiene solutions to Oxford University and specifically St. Hugh’s for many years and have built up a reputation for bringing innovation and sustainability to market, as well as offering great prices and service.

St Hugh’s had several types & brands of dispenser systems installed across their 14-acre site which included Northwood’s Leonardo VersaTwin tissue dispenser with its tried and tested infinity paper system, offering high capacity and zero waste and had outperformed other systems and products.

The college wanted a complete solution for all dispensers, both paper & soap, that would stand up to use in a variety of settings, deliver cost savings & operational efficiencies and aesthetically tie in across all their washrooms.

In addition, the college wanted the new system to reduce their impact on the environment.

St. Hugh’s were delighted when Seldram recommended the Raphael system for consideration, a solution that ticked all the boxes.

Not only was it from a brand and manufacturer that had stood the test of time, but it was also a complete range that was aesthetically pleasing, offered a reduction in time spent replenishing and also in product consumption. In addition, it was an integral part of a closed loop initiative.

The more significant improvements in cost and operational efficiency have come with the Raphael Folded Towel dispenser. Offering a capacity of over 1,000 sheets, dispensers need to be refilled less frequently, and the innovative J-shaped design makes dispensing towels more efficient, leading to less waste and less washroom mess.

This has allowed cleaning staff time to focus in other key areas. The Raphael lotion soap has proven to be both efficient and hygienic, with its gentle foaming solution suitable for all users, whilst also reducing germ harbouring and cleaning requirements: issues caused by the previous products on site.

When it came to products, Raphael’s recycled tissue and towel products struck a chord with the St Hugh’s team. Supporting circularity is a key theme across the college and knowing that Northwood is leading the way in terms of carbon reduction, plastic reduction and continues to invest community environmental schemes, which had great synergy with the ethos at St Hugh’s.

The team at St Hugh’s College commented:

“We are always mindful of our environmental impact at St Hugh’s, so when looking to change our washroom products this was a high priority consideration in the decision-making process. We always want to ensure that the college is getting best value for money, which the Raphael system was able to deliver for us. But knowing that our recycled toilet tissue was fully UK made and FSC® certified was a big bonus. Knowing that using recycled materials throughout their business really resonated with us.

The Green Loop scheme offered by Northwood was also a key feature that resonated with us. Knowing that any plastic we have in our products can be recycled closed-loop is great. We always consider how much our college impacts the environment and this will increase our recycling levels across the site.
We were also keenly aware that any potential change in product may bring a big impact on the environment when dispensers were changed.

As a site we have over 600 tissue, towel and soap dispensers, and so Northwood, in partnership with Seldram & B-Sure Installations and Recycling, were not only able to install these at no-disruption to our daily operation, but to be able to dispose of these in an environmentally friendly way and ensure that the plastic material is recycled and kept within the supply chain, rather than potentially going to landfill.”