From the Team at Stearns Packaging
Hello from all of us at Stearns Packaging Corporation!
We’re excited to share how our Water Flakes® water-soluble cleaning pods are transforming facility cleaning — and to celebrate some recent recognition we’ve received
Award-Winning Innovation
We’re thrilled to announce that Water Flakes® has been named a Champion Winner in the FacilitiesNet Vision Awards for Wellness, Sustainability & Resilience, and also received an Honorable Mention in Innovative Technology.
These awards validate the decades of work toward one goal: creating cleaning products that are safer, simpler, more sustainable, and still deliver powerful performance.
If you’re attending the 2025 ISSA Show North America, we’d love to meet you! Stop by Booth #5767 to see Water Flakes® in action and talk with our team about how these innovative pods can help your operation reduce waste, risk, and cost.
A Smarter Way to Clean
Facility managers today face growing pressure to meet sustainability goals, maintain compliance, and control budgets — all without sacrificing performance. That’s where Water Flakes® come in.
Each Water Flakes® packet delivers a precisely measured dose of concentrated cleaner or disinfectant in a film that dissolves completely in water. No measuring. No spills. No direct contact with chemicals. Just consistent, effective results with a cleaner environmental footprint.
What Are Water Flakes®?
- Pre-Measured Powdered Concentrate in Water-Soluble Film
Each pod delivers exactly the cleaning strength needed, eliminating waste and chemical exposure. - Multiple Formulations for Every Need
Over ten trusted blends cover neutral floor cleaning, all-purpose cleaning, deodorizing, EPA-registered disinfection, and odor control. - Source-Reduced Packaging
Lightweight, resealable flex packs save storage space, reduce shipping weight, and lessen environmental impact compared to traditional plastic pails.
Performance and Safety Certifications
- EPA Safer Choice Recognition
Six Water Flakes® products are approved under the EPA Safer Choice program, meeting stringent human health and environmental standards. - EPA-Registered Disinfectant/Detergent Packets
Certain disinfectant packets are EPA registered and effective against HIV-1, HBV, HCV, E. coli, Salmonella, and more — ideal for healthcare, educational, food service, and correctional settings. - NSF White Book Registration
Includes Bowl Cleaner, Neutral Cleaner, All-Purpose Cleaner, White Wings Laundry, and Floor Conditioner & Neutralizer.
Application
| Sector | Key Challenges | How Water Flakes® Help |
| Janitorial / Institutional | Consistency, waste reduction, simplified training | Premeasured pods eliminate overuse, spills, and guesswork. |
| Correctional Facilities | Security, sanitation, odor control, compliance | Single-use pods reduce risk of misuse and meet green procurement standards. |
| Food Service / Kitchens | Disinfection, food safety, regulatory compliance | EPA-registered disinfectants provide pathogen killing power with no residues. |
| Hospitality | Guest safety, odor control, sustainability | Neutral cleaners, odor eliminators, and eco-recognized formulations enhance brand reputation. |
| Healthcare | Pathogen control, staff safety, regulatory compliance | Registered disinfectants ensure precise dosing and minimize exposure risk. |
| Schools / Public Sector | Green mandates, safety, staff training | Safer chemistry supports public green procurement rules and is easy to use. |
Cost and Operational Benefits
- Lower Shipping & Storage Costs
Concentrated powders are lighter, take up less space, and reduce freight costs. - Less Waste
Fully dissolving film = zero leftover packaging
Eliminates over- or under-dosing
No dispensers to risk failing - Labor Time Savings
“Just drop one pod.” Training is quick, measuring is eliminated, and spills are prevented. Labor savings add up, as staff spend less time refilling and more time cleaning. Use our Stearns Labor Savings Toolbox to calculate tangible dollars saved. - Regulatory & Compliance Advantages
EPA Safer Choice recognition supports USGBC-LEED certification, federal/state procurement, and EHS standards. - Health & Safety Risk Reduction
Reduced chemical exposure, safer storage, fewer spills, and minimized contamination risk.
Meeting Green Mandates
Many institutions and government agencies now require:
- Environmentally preferable cleaning products which are 3rd party certified (EPA Safer Choice)
- Verified disinfection claims
- Ingredient transparency and low VOCs
- Reduced supply-chain environmental impact
Water Flakes® helps meet these mandates through:
- EPA Safer Chemistry recognition
- Stearns’ long-standing sustainability program
- Source-reduced packaging and premeasured dosing for measurable sustainability gains.
- Now packaged in environmentally preferred flex packaging with resealable hook-and-pile closure.
Why These Awards Matter
We’ve been pioneers in premeasured cleaning systems since the 1960s, and Water Flakes® builds on that legacy.
Being recognized by FacilitiesNet’s Vision Awards for both sustainability and innovation is deeply meaningful — not just to our team, but to the customers who have helped us evolve these solutions over decades.
See Water Flakes® at the ISSA Show — Booth #5767
We’d love to meet you in person at ISSA Show North America 2025. Visit Booth #5767 to see how Water Flakes® can simplify your operations, support green initiatives, and make cleaning safer and smarter for your team.
Conclusion: The Smart, Sustainable Choice
For schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, hotels, and food service operations alike, Water Flakes® offer an unmatched combination of performance, safety, and sustainability — at a lower total cost of application.
We’re proud of the innovation behind Water Flakes®, and even prouder to see it recognized.
At Stearns Packaging — we can’t wait to show you what’s next!