Partner Interview: In Conversation with Steve Hengsperger, Founder and CEO of Tersano Inc.
by Chespack Hygiene10 February 20263 min read
Steve was invited to be part of the expert panel at ID25: The Sustainability Forum 2025 and speak about how Tersano's SAO solution can help you meet your sustainability goals.
Steve was invited to be part of the expert panel at ID25: The Sustainability Forum 2025 and speak about how Tersano's SAO solution can help you meet your sustainability goals.
Steve opened with a challenge: Give sustainable alternatives a genuine trial. Safe chemistry has evolved, but operator mindsets often lag. He emphasised that teams often assume they're guinea pigs when presented with greener solutions. Demonstrating real-world examples, small pilot groups, and hands-on testing helps build confidence and overcome emotional barriers.
Contrary to popular belief, sustainable cleaning doesn't need to be expensive. By using smarter processes and innovative tools, businesses can maintain exceptional hygiene standards while benefiting the planet and their bottom line.
For those who are new to SAO cleaning, what is it in plain terms? "It's ozone infused into water, an oxidiser, but at our working concentrations it carries a 000 hazard rating. It's an all-in-one cleaner, deodoriser, and sanitiser for most day-to-day tasks, with the honest caveat that deep cleaning is still needed occasionally, for example, on build-up or heavy soiling."
What myths about "green cleaning" do you want to debunk?
"First, 'green' does not automatically mean safer. If a product relies on heavy fragrance, it may still be problematic for health. Second, people assume sustainable options cannot perform. In practice, performance is about concentration and dwell time; the same principle applies to every chemical, even bleach. Third, the hidden cost is ignored; we see complex chemical cupboards, wrong product use, and avoidable exposure."
Operational change sticks when staff see, touch and trust the product. "We all want safer workplaces, better outcomes for operators, and sustainability that holds up under scrutiny. Tersano started when I saw what was under my own kitchen sink and was genuinely shocked. That kicked off a 25-year journey to eliminate unnecessary toxic chemistry using aqueous ozone, what we call SAO."
If there's one thing you hope people remember from this discussion, what would it be?
"Just one thing, but there are so many that are important, so I guess, you know, most important is to understand that sustainability is a goal everyone has. Start small, pilot properly, listen hard to what users do not like, then improve. People should not feel like guinea pigs. Give teams proof, training, and a reason that connects to their reality, then adoption follows. Just give our product a try. You'll see how great it works. Make your own decision from there."
The panel discussion touched on credibility. How should organisations talk about sustainability without greenwashing?
"Evidence, measurement, and transparency. As the panel put it, credibility comes from backing up claims with data and being honest when progress is not linear."
Steve opened with a challenge: Give sustainable alternatives a genuine trial. Safe chemistry has evolved, but operator mindsets often lag. He emphasised that teams often assume they're guinea pigs when presented with greener solutions. Demonstrating real-world examples, small pilot groups, and hands-on testing helps build confidence and overcome emotional barriers.
Contrary to popular belief, sustainable cleaning doesn't need to be expensive. By using smarter processes and innovative tools, businesses can maintain exceptional hygiene standards while benefiting the planet and their bottom line.
For those who are new to SAO cleaning, what is it in plain terms? "It's ozone infused into water, an oxidiser, but at our working concentrations it carries a 000 hazard rating. It's an all-in-one cleaner, deodoriser, and sanitiser for most day-to-day tasks, with the honest caveat that deep cleaning is still needed occasionally, for example, on build-up or heavy soiling."
What myths about "green cleaning" do you want to debunk?
"First, 'green' does not automatically mean safer. If a product relies on heavy fragrance, it may still be problematic for health. Second, people assume sustainable options cannot perform. In practice, performance is about concentration and dwell time; the same principle applies to every chemical, even bleach. Third, the hidden cost is ignored; we see complex chemical cupboards, wrong product use, and avoidable exposure."
Operational change sticks when staff see, touch and trust the product. "We all want safer workplaces, better outcomes for operators, and sustainability that holds up under scrutiny. Tersano started when I saw what was under my own kitchen sink and was genuinely shocked. That kicked off a 25-year journey to eliminate unnecessary toxic chemistry using aqueous ozone, what we call SAO."
If there's one thing you hope people remember from this discussion, what would it be?
"Just one thing, but there are so many that are important, so I guess, you know, most important is to understand that sustainability is a goal everyone has. Start small, pilot properly, listen hard to what users do not like, then improve. People should not feel like guinea pigs. Give teams proof, training, and a reason that connects to their reality, then adoption follows. Just give our product a try. You'll see how great it works. Make your own decision from there."
The panel discussion touched on credibility. How should organisations talk about sustainability without greenwashing?
"Evidence, measurement, and transparency. As the panel put it, credibility comes from backing up claims with data and being honest when progress is not linear."
