Historic venue, modern cleaning: Gwyn Hall’s journey with Toucan Eco
Gwyn Hall in Neath, Southwest Wales, is a distinguished Grade II listed Victorian landmark dating back to 1887. After a £9 million transformation in 2012, it emerged as a vibrant, state-of-the-art cinema, theatre, and cultural hub. Today, the venue boasts a 400-seat community theatre, three cutting edge cinemas equipped with the latest laser projection technology, a stylish café bar set beneath a striking glass atrium, and a versatile meeting space. Together, these facilities support a rich and varied programme of live performances, films, music, and dance.
Commitment to innovation and sustainability
Gwyn Hall embraces technology to enhance visitor experiences, including augmented reality glasses that transform the way audiences engage with performances and screenings. Sustainability is also a major focus. The team has moved to LED lighting and laser projectors to reduce energy usage, and Gwyn Hall is an active member of the Zero Carbon Forum. They recently participated in a carbon calculator pilot with the UK Cinema Association (UKCA), exploring factors such as plastic use and cleaning chemicals.
Discovering Toucan Eco
It was during a sustainability workshop that Jamie Hughes, Assistant Manager at Gwyn Hall, first heard about Toucan Eco being used in cinema complexes to reduce carbon footprints.
Jamie explains: “I was recently on a sustainability course and learnt about another cinema using the technology to remove the need for cleaning chemicals and all the plastic waste it creates. We trialled Toucan Eco and that went really well. Then a UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grant helped towards the Toucan Eco Auto system as well as other investments.”
Introducing Toucan Eco Auto
Toucan Eco Auto is designed for medium to large facilities and produces 20 litres of multipurpose disinfectant cleaner in 30 minutes, using only water, salt and electrolysis. Once made, the solution is stored in a tank and dispensed into bottles or buckets for eco-friendly cleaning of all surfaces. It can even be used as a mild air freshener.
The fully automatic system only requires periodic refilling of the salt container when indicated by the LED display – and when all of the solution has been used, the system automatically makes more. Quite simply, it’s foolproof.
The devices are available in a range of sizes and produce a solution certified to EN antiviral and antibacterial standards, eliminating up to 99.999% of germs. Its active compounds – of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and a very low concentration of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) – create a powerful yet gentle cleaner at around pH 8. This allows organisations to replace over 80% of synthetic chemical cleaners and the single-use plastic bottles they are supplied in.
Easy adoption and immediate benefits
“Installed in September 2025, the Toucan Eco Auto is really good, convenient and so easy to use, especially as it’s fully automatic,” continues Jamie. “We have a lot of staff working at Gwyn Hall and everyone is responsible for cleaning, so it removes any chance of human error. Plus, it’s completely safe to use - there aren’t any safety issues you get with harsh chemicals - so our staff really like it.”
The team now uses the solution to clean all areas, including surfaces, cinema seats, toilets and floors, and it is also sprayed in washrooms as an air freshener. It has replaced almost all cleaning chemicals, except for degreasers and abrasive cleaners.
Staff acceptance and performance
“Some of our staff were a little wary at first, as it sounded too good to be true,” says Jamie. “But after using the solution and seeing how much dirt it lifts - especially from the floors compared to our previous cleaner - the team has fully embraced it. Instead of using one spray bottle for one task and another for something else, Toucan Eco now does pretty much everything. It’s so convenient for us and makes cleaning here at Gwyn Hall so much easier and safer too.”
Supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The project has been funded from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Managed by Neath Port Talbot Council (NPT), the aim of the funding is to support projects that invest in the area’s local heritage and culture (including the arts), which have a positive impact on wellbeing, social cohesion, tackling isolation and facilitating access to services.
For more information about Toucan Eco visit www.toucaneco.co.uk and you can learn about Gwyn Hall at www.gwyanhall.com.