What Buckeye International does

Buckeye International, Inc. is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of commercial cleaning chemicals, headquartered in Maryland Heights, Missouri, with operating history dating to 1844. The company produces disinfectants, floor finishes, wood floor coatings, hand hygiene products, dilution control systems, and waste liners, primarily serving institutional and commercial facilities — including correctional facilities, K-12 and higher education, hospitals and healthcare, long-term care, retail and supermarkets, and recreational/community centers. Revenue is generated by selling products through an exclusive network of authorized distributors in North America; Buckeye does not sell direct to end users, and pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Buckeye's portfolio is built around several proprietary and licensed technologies. Patented Liquescent® technology underpins its butyl-free floor strippers; Polymatrix® and licensed Microban® antimicrobial technology are integrated into Clarion 25 floor finish, Arena 300 wood floor coating, and Aspida LVT restorative coating. The Buckeye Eco® Proportioning dilution control system uses hermetically sealed flexible packaging and is ASSE 1055-2009 B compliant for backflow prevention. Sub-brands include Symmetry® (hand hygiene with behavior modification tools), Buckeye Eco® Proportioning (Eco Pro, Eco Edge, Eco Element systems plus super-concentrated formulas), Reflections® Wood Floor Care (Arena and Coliseum coatings), Eco Pods (dissolvable concentrates), and Gateway Liners (R-Spec and R-Fit trash liners). The company manufactures its own polymers for floor finishes under a vertically integrated supply chain.

Buckeye operates a programmatic selling model, bundling products with vertical-specific training curricula (Honors for schools, Prescription for hospitals, Insight for long-term care, Clarity Plus for retail) rather than selling individual SKUs in isolation. The company holds Green Seal GS41 certifications on multiple products, EPA Safer Choice listing for Eco Pods, UL Classified slip-resistance ratings, NSF E1/E2 ratings on hand hygiene products, and MFMA compliance for wood floor training. The distributor-exclusive model with territory exclusivity means Buckeye does not sell direct to end users. The company is privately held with no identified parent, venture capital, or institutional investors in the source data.

Name

Buckeye International

Legal name

Buckeye International, Inc.

Website

https://buckeyeinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1844

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Buckeye International is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of commercial cleaning chemicals — disinfectants, floor finishes, dilution control systems, hand hygiene products, and waste liners — sold exclusively through authorized distributors to institutional facilities such as schools, hospitals, retail, and long-term care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Cleaning Chemicals

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (3256), Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing (325612), Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing (325611)

SIC

Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Bathroom All-Purpose Cleaners (Multi-Surface) (CRAJAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kitchen & Countertop Cleaners & Degreasers (CRAJACAA), Bathroom Surface Cleaners (Sinks, Tubs, Tiles, Grout) (CRAJADAE)

Keywords

• Commercial cleaning chemicals
• Disinfectants and sanitizers
• Floor finishes and coatings
• Hand hygiene products
• Dilution control systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Maryland Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commercial Cleaning Products: Buckeye International manufactures and sells industrial-strength commercial cleaning supplies including disinfectants, floor finishes, hand hygiene products, wood floor coatings, and specialty cleaners through a network of authorized distributors. Products are designed for commercial and institutional facilities.
2. Eco Pods: Dissolvable cleaning concentrate pods sold for commercial and institutional facilities. Each pod is dropped into spray bottles or mop buckets with water for precise dilution.
3. Gateway Liners: Waste liner products including R-Spec premium liners and R-Fit liners sold to facilities for waste management. Features TrueSpec technology for stronger, lighter liners.
4. Training Programs: Buckeye offers specialized training programs (Honors for schools, Insight for long-term care, Prescription for hospitals) as part of their comprehensive cleaning programs. Training includes step-by-step instructional videos, procedure manuals, and wall charts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Buckeye International manufactures and sells commercial cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, hand hygiene products, floor finishes, wood floor coatings, and dilution control systems. Products are sold exclusively through a network of authorized distributors to commercial and institutional facilities. The company also provides supporting training programs and troubleshooting resources as part of its complete cleaning programs.

Product overview

Buckeye International is a commercial cleaning products manufacturer offering an extensive portfolio of branded cleaning and maintenance products organized into distinct product lines. The portfolio is structured around core product categories (Disinfectants, Cleaners, Floor Finishes, Floor Strippers, Carpet Care, Industrial, Food Service, Odor Control, Bathroom Supplies, Specialty Products, Dilution Control) supported by specialized sub-brands including Symmetry Hand Hygiene (hand washes, sanitizers, lotions, body washes, and dispensers with behavior modification tools), Buckeye Eco Proportioning (dilution control systems including Eco Pro, Eco Element, Eco Edge, plus super-concentrated cleaning formulas), Reflections Wood Floor Care (Arena and Coliseum water-based and oil-based wood floor coatings), and Eco Pods (dissolvable concentrate pods for easy dilution). The company also offers training programs (Honors, Insight, Prescription, Clarity Plus) and Gateway Liners (trash liners including R-Spec and R-Fit). All products are backed by proprietary technologies including patented Liquescent technology for floor strippers, Microban antimicrobial technology integrated into floor finishes and coatings, and Green Seal certifications for eco-friendly formulations. The vertically integrated manufacturing approach allows the company to engineer and produce its own polymers for floor finishes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Symmetry® Hand Hygiene: Hand hygiene products, dispensers, and behavioral modification tools for commercial facilities
• Buckeye Eco® Proportioning
• Reflections® Wood Floor Care
• Gateway Liners

Products and services

• Eco Pods Eco-friendly concentrated cleaning product pods used within the Buckeye Eco Proportioning dilution control system for commercial cleaning applications. Designed for commercial and institutional facilities seeking sustainable cleaning solutions.
• Sanicare Commercial Disinfectants EPA-registered commercial disinfectants for use in healthcare, schools, correctional, and other institutional facilities to kill pathogens on hard surfaces.
• Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program Hand hygiene product line including soap, sanitizer, and dispensers designed to improve hand hygiene compliance in commercial and institutional environments including healthcare, long-term care, schools, and offices.
• Buckeye Eco Proportioning System Dilution control system that accurately dispenses concentrated cleaning chemicals for commercial cleaning applications, reducing waste and ensuring proper dilution for safety and cost control.
• Commercial Floor Finishes Commercial floor finishes formulated for durability and reduced maintenance cycles in high-traffic facilities, with maintenance cycles reported at 18–36 months.
• Reflections Wood Floor Care Wood floor care program including the Arena 300 system designed for gymnasiums, arenas, and other wood floor surfaces in recreational and educational facilities.
• Gateway Liners Trash can liners for commercial and institutional facilities, sold as part of Buckeye's broader facility supplies offering.
• Buckeye Cleaners and Floor Strippers Routine commercial cleaners and floor strippers used to maintain and restore commercial floor surfaces between finish applications.
• Buckeye Training Programs Training and instructional programs that support customers and distributor partners in implementing Buckeye cleaning programs, including product use and troubleshooting resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce labor costs by up to 50%
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association)minorOthersBuckeye International is a member of the National Wood Flooring Association, supporting wood floor care industry standards and accessing MFMA training approvals for the Reflections Wood Floor Program.
• ISSAminorOthersBuckeye International is a member of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, providing industry presence and credibility.
• Microban InternationalcoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed technology partnership integrating Microban antimicrobial technology into Clarion 25 floor finish, Arena 300 wood floor coating, and Aspida LVT coating. Provides continuous antimicrobial protection that inhibits bacterial growth on treated surfaces for the product's usable life.
• Green SealcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertification partnership for eco-friendly products. Multiple Buckeye products including hand washes, lotion soaps, floor cleaners, and hydrogen peroxide cleaners are Green Seal certified to meet GS41 standards.
• NSF InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct certification for Antimicrobial Foaming Hand Wash and Green Certified Hand Wash SMT with NSF E2 ratings for nonfood compounds (Category E2 and E1).
• Underwriters Laboratories (UL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUL Classified testing for floor finishes confirming slip resistance ratings for safety compliance.
• U.S. Environmental Protection AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA Safer Choice program partnership. Eco Pods film grades meet EPA Safer Choice standards and are listed in CleanGredients, supporting facilities pursuing Green Seal certification or LEED compliance.
• Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFMA approval for Reflections Wood Floor Program training content including Arena 300 product and associated training materials.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Betco Corporation: US specialty chemical manufacturer of cleaning, disinfectants, and floor-care products for facility maintenance markets. Competes head-to-head with Buckeye in floor finishes, hand hygiene, and distributor-led commercial cleaning channels.
• Zep Inc. Manufacturer and marketer of cleaning and maintenance chemicals for industrial, institutional, and retail customers. Directly comparable in chemistry categories, vertical programs, and distributor-supported go-to-market motion.
• Rochester Midland Corporation: Specialty chemical maker focused on cleaning, sanitizing, and water-treatment products for commercial and institutional facilities. Comparable in vertical-specific programs and emphasis on regulated end markets like healthcare and food service.
• Spartan Chemical Company: Privately held US manufacturer of specialty cleaning, sanitation, and floor-care chemicals sold through distributors to institutional and commercial accounts. Closely comparable in product breadth, distribution model, and target verticals to Buckeye.

Broad incumbents

• Ecolab: Global leader in water, hygiene, and infection-prevention solutions with deep penetration in food service, hospitality, healthcare, and industrial markets. Overlaps with Buckeye's disinfectant, floor-care, and hand-hygiene categories but operates a much larger direct service model.
• Diversey: Global provider of hygiene, cleaning, and infection-prevention solutions for food service, healthcare, and facility management. Competes with Buckeye in commercial disinfectants, floor care, and proportioning systems at enterprise accounts.
• Clorox Professional Products: Clorox's commercial cleaning and disinfecting business serving healthcare, foodservice, and corporate facilities. Competes with Buckeye in EPA-registered disinfectants, sanitizing wipes, and surface-cleaning chemistries at institutional accounts.
• SC Johnson Professional: Commercial division of SC Johnson offering cleaning, hygiene, and floor-care solutions to institutional and industrial customers. Direct overlap with Buckeye's hand hygiene, hard floor care, and training-supported program approach.
• 3M Commercial Solutions Division: Broader industrial conglomerate with commercial cleaning, floor care, and facility maintenance offerings within a much wider portfolio. Comparable in commercial end markets but with vastly larger R&D and channel resources.

Emerging players

• Simple Green: Eco-positioned cleaning products brand with growing professional and industrial channels. Comparable in sustainability-led positioning (Green Seal, Safer Choice) and overlapping categories like all-purpose and degreasing cleaners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/buckeyeinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buckeye-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Buckeye International