Green Cleaning: Why Switch When Prospects Aren't Asking For It?
Whether it's for the environment or health and safety reasons, commercial cleaning companies are incorporating green cleaning practices into their cleaning programs. Few industries are embracing environmental consciousness more than the cleaning industry, where environmentally friendly products and practices have become the norm – almost.
Unfortunately, there are still many cleaning companies that aren't in a hurry to make the switch. For those of you who fall into this category, I'd like you to consider that environmentally friendly cleaning practices benefits everyone – including your own staff.
Why Some Commercial Cleaning Companies Haven't Adopted Green Cleaning
The single most common reason your cleaning company may not have adopted green cleaning is the lack of customer interest. If they haven't directly asked for it, why provide the service?
It's your responsibility to educate your customers about the value of green cleaning. One example is that using products that contain toxic ingredients can negatively impact the indoor air quality of their building. The result is that it adversely affects the health and productivity of employees working in the building. This is nothing you haven't heard already, but why not back it up with case studies and statistics that demonstrate the negative impact? Sometimes people need to see the facts before they'll buy into hearsay.
In addition to the adverse affects of toxic products on building occupants, consider the fact that your employees are using these products on a daily basis. So if you aren't concerned about your customers, you may want to make the switch for the heath and safety of your own employees.
Another consideration, especially if you and your customers have concern for the environment; is that the improper disposal of conventional cleaning products can have a serious negative impact. And if not disposing of them lawfully, can have serious consequences. A poorly trained floor cleaning technician may think it's ok to dispose of floor stripping solution in the parking lot sewer drain. But there may be local regulations against such practices that can get your company into hot water.
Green Cleaning is Rigorously Tested and Approved
There still might be some skepticism about switching to green cleaning. I mean, how do you know it's really as beneficial as the manufacturers claim it is?
Several third-party certification organizations including Green Seal and EPA Safer Choice all have high standards for what can be deemed a “green” product. They must meet health and environmental guidelines, and demand the product is recertified every 2-3 years to ensure consistent compliance.
These rigorous methods ensure the authenticity of green cleaning products, and will help convince your customers of their value.
Are Green Cleaning Products As Effective As Conventional Cleaning Products?
Another major concern is the effectiveness of green cleaning solutions. Do they really work as well as their more harmful counterparts? For the most part yes – green cleaning products must meet a series of criteria to be considered effective and ready to market as environmentally friendly. Simply put, it must clean as well as or better than its conventional counterpart. Additional criteria include environmentally focused objectives like recyclable packaging, and the product must be biodegradable.
The cost of green cleaning products is often called into question. For many customers, the value of their cleaning service is directly tied to the cost, and raising it for green cleaning is not an option. It's incorrect to assume green cleaning costs more. In fact, one of the standards green cleaning must meet is cost neutrality. This means that the cost of adopting it has to remain comparable to using conventional cleaning products, and that it exists to help people switch to a better cleaning solution.
Conclusion
While there may be several factors, the most common reason green cleaning is often not adopted by commercial cleaning companies is simply because your customers haven't requested it. But when it comes down to it, you don't actually need to “sell” green cleaning to your clients. You can simply start incorporating more environmentally friendly products, equipment and practices into your cleaning programs, simply because it's the right thing to do.
Over time, you'll realize the benefits and will be able to speak with experience about the positive changes you've made. Then you can share how it's benefiting your staff's health and productivity, as well as the health and productivity of your clients' employees. This will position you as an expert in your market and will increase your chances of closing that next sale
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