Is Green Cleaning Still Important to Facility Managers?
Green cleaning is not a new concept; we've been recommending it for many years. Nevertheless, we still hear from companies that are hesitant to switch their current practices to more eco-friendly solutions if customers don't specifically request them.
A survey from Contracting Profits showed 84% of facility managers surveyed expect their contract cleaners to make environmentally friendly decisions. As green cleaning becomes the norm, it's important for contract cleaners to provide it in order to meet client expectations.
One of the most common arguments against green cleaning is that it's not as effective as conventional methods. This is a misconception, but you can put your mind at ease by choosing products with third-party certifications. Certifying organizations have high standards and they usually re-check for compliance every two to three years.
Studies have found that green cleaning practices are safer and healthier without a large difference in cost. In fact, a common standard for certification is that green products must be cost-neutral.
Facility Managers Expect Green Cleaning Practices from Cleaning Companies
The truth is executives care more about the large-scale implications of green cleaning than the individual products, according to the Contracting Profits survey.
Three-quarters of survey respondents agreed that BSCs should work on reducing energy and water use as much as possible. More than 80% said indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of the most important things they value in the workspace. Those statistics align with the emerging trend across all industries of using sustainable materials and reducing waste whenever possible.
We predict that BSCs will notice sustainability becoming a common discussion point when discussing green cleaning with facility managers. Sustainability considers environmental protection, economic consideration, and social responsibility. The basic idea driving sustainability is to reduce waste and conserve natural resources for future generations.
So, what can you do to make your green cleaning practices more sustainable?
1. Use green products
Green cleaning products are widely available for nearly every application, the cost is relatively the same, and the benefits far outweigh any inconvenience. The products are safer for your employees and your customers to be around and they're easier to dispose of than harsh cleaning agents, which may be regulated by local ordinances.
There's simply no good excuse for not using environmentally friendly cleaning products in your daily operations.
In addition to green cleaning solutions, sustainable equipment includes simple upgrades like HEPA filters on vacuum cleaners and multi-purpose options for equipment. When it's time to replace equipment, consider a high-efficiency item that will last as long as possible so you're not filling the landfills with old equipment.
2. Focus on IAQ
Many studies link harsh cleaning chemicals with an emergence of asthma-like symptoms. The EPA says “poor IAQ for all buildings suggest a 2-4% loss on average” in workplace performance.
The good news? EPA research at an elementary school found that switching to green-cleaning procedures nearly halved the levels of airborne dust, bacteria, and fungi colony-forming units.
When shopping for new cleaning equipment, consider how the new pieces will affect air quality for your clients. Older vacuums without HEPA filters can exacerbate these problems by putting additional dust in the air. Additionally, traditional dusters may remove fine dust particles from surfaces, but much of it ends up in the air. Switching to microfiber cloths helps prevent these problems without creating extra work for your employees.
After switching to green cleaning practices, almost all workplaces see a reduction in employee sick time and report lower rates of cold and flu transmission due to better IAQ,
3. Be open to change
If you're already using recommended sustainable equipment and products, are you also making the most sustainable scheduling choices? Sometimes, small tweaks to your schedule can make a big change in the amount of energy or products you need to use.
For example, cleaning as much as possible during regular work hours can reduce the energy costs of using lighting outside of your customers' typical business hours. Also, vacuuming high-traffic carpeted areas more often than usual will cut back on the frequency of carpet cleanings (which use considerably more water and energy) without shortening the lifespan of the carpet.
You don't need to sell your clients on the idea of going green. In fact, you could implement sustainable practices without even telling your customers. Even small changes like spraying cleaning chemicals directly onto cleaning cloths instead of misting them into the air can result in better IAQ and improve the health and safety of your technicians and building occupants.
Green cleaning and sustainable cleaning practices are easier than you think. You can implement these types of procedures at any budget. Making eco-friendly practices part of your regular routine ensures your clients' and technicians' health while also conserving natural resources.
With more than 75% of facility managers saying they expect contract cleaners to use eco-friendly practices, it's important to understand how your company's offerings can become more sustainable. And really, there's no downside to adopting these green policies because what once was a selling point has become an expectation.
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