Are You Providing Environmentally Conscious Cleaning? Truly?
We are all aware by now of the massive effort on everyone's part be more environmentally conscious. This social agenda advocates the concept of ecology and sustainability and this movement continues to evolve. This is especially true when it comes to the cleaning industry.
As nationwide efforts continue pushing toward “earth friendly,” building owners and facility mangers are looking for their BSC's to provide them with environmentally preferred cleaning services. And as the demand for greener services continues to grow, many government building, schools, and universities also require a formalized green cleaning and sustainability program be used in their facilities.
How do you know if you truly offer environmentally conscious cleaning services?
In its infancy, it was unclear exactly what it meant to be environmentally conscious. The term “green cleaning” was vague and much of the information associated with it was inaccurate or intentionally disguised.
For years, the label of “green” had gone without challenge, meaning, many manufacturers claimed to offer products and chemicals that were so called “green” when in reality, they were not. They falsely represented products with misleading labels in order to market to this growing trend. Manufacturers saturated the marketplace with so called eco-friendly and green products, a practice labeled by the cleaning industry as “green washing.”
Today this is all changing. The impact of green cleaning is being felt industry wide and manufacturers are feeling the pressure to provide us with proof that the products and brands they sell are biodegradable, non-toxic, and produced with recycled and renewable resources.
Now there are third party organizations that have created a much needed standard that provide testing, monitoring and certifications. You now can confidently offer your customers environmentally conscience and certified green products and services; but you still need to stay up to date with the standards and regulations in the cleaning industry.
Following are some of the organizations involved in setting green cleaning standards:
An independent non-profit organization that uses science-based environmental certification standards on products. Green Seal conducts product evaluations using a life-cycle approach to make sure all significant environmental impacts of a particular product have been considered.
EcoLogo labeling program provides customers -- public, corporate and consumer -- with assurance that the products and services bearing the logo meet stringent environmental standards that have been verified by a third party auditor.
EcoLogo was acquired by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in 2010, and is currently the only North American eco-labeling program approved by the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), an association of third-party labeling organizations dedicated to improving transparency in environmental products and services.
UL is one of several companies approved to perform safety testing by the US federal agency Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
U.S. EPA Design for the Environment
The DFE logo on a product means that each ingredient has been screened for potential human health and environmental effects and that the product contains only those ingredients that pose the least concern among chemicals in their class.
USGBC is a private, membership-based non-profit organization that promotes sustainability in buildings design, construction, and operation. USGBC is best known for its development of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating systems and its annual Green-Build International Conference and Expo, the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building.
Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN)
The Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) is a non-profit interest group composed of 25 ecolabel organizations throughout the world representing 50 countries and territories, and six associate members.
Ecolabels are "licensed" for use only after a product or service is proven to meet transparent, published standards for environmental prefer ability, verified by a qualified, independent, third party, and assessed over multiple environmental parameters (not just one single issue). The ecolabels are an assurance to consumers and procurement professionals that a product or service is proven "green" and has high environmental values and integrity.
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI)
This is a science-based resource for facts about carpet and rugs. When you buy a product that has the CRI Seal of Approval, you have proof that you have purchased a quality product that cleans effectively and protects your customer's carpet investment.
U.S. EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
This is the resource that government buildings use to buy green products. This site is also useful to green cleaning service providers, businesses and consumers who are interested in purchasing products with a reduced environmental impact.
U.S. EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
The CPG program designates products that are or can be made with materials recovered from solid waste. Buying recycled-content products ensures that the materials collected in recycling programs will be used again in the manufacture of new products.
Biodegradable Products Institute
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is a professional association of key individuals and groups from government, industry and academia, which promotes the use, and recycling of biodegradable polymeric materials (via composting). The BPI is open to any materials and products that demonstrate (via scientifically proven techniques) that their products are completely biodegradable in approved composting facilities.
Conclusion:
These organizations make it much easier for BCS's to identify and adopt an environmentally conscience program, knowing the products have gone through legitimate testing, training, and certification processes. This also creates a great opportunity for cleaning companies to not only take part in the green movement, but justify their product/service offerings and market “green” to their customers.
Environmentally conscious, green living, ecological sustainability; regardless of the phrase, its definition remains the same, being committed to conducting all business activities in an eco-friendly manner, reducing the exposure of cleaning personnel, customer's facilities and its occupants to potentially hazardous procedures, products, and equipment which could adversely affect human health and the environment.
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