Green Cleaning Products
GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS
There are a multitude of “green” products out there that claim to be environmentally safe and non-toxic, but not all of them are as “green” as the public is led to believe, nor do they do the job we need them to do so that our employees can clean safely, efficiently and in a cost effective manner. Many companies falsely advertise that their products are green, when in truth they continue to contain many chemicals that are harmful to the environment and human health. “Green Washing” is the term used to describe “the phenomena of socially and environmentally destructive corporations, attempting to preserve and expand their markets or power by posing as friends of the environment.” Unfortunately, the public is easily deceived and continue to use products that are not much better than conventional ones, believing that they are being environmentally responsible. We all need to take a closer look at the products we use and not assume that just because the label says “natural” or “biodegradable” or “non-toxic” or “earth friendly” that it is truly a green certified product that doesn’t contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health and the environment.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
When choosing green cleaning products for your facility, we recommend that you choose the products that meet the standards of the following organizations:
Canada’s Environmental Choice: www.EcoLogo.org
Green Seal Certification: www.GreenSeal.org
Check out www.ecoconceptsusa.com for additional information on certification organizations, product lines and criteria for environmentally safe products, services and practices.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICE ECOLOGO PROGRAM: EcoLogo www.EcoLogo.org is North America’s most widely recognized and respected certification of environmental leadership. By setting standards and certifying products in more than 120 categories, EcoLogo helps you identify, trust, buy, and sell environmentally preferable green goods and services. On their website, you’ll find more than 7,000 EcoLog certified products from hundreds of manufacturers. For buyers, EcoLogo is a tool to find, understand, and trust genuinely “green” products. For marketers, EcoLogo is a third-party endorsement, a sales tool, and a marketing program. By helping the buyers and sellers of genuinely green products find one another, EcoLogo rewards environmental leaders and helps shift the marketplace toward sustainability. Launched by the Canadian federal government in 1988, EcoLogo is North America’s oldest environmental standard and certification organization (and the second oldest in the world). It is the only North American standard accredited by the Global Ecolabeling Network ( www.globalecolabelling.net ) as meeting the international ISO 14124 standard for Type I (third-party certified, multi-attribute) environmental labels. Go to www.terrachoice-certified.com to find the products that are certified by EcoLogo.
GREEN SEAL CERTIFICATION: Founded in 1989, Green Seal www.GreenSeal.org provides science-based environmental certification standards that are credible, transparent, and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace. Their industry knowledge and standards help manufacturers, purchasers, and end users alike make responsible choices that positively impact business behavior and improve quality of life. Green Seal’s evaluations are based on state-of-the-art science and information using internationally recognized methods and procedures. Green Seal’s standard-setting process is open, collaborative, and fair. They have many built-in checks that ensure they are unbiased, realistic, and that the products they certify reach high levels of performance and quality. Products only become Green Seal certified after rigorous testing and evaluation, including on-site plant visits. The Green “Seal of Approval” has come to stand for reliability, fairness, and integrity. Go to www.GreenSeal.org/findaproduct/cleaners.cfm to find products that are Green Seal certified.
EPA DFE (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment): The EPA’s program does not currently match the standards of EcoLogo or Green Seal, however it does function to promote the use of institutional cleaners and maintenance products with some improved environmental and human health characteristics. “The key purpose of the DfE-Eco Concepts partnership is to recognize and encourage the environmentally preferable chemistry of the partnership products. By eliminating hazardous solvents, environmentally persistent surfacants, zinc cross-link agents, and other harmful ingredients, we demonstrate environmental stewardship and a dedication to continuous improvement. Institutional service, janitorial, and maintenance companies that use our products will be participants in this important national effort to protect the environment and safequard human health.” Go to www.epa.gov for more information.
Below is a list of companies who sell many of the conventional and green certified products that we use at Nash Janitorial. You can find many of these products at the local janitorial supply retailers in Eugene.
CLEANING PRODUCTS:
www.terrachoice-certified.com Terrachoice will lead you to hundreds of cleaning and floor maintenance products that are certified by EcoLogo. You can email or call the wholesalers to find out where the retailers are in your area. Most janitorial supply stores carry a selection of earth friendly products. Just make sure that they are certified by EcoLogo or Green Seal.
www.spartanchemical.com and www.green-solution.com Spartan Chemical Company has several excellent cleaning and floor maintenance products that meet the EcoLogo and Green Seal standards. We use several of these products at Nash Janitorial.
www.coastwide.com Coastwide has an excellent line of cleaning, and floor care products called “Sustainable Earth”. Several of their products are Green Seal certified and also meet EPS DfE standards. We use some of these products at Nash Janitorial.
www.pioneer-eclipse.com Pioneer Eclipse has a floor care system called “EnvironStar Green Floor Care System” that includes several excellent products that are Green Seal certified. We use some of these products at Nash Janitorial.
www.chemspecworld.com A general purpose cleaner that we have been using and are very pleased with is called ECOgent General Purpose Cleaner. It is certified by all three certification organizations: EcoLogo, Green Seal and Envirodesic. Sage Janitorial Supply in Eugene is a supplier if you are interested in purchasing this product for your facility. They are located at the Big Y Shopping Center in Eugene.