Chain Hotels Take Green Lead

A recent study by Stefani Svaren, who a student at the School of Hospitality Business Management in Pullman, WA, found that major chain hotels are far ahead of independent hotels in the area of sustainable and Green practices.
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Paying More for Sustainable Products

In a just-released survey conducted for The Sustainability Dashboard, a Web-based system that helps organizations measure and monitor their use of fuel, water, energy, etc, asked150 professionals, including facility managers and cleaning professionals, about their willingness to pay more for sustainable products.
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A New Year and A New You… for Green Cleaning Professionals

Each winter, as one year comes to a close and a new one begins, I am asked my predictions for the year ahead, especially as it pertains to Green Cleaning. I am proud to say that for the most part, I have been “right on the money.” Most of my Green Cleaning predictions have materialized. My timing may not have always been exact, but the final outcome did occur.
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EcoSan Recycles Chewing Gum

Three and a half billion pieces of chewing gum are left sticking to streets in the United Kingdom (UK) each year. But now environmental big guns Carl and Sonja Wood of Ashford-based EcoSan Services have decided that gum has had it too good for too long. Their answer? The Gumdrop.
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When the Solution to Cleaning Involves No Solution at All

Green cleaning has evolved over the past decade. Originally, the big emphasis of Green cleaning was using chemicals that had a reduced impact on the user and the environment. And over the years it has evolved so that we now have Green floor machines, carpet extractors, and other cleaning tools that have been reengineered so that they also have less negative impact on the environment.
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Daimler's New Technology

Daimer Industries, Inc.® has released information about eight new units with a Daimer®-only capability that supports longer hoselines and long distance cleaning. This capability, referred to as Long Hose Technology, provides “pressure cleaning about 90 meters from the pressure producing base unit by providing consistent pressure along the entire length of the hoseline.”
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ISSA Names Top Service Suppliers

Best Customer Service Awards were presented by ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, at the ISSA/INTERCLEAN® North America 2011 trade show held in Las Vegas, NV, October 18–21.
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Understanding Water Recycling Terminology

As water concerns mount around the globe, it is expected that water recycling and reclamation practices will become much more common in future years. These practices are expected to greatly impact how facilities are operated and cleaned. Because of this, building and cleaning professionals are wise to know more about water recycling, starting with its terminology.
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ANSI Z10 Comment Period Opens

The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) has announced that the comment period for an updated AIHA/ANSI Z10 standard has opened. The Fairfax, Va., based association reports that the period will run from November 25 to January 9.
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New Tornado Facebook Site

Tornado Industries, a division of Tacony Corp., a manufacturer of professional cleaning equipment, has announced a new Facebook page designed for cleaning professionals at http://www.facebook.com/TornadoIndustries.
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Compost Combo Promo

Here’s a great example of how to co-promote both a product and program. In a joint celebration of America Recycles Day, NYCompost worked with Glad® to spread word about Glad’s recently released compostable bags.
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ISSA Releases Post-show Report

ISSA/INTERCLEAN® North America 2011 lived up to its theme, The Start of Something Big, posting a 13 percent increase in non-exhibiting attendees over last year’s show. According to its press release, that increase contributed to a total attendance of nearly 16,000.
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Cornell Sees Green

A post on the (Ithaca, NY) Chronicle Online, notes that Cornell University’s 378-member custodial crew has been cleaning green for more than 30 years.
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SURVEY: Role of Corporate Sustainability

Results from the “BSR/GlobalScan State of Sustainable Business Poll 2011, released on November 2 at the BSR Conference 2011, indicate the continuing importance of sustainability to global businesses.
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Green Seal's Newest Standards

According to Green Seal, Inc. (www.GreenSeal.org), the nation’s oldest independent, non-profit environmental certification organization, it released standards for specialty cleaners used in the industrial, institutional, and consumer markets in late August.
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Hospitals Need Cleaning Green Research

A research report just released by the Health Care Research Collaborative underscores the necessity for more studies re. the effect cleaning green programs have on the health of both hospital staff and patients.
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Clorox’s Commercial Green Works Cleaners Win PCHS Nod of Approval for School Cleaning

Clorox Professional Products Company announced at the ISSA/INTERCLEAN trade show that Clorox Commercial Solutions Green Works Concentrated Cleaners have been named among the preferred cleaning products by Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools (PCHS).
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SC Johnson Surveys Green Attitudes

On Oct. 4, SC Johnson and GfK Roper Consulting announced the results of the 20th Anniversary Green Gauge® survey. The just-released study, showed a shift, over the past two decades, of consumer attitudes and behaviors toward the green. Three out of four consumers surveyed said they feel positive when doing something that’s beneficial for the environment.
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Antibacterial Products Found Safe

Research findings published in International Journal of Microbiology Research, a peer-reviewed journal, disprove recent claims that antibacterial soaps and washes contribute to antibacterial and antibiotic resistance.
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Cleaning Green Magazine Releases Research Results

Cleaning Green Magazine (cleaninggreenmagazine.com) has released some of the results of the ongoing research it conducts with cleaning green executives, as well as janitorial and other cleaning green service providers. Here are six key findings of Cleaning Green Media’s research conducted over the last several months:
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CRI Seal of Approval Expands

According to the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), its Seal of Approval (SOA) testing and certification program for carpet cleaning products and equipment has grown again with the addition of multiple products in the solutions and vacuums categories. There are currently 331 solutions, 286 vacuums, 93 extractors and 88 systems in the Seal of Approval program, for a total of 798.
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Google Data Centers Go Green

Google has just released, “Google’s Data Centers: Network POP Case Study. “ Following are excerpts from the just-released study. “Each year the company saves millions of dollars and has avoided tens of thousands of tons in carbon dioxide emissions. It accomplishes this through its data center sustainability efforts, which have resulted in eliminating half the energy used in traditional data centers.
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GET Partners with EPA

Green Earth Technologies, Inc., a producer of green, “environmentally safer” products, partnered earlier this year with the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Program. As part of the agreement, according to a release from the company, “GET's line of G-CLEAN™ ultimately biodegradable, highly effective, yet safer chemistry products have been recognized by the DfE for its minimized risk to users and to the environment.” As a result of the partnership, the G-CLEAN line-up will display the DfE lo
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MXEnergy’s Eco Office Tips

Whether choosing Energy Star appliances or selecting more energy efficient lighting, millions of people are incorporating energy efficiency into their personal habits and purchasing decisions. Now a leading energy company is encouraging its customers to take those same "green" principles and apply them to their business life as well.
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Flooring and Cleaning

According to the EPA, one fifth of the country’s population spends “a significant amount of time” on a daily basis in a school building. Among the biggest health issues faced by those individuals is indoor air quality.
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Library Goes Green

According to the Norwalk (CT) Public Library, the facility has recently implemented a Green Cleaning program. As reported on the library’s website: The Green Cleaning program utilizes cleaning products that are environmentally preferred, formulated from bio-based renewable resources, non-toxic and non-allergenic. All members of the Norwalk Public Library cleaning staff have been trained in environmentally preferred cleaning techniques.
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LEED’S System for Healthcare

This spring, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) officially launched LEED for Healthcare, its newest rating program for green buildings. The system guides both the construction and design of existing building major renovations as well as new construction. The rating system can be applied to in- and outpatient facilities, as well as long-term care establishments, licensed and long-term outpatient facilities, medical office locations, research and medical education facilities, as well as long-
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Tallahassee Regional Airport Adopts Green Cleaning Policy

Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH) has implemented a "Green Cleaning" program to improve indoor air quality and mitigate long-term health risks and allergies associated with indoor air pollutants. This new program includes safe cleaning practices and products for custodial use to improve the overall health and well-being of airport staff and customers.
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Economic Downturn Creates Opportunities for Office Cleaning Company

As the economic roller coaster continues unabated, organizations may be tempted to gain stability and control their costs by eliminating professional cleaning services. However, that may not be the easy fix it appears to be, and can in fact have adverse repercussions for businesses, according to Commercial Janitorial.
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Bon Ami Brings Back 125-Year-Old Cleaning Cake to Celebrate Anniversary, Commitment to Non-Toxic Ingredients

Bon Ami is celebrating its 125th anniversary by issuing a limited run of its original 1886 Formula Cleaning Cake, once a staple in households across America.
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Green Building Features Support Worker Wellbeing and Productivity

A workplace with good air quality, comfortable temperature, natural light and other features associated with green buildings is likely to result in a more productive workforce, according to a study conducted by Jones Lang LaSalle. So states the company release, distributed by PRNewswire on July 13. Below is the remainder of the release and the study’s findings.
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Company Adds Green Initiatives

WhiteHall Products, a leading provider of single-use solutions including plastics, paper products and janitorial supplies, today announced that the company has introduced its product line of 'green' initiatives.
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University of Colorado Gets Sustainable with Staples

The University of Colorado, which has a long history as an environmental leader and in 2009 was named, "The Greenest Campus in the U.S." by Sierra Magazine, has awarded Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, Inc., a 5-year contract to implement a university-wide environmentally-preferable cleaning program. The program is intended to help reduce the university's impact on the environment.
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xpedx Promotes ‘Healthy Buildings, Healthy People’ at 2011 BOMA International

xpedx showcased products and services specifically designed for property and facility managers during the recent 2011 BOMA International Conference & The Every Building Show in Washington, D.C. The conference is an annual event that brings together experts and resources in the commercial real estate industry and building owners and managers from around the world to discuss current trends, best practices and learn how industry leaders are staying ahead in the marketplace.
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Whistle Blower Protection

A new “whistleblower” statue was released by OSHA earlier this year, which protects individuals and employees from reporting unhealthy conditions. Here’s what it says:
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Ten Ways to Conserve Energy

Rexel Holdings USA, a leading U.S distributor of energy-saving technology, works with big and small companies across the globe to boost their energy efficiency. “We’ve seen many companies cut their energy usage by at least five percent and a substantial number have reduced their usage by double digits,” said Rexel Holdings USA’s EVP and CEO Chris Hartmann.
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Kelco Tips and Resources

Kelco Products in Springfield, Ma, offers green cleaning information on its website. Here’s some of what they have to say: “Green or environmentally preferable products are defined in Presidential Executive Order 13101 as ‘Products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.’
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LEED Launches Healthcare Ratings

In early April, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) introduced its latest green building rating system, LEED for Healthcare, at the CleanMed conference. Following is how USGBC announced the new program: The rating system guides the design and construction of both new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings, and can be applied to inpatient, outpatient and licensed long-term care facilities, medical offices, assisted living facilities and medical education and research centers
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Majority of U.S. Adults Prefer Doing Business with Companies with Companies that Use Green Cleaning Products, New Study Shows

A majority of U.S. adults prefer to do business with a company that uses green cleaning products and practices, according to a new survey commissioned by Cintas Corporation. The telephone poll was conducted by Harris Interactive in March 2011 among more than 1,000 adults ages 18 and older, and found that 84 percent of those surveyed have a preference for companies using green cleaning products.
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Green Earth Technologies Unveils Sustainable Pressure Washer Cleaning Solution

Green Earth Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of environmentally safe consumer packaged goods and products, has introduced its new sustainable pressure washer cleaning solutions, G-CLEAN in sustainable/reusable collapsible bags. The biodegradable ultra-concentrated detergent will be filled in a lightweight space-saving, free-standing bag that can be placed on the ground or hung on the pressure washer.
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Green Household Cleaners

According to an article in The New York Times on April 21, the allure of green has faded for today’s money-drained consumers. According to the article, when Clorox launched Green Works in 2008, it went bigtime, with the support of the Sierra Club and a national launch in Wal-Marts. The result? Sales of over $100 million in that first year and the introduction of green products by a number of other companies.
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Green Cleaning Preferred

Cintas Corporation, based in Cincinnati, has released the results of its recent survey, conducted by Harris Interactive in March 2011, about attitudes of consumers regarding doing business with companies that clean green.
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Best Practices

The most successful green cleaning programs consist of more than just procuring better products, stresses ResponsiblePurchasingNetwork.org. The following Best Practices, as detailed by the group on its website, help to structure and implement green cleaning programs that are flexible and designed for long-term success.
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What Our Surveys Say...

Here are the results of some of the monthly surveys, as answered by you and your peers, that we conduct on our website.
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Environmental Marketing

Following are the results of the 2011 Cone Green Gap Trend Tracker, as reported in a March 24 press release from the company. Americans continue to misunderstand phrases commonly used in environmental marketing and advertising, giving products a greater halo than they may deserve. At the same time, most Americans are willing to punish a company for using misleading claims.
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Green Cleaning Co. Among INC’s Top Ten

Stratus Building Solutions, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the “10 Most Promising Franchises of 2011” according to Inc. Magazine.
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Improving CG Practices

Selection of products is just part of the green cleaning quotient. Training custodial staff and changing the protocols of your cleaning program can also make a big impact on how effective your cleaning green program is. The following guidelines, reproduced from the website www.responsiblepurchasing.com, offer suggestions on how to maximize green cleaners’ benefits:
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Content Disclosure

The Clorox Company has announced it is now disclosing the following additional information about its products through its Ingredients Inside program: * Specific identity of preservatives and dyes in all U.S. and Canadian cleaning, disinfecting, and laundry products. This information expands upon the listing of active ingredients, which has been provided to consumers over the last two years. * Palette of fragrance ingredients
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Green Buildings: Bottom-line Benefits

The 2010 Green Building Market and Impact Report cited many benefits to green, LEED-rated buildings and construction. Authored and researched by Rob Watson, the executive editor of GreenerBuildings.com, the report’s findings include:
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Schools Measure CG Success

Healthy Schools offers four school district mini case studies. Each district implemented new cleaning programs, products, and procedures. Some of the results, as reported by healthyschools.org, follow.
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Getting the Word Out

As part of its Healthy People, Healthy Planet report, also known as the Tork Report, surveyed business decision makers to determine if, and how, they publicize their business’ green efforts. Here are the results:
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Sustainable Cleaning in Healthcare

A traditional approach to green cleaning that works in other facilities may not be prudent in healthcare. Every cleaning operation should be scrutinized closely and align with internal infection prevention practices. Integrating more sustainable cleaning products into hospitals’ operations is one of the most beneficial ways facility managers can protect employees, patients, and other occupants by providing an environment free from harmful toxins, residues and irritating odors, while at the sa
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Pesticide Database

Late last summer, PRNewsire reported this important news story about the launch of a pesticides database. Because the database is constantly being updated, and has bearing on all involved in the cleaning category, we feature it below in its entirety.
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Saving Green on Green

According to Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA), "going green" is becoming a competitive advantage in today's business world. Many consumers place great importance on sustainability and some big box retailers have made it a condition of doing business with their suppliers.
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The Rise of Green Business and Certification

In its Healthy People, Healthy Planet report, SCA Tissue North America (manufacturer of the Tork brand) asked business decision-makers if they purchase green products and if green purchasing decisions will increase in the future.
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S.C. Johnson Talks Green

Beginning in late November, S.C. Johnson announced its plans to disclose all product ingredients. Beginning with commercials running during November’s Thanksgiving Day parade, the spots, which also appear on numerous websites, feature the company’s Chairman, Herbert Fisk Johnson III. As Johnson told The New York Times, the promise to disclose “all of our ingredients, right down to the fragrances and dyes,” is being presented as part of the “family company” campaign. S. C. Johnson initially made
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Sustainability Research Report (Part I of 3)

With everyone from the local grocery store to the big-box chain store claiming to be “green,” it’s becoming more difficult to decipher what’s real and what’s hype. As the business of adopting greener practices becomes increasingly more important, it’s necessary to be educated on the meaning of environmental responsibility and prepared for what’s to come.
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Microfiber Case Study

Opened in March 2008, Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5) is the UK’s largest freestanding structure, comprising 3.8 million square foot across four floors. The building is in use 24 hours a day, so when building services contractor Amey was awarded the cleaning and maintenance contract, it needed to create a robust cleaning process that could ensure the highest cleaning standards in a large building.
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Cross Contamination

Germs are transferred throughout the school day among students when they do something as simple as touch a hand-towel dispenser. One solution, and the case study about it, comes from Scat Tissues and the Healthy Schools Campaign.
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Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools

The Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) has just released an updated and expanded third edition of The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools. Among other things, it features updated information as well as additional resources about sustainability, green cleaning for food service, new technologies, and infection control, to name just a few of the topics.
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Walmart Steps It Up

Walmart is leading the way when it comes to implementing what are known as green scoring tools to evaluate the goods it sells at retail.
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How to Eliminate Risks Associated with Cleaning Chemicals

For companies, clients, and staff there are some interesting events happening globally which are likely to affect how we all clean in the future. The changes will see some people become genuine early adopters and lead the way; others will be fashionable adopters and follow because they see the way the wind blows; and others will follow because they are forced to by legislation or market pressure.
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The Northeast Sees Green

In August, Senator John Kerry introduced a bill to jump start clean energy production with new tax incentives. Called The Clean Energy Technology and Leadership Act, the bill proposes tax credits and incentives for a number initiatives, including energy efficiency programs.
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The Importance of Sustainability Guidelines

According to the results of a major survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for Procter & Gamble Professional, there’s a big gap between belief and follow- through when it comes to sustainability.
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Holding Suppliers Accountable

You’ve seen the claims. “Biodegradable.” “Non-toxic.” “Ozone friendly.” Trying to separate attributes from overblown claims is tough. To help sort through the maze, here are some guidelines for labeling and marketing from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).
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Tisk Tisk

You know the seven deadly sins of behavior—greed, gluttony, etc. Just as classic, in the cleaning arena, anyway, are the seven sins of greenwashing. This set of sins may not date back to biblical times, but they do represent the largest analysis of green claims to date. In all, more than 2,200 products— representing nearly 5,000 green claims—were tested against industry guidelines.
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The “STATE” of Cleaning Green

While the majority of states remain reluctant to mandate green cleaning, especially in an economy that’s been challenging for businesses, more and more states are at least looking into at least recommending green products for cleaning. Here’s a rundown of which ones currently have recommendations or regulations on the books or in the legislature.
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Eco Labeling

With more and more suppliers entering the green arena, both the labeling and certification processes have become more confusing. To help, here’s a look at each of these issues. In order to find out how to understand eco labels, we went to Consumers Union (CU), the independent and non-profit testing and information organization.
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More Schools Go Green

Chet Culver, the governor of Iowa, signed legislation that requires the state’s public schools, institutions, agencies, and community colleges to follow “an environmentally preferable” cleaning program and policy.
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GOVERNMENT WATCH

Welcome to Government Watch. In this monthly column, we will look the growing role government is playing is the cleaning green arena. If you’ve already set foot into the green scene, you know that establishing a “clean” work environment involves change for individuals, as well as for institutions.
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Not There Yet?

If you’re like most commercial establishments in the U.S., you’re still cleaning the traditional—and often toxic--way. However, if you’re looking at this website, that means you are at least considering going green. So, the key question is: Why clean green? Is it worth the trouble of changing the way you work?
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Charting Your Course

If timing, as they say, is everything, there’s no question that NOW is the time to work in the green arena. Until recently, sustainability was an area of growing interest, yes, but an often mislabeled one, too.
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Cleaning Up in Down Times

Procter & Gamble Professional recently released the findings of its “Cleaning in a Down Economy,” survey. Conducted in December of last year, the results indicate that, since mid-2009, “cleaning service managers have often had to tackle the same amount of labor with fewer employees, placing increasing demands on staff productivity and cleaning efficiency.”
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2009: A Year in Review

Green wasn’t washed away in the economic downturn of 2009, reports “The State of Green Business 2010.” This annual report, released in February, 2010, and conducted by Greener World Media, suggests several trends.
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Benefits of Cleaning Green

There are many reasons a company or institution considers cleaning green. If you’re in the proposal phase, or simply weighing your options, here are a multitude of reasons for going green.
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Reading Labels 101

There’s still plenty of confusion about what the basic terms of greening mean. Take, for example, biodegradable vs. bio-based. While cleaning green veterans know their labels inside and out, a lot of smaller operations just starting out tell us they’re unclear as to what’s what.
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