Green Cleaning Cannot Be An Empty Promise
In the 21st century, more and more businesses are interested in sustainability and eco-conscious practices.
Sustainable facility maintenance and green cleaning has never been more pressing.
But does your commercial cleaning company really put sustainability and green cleaning into practice in your facility?
Green cleaning gets a great deal of hype, but much of what some companies call “green” really isn’t.
Green office cleaning can be a demonstrable commitment to best practices or a bunch of meaningless buzzwords, exaggerated claims, and watered down results.
If a commercial cleaning company claims to be “green” but that only means green chemicals and a few microfiber rags, that is not a real green cleaning program.
Real and effective green cleaning options must go beyond lip service.
There must be strategies, sustainability practices, green cleaning equipment, and a commitment to indoor air quality.
Green cleaning chemicals should also support a true green cleaning program, not just marketing.
You don’t want a false sense of green cleaning or a bunch of meaningless spin.
Especially since it can pull you away from simple, effective, and even cost-saving ways to make facilities safer, healthier, and greener.
What A Green Cleaning Program REALLY Looks Like
First, what is Green Cleaning?
And what might commercial cleaning services do to follow green cleaning and sustainability best practices?
- Your janitorial company should use supplies that reduce environmental impact, like recycled content paper products.
- Even replacing folded towels with hard roll towels can reduce overall paper waste.
- A cleaning company should use green certified chemicals wherever possible.
- This is good for occupants, cleaners, indoor air quality, and the environment.
- Sizing trash can liners correctly reduces using more plastic material than necessary.
- In some cases, receptacles can be emptied without adding a new liner, reducing plastic waste further.
- The use of floor mats at entrances limits the dirt brought into your facility.
- That reduces the need for extra cleaning and extra products.
- Backpack vacuums can be lightweight and ergonomic for cleaners and quieter for the facility.
- With HEPA air filters, they can also help protect indoor air quality.
- Tech-forward floor machines, like Boost floor technology, can reduce chemical floor strippers and reduce water usage.
- Automatic chemical dispensing reduces chemical overuse and helps ensure correct mixing.
- Training cleaners on environmentally beneficial methods and best practices is critical.
How Can You As A Facility Manager Insure Your Commercial Cleaning Company Is Really Invested In Green Cleaning?
Request a copy of their documented Green Cleaning Services Program.
This should include a Company Green Cleaning Policy, a Green Cleaning Technical Manual, an Environmental Policy Statement, and a Green Cleaning Training Program.
Determine whether their chemicals have Green Seal certification.
Look for testing data that indicates the products meet the environmental standard.
For disinfectants, approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should be noted.
Make sure their vacuum cleaners meet GS-42 and/or EcoLogo standards for filtration and noise levels.
Microfiber cloths or other reusable cleaning cloths are also a must for a sound green cleaning program.
As an added bonus, it’s great if your prospective commercial cleaning company uses a color coded microfiber cleaning cloth system.
This helps reduce cross contamination, which supports a healthier work environment.
When new cleaners start in your facility, ask for confirmation they have completed the janitorial company’s green cleaning training.
Training matters because quite often, a janitorial company has a green cleaning program but fails to make regular use of it.
When looking for a new janitorial service, request references for clients where they currently provide green cleaning.
Using ISSA CIMS-GB to Make Your Life Easier
All of this checking and confirming can add up to more work on your plate than you need.
Your to do list is already a mile long, right?
If you need to streamline the process of finding a new commercial cleaning company, professional certification can help.
The ISSA’s CIMS-GB is a certification program for the building services industry.
Much like ISO-type certifications, CIMS-GB requires a janitorial operation to demonstrate controlled processes in six areas:
- Quality System
- Service Delivery
- Human Resources
- Health, Safety and Environmental Stewardship
- Management Commitment
- Green Buildings and Service
These six areas correlate directly to the quality of service and efficacy you can expect to receive.
When you hire an ISSA CIMS-GB Certified commercial cleaning company that an independent examiner has verified meets or exceeds LEED requirements, you know what you are getting without all the leg work on your behalf.
Balancing Green Cleaning & Your Bottom Line
Green cleaning is great, but not if it is priced significantly beyond your budget.
Your green cleaning objectives must be balanced with your company’s bottom line.
You want progress toward green building objectives, but that cannot come at the cost of value.
Your janitorial services company should help you grow your commitment to green facility management while protecting your budget and business health.
We like the concept of “People, Planet & Profit.”
Profit is not something to eschew, and it is not automatically in opposition to environmentally friendly practices.
Profit and green cleaning can share the same space if implemented correctly.
When green cleaning is done right, you get not only dollars and cents, you get dollars and sense.
Why?
The right green cleaning program supports productivity by maintaining a healthier work environment.
Your building may also benefit from reduced costs in areas like water and energy usage.
With an effective green cleaning plan, you can even reduce the overall cost of facility maintenance while increasing value.
Essentially, an effective green cleaning program helps reinforce profitability without threatening the other pieces of your environmental goals: People and Planet.
Your janitorial company can help you meet sustainability goals while making sure your facility looks great and stays on budget.
A little work upfront helps you find a cleaning company that is a true partner and is looking ahead.
