Green Cleaning

What is Green Cleaning?

Green Cleaning is generally defined as: The use of products and services that reduce health and environmental impact. It has also been defined as: Cleaning for Health.

Green Cleaning is not a fad, it is here to stay. It is simply the right thing to do and it is growing. Along with this growth, the definition of green is changing. Once seen only as an environmentally friendly way of cleaning, green is now credited with also providing a healthier work environment for cleaning workers, school students and staff, and commercial building tenants.

Research shows a clear link between green cleaning and reduced absenteeism among workers and students, as well as improved occupational and academic performance.

Custodial staff health and performance is also better when cleaning green. Members of the custodial staff, especially women of child-bearing age, are particularly susceptible to health problems caused by their frequent and close interaction with cleaning chemicals and equipment. Choosing safer products and training staff in proper usage can help reduce the number of injuries caused by caustic chemicals, respiratory irritation and dangerous equipment, decrease Workers' Compensation claims, and lower insurance costs.

Proper green cleaning and maintenance extends the longevity and performance of office and school building materials and furnishings by preventing damage and premature aging, which in turn reduces waste and unnecessary spending. Thus, building sustainability is a major advantage of green cleaning.

Traditional cleaning products can contain harmful chemicals. Depending on the duration, rate and extent of exposure, they can cause various health problems. These cleaning chemicals are also routinely washed down the drain where they find their way into drinking water, lakes and streams, adversely affecting plant and animal life, threatening public health and adding to pollution. The cleaning industry consumes six billion pounds of chemicals, including non-renewable natural resources such as petroleum, and generates 4.5 billion pounds of paper products requiring the cutting of 35 million trees annually. Buying recycled paper and plastic products as well as other like items, helps conserve precious natural resources for future generations.

Beware of Greenwashing

What is Greenwashing? It has been defined as, the act of misleading purchasers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of its products or services. The practice seems to be growing and purchasers are learning they must carefully examine all environmental claims to ensure the environmental benefits they seek are reflected in the products and services they buy. Many manufacturers are simply taking old products and emphasizing certain green aspects of those products, but nothing has really changed.

Look for third party certification of products by organizations like Green Seal, Environmental Choice, and others to verify that the products you use are actually green and safe.

At New System, we have dedicated much time and resources to search the field of green cleaning to recommend products and procedures to our customers that we know are substantiated, effective, and above all, safe for you, your building, your staff, and the building’s occupants. Contact us for a Green Cleaning survey and our staff of trained professionals will be happy to make recommendations for upgrading your processes and procedures to green cleaning. Once you have made the change to green cleaning we will help you train your staff as to the benefits of doing so, and the personal benefits to them too!