Sustainable Development and Society - GSA

Sustainable Development and Society
in the development of Green Cleaning
solutions for customers today and in the
near future so that when the demand for
such services shoots upward, as we fully
expect it to do in the near future--NPAs will
be ahead of the curve.” That future is now .
. . a Green Cleaning partnership between a
NPA, a supplier of janitorial products, NISH,
and NIB received the White House “Closing
the Circle Award” for Leadership in
Environmentalism.
One of the most important initiatives that
NISH has undertaken involves the
development of a definition for the term
“Green Cleaning.” This definition requires
mutual acceptability throughout the JWOD
contracting arena. The goal seeks to
provide a shared understanding of what is
required when a janitorial contract
indicates a Green Cleaning requirement.
The term “Green Cleaning” is frequently
misused and misunderstood by building
managers, occupants, and janitorial
contractors. True green cleaning involves
more than just using products that are
labeled environmentally acceptable (such
as Certification by Green Seal). The
commitment to Green Cleaning requires a
comprehensive approach that includes the
following:
• Selecting the right products, including
cleaning and maintenance chemicals,
janitorial paper items, tools, and
equipment.
• Understanding how to properly use
products to reduce their impact on
janitorial workers, building occupants,
and the environment.
• Implementing “stewardship”
(responsible leadership and caring) for
the occupants of the building where the
products are being used.
• Providing training for the workers on
the appropriate use of all products.
• Communicating with all participants in
the Green Cleaning process.
Steve Ashkin, a recognized expert in the
field of Green Cleaning and one of the
leading advocates for a stronger
environmental profile among cleaning
product manufacturers, suppliers, and
consumers; supports the idea of a
comprehensive approach to Green
Cleaning. He says, “The goal of Green
Cleaning is to reduce the total impact on
both health and the environment. This
cannot be accomplished simply by
switching to an environmentally-preferable
product. It requires the willing participation
of all those involved in the process.”
Cleaning chemicals should not be judged to
be “green’ because they are bio-based or
biodegradable. The EPA recommends that
multiple health and environmental
attributes of all chemicals need to be
examined. Some examples of these
attributes are skin sensitization, the
potential to burn eyes or skin, and the
potential to cause cancer or to be a
reproductive toxin or be toxic to aquatic life.
The organization, Green Seal
(greenseal.org), evaluates products and is
leading the industry toward a standard for
evaluation.
Running an effective Green Cleaning
Program involves a lot more than
convincing a janitor to switch from “Product
A” to “Product B”. A holistic approach to
cleaning must be embraced. The changes
range from preventive measures that
reduce the need for harsh chemicals to
modifying occupant activities and traffic
patterns that can increase cleaning needs.
For maximum results, the Green Cleaning
approach requires the cooperation of key
stakeholders, including agency
management, purchasing agents,
environmental staff, facilities manager,
janitorial staff, and the building occupants.
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