Not All See Benefits Of Green Cleaning
By Mike Sawchuk, Vice President & General Manager, Enviro-Solutions Ltd.

A recent survey conducted by the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) late in 2007 found that cost is the key reason why many building service contractors (BSCs) and facility managers do not switch to certified green cleaning products. According to the survey:

  •  38 per cent of the respondents answered cost as the key deterrent;
  •  28 per cent indicated they did not believe Green products are as effective as conventional cleaning products;
  •  15 per cent cited “no demand” to go Green.

Additionally, more than a third said Green cleaning is “all hype,” which is certainly not music to the ears of Green cleaning advocates, manufacturers and jansan distributors who see Green cleaning as one of the most significant developments ever in the professional cleaning industry.

Ignoring this last response, which only time can heal, the survey reveals two key items that can be discussed and clarified. There are now ample studies and credible reports available that provide factual information on two key issues: the cost and performance of certified Green cleaning products.

Cost Issues
Often, one of the first concerns people have when considering environmentally preferable cleaning chemicals is how much (itals)more(enditals) the products cost. This is understandable because, until just recently, most certified Green cleaning products did cost more than conventional products. And some like quality floor finishes, I must admit, still do.

The reason is simple. Replacing many of the metals, which are the harmful components in these conventional products, with environmentally preferable equivalents has proven to be much more difficult than anticipated. Fortunately, several jansan manufacturers have made significant progress in the past couple of years.

However, the truth of the matter is the cost of Green certified cleaning chemicals are, for the most part, comparable to the conventional products in just about every area but floor care. In fact, it is not uncommon for facilities to discover cost savings when switching to Green cleaning chemicals. This is exactly what happened in Santa Monica, Calif., which went Green several years ago using higher quality products, proper dilution controls and training. They have documented a cost savings of approximately five per cent after switching to safer cleaning products.

Other major purchasers, such as the U.S. Department of Interior, the Chicago Public School System, Seattle, Washington as well as the states of Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, also report that Green cleaning chemicals either saved them money or the costs are comparable.

Why did this happen? Are Green cleaning products simply less expensive? Not necessarily. One of the main reasons for the cost savings is that Green cleaning products are more concentrated. Whereas a conventional product may have a one-to-four dilution ratio, a similar environmentally preferable product may have as much as one-to-20 ratio. This means the chemicals last longer and new supplies do not have to be purchased, which lowers after-dilution costs.

When discussing costs of Green cleaning chemicals, another item must also be mentioned – often referred to as an intangible cost savings. Many facilities find costs related to worker absenteeism due to illness have actually decreased after switching to Green products.

Worker productivity has also increased, which is another cost savings. According to one U.S. study, using safer cleaning products, in addition to better ventilation and cleaning, can result in enhanced worker productivity of between 0.5 per cent and five per cent – an actual productivity gain of $30- to $150-billion.

And, in some situations, going Green can even prove to be a profit centre for a facility. In certain communities throughout North America, asthma has become the number one reasons for student absenteeism. Asthma and other respiratory problems have been directly tied to conventional cleaning chemicals as well as other chemicals and products.

According to a 2006 study conducted by the American Lung Association, as well as the U.S. Green Building Council, facilities that have transferred to Green cleaning products have found absenteeism decrease. And, since many school systems are funded based on student attendance, more students equals more money.

The Performance Issue
Discussing the performance of Green cleaning products can be a bit more subjective. However, there have been studies that address performance issues as well.

For instance, in one study, cleaning professionals reported that environmentally preferable products “matched or exceeded” traditional counterparts when it comes to performance. Similarly, independent laboratory tests conducted on behalf of large purchasers found that selected Green products worked as well as – if not better than – traditional cleaners. And, Santa Monica and the Chicago Public School System have conducted their own studies and come to the same positive conclusion.

However, I always recommend that customers try the products in their own facilities, under their own soil and cleaning conditions, and compare them with the conventional products they have used for years. In some cases, a Green product may not perform as well as its conventional counterpart. However, that usually means that another product should be tested.

Being Green does not mean that all the products perform the same. Some testing may be necessary, as you would with any product. Green does not mean that the products are proven safer for users and building occupants – and allowing you to do your share to protect the only planet we have.






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