McMaster University
Greens Cleaning Operations
New Measures Help Protect The University And The Environment

McMaster University has announced its transition to green cleaning practices throughout all campus buildings. In a program developed with the assistance of JohnsonDiversey, a global provider of cleaning and hygiene solutions, McMaster replaced all cleaning chemicals with those proven to reduce harmful effects on humans and the environment. The goal of the measure is to reduce the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) used in cleaning while also eliminating many of the indoor airborne particulates which are known to create mild to severe respiratory issues and other health problems.
“Our Custodial Management Team started looking at using green products over a year ago,” said Carlos Figueira, assistant director of Physical Plant at McMaster University.

“In the Physical Plant Department, we realize the effect our service has on the good health of our buildings and their occupants, so we wanted to do what we could to protect our McMaster Community. We also wanted to help reduce the effect of our operations on the environment. Greening our cleaning processes was the right thing to do.”

The measures adopted by the Physical Plant Department are in line with other green initiatives happening throughout the rest of the University. McMaster University has long been known for their leadership in sustainability. As the first University in Ontario to develop and implement a sustainable building policy, McMaster has recently achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the Canadian Green Building Council for several campus buildings. This fall, McMaster is also undertaking one of the largest rainwater harvesting initiatives in the country, saving approximately two-thirds the average annual consumption from the municipal system. This project is being led by Tony Cupido, assistant vice president physical plant.

“The use of Green chemicals and processes throughout our cleaning operations aligns well with the mission of the university,” Cupido said. “Our purpose is the discovery, communication and preservation of knowledge while serving the social, cultural and economic needs of our community and our society. Green cleaning helps nurture an environment that is conducive to learning while ensuring that we are operating in a way that will preserve our resources for the future.”