Environmental sustainability continues to gain popularity as more and more companies are adopting the principles. What does that mean for a green cleaning company or the homeowner wanting to be eco-friendly and seeking safe, non-harmful, and green cleaning solutions?
What Is Sustainability?
In short sustainability is the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.
Why does it matter? As Bill Gates has summarized, “Climate change is a terrible problem that absolutely needs to be solved. It deserves to be a huge priority.”
Sustainability is based on a simple principle. Namely, everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends on our natural environment (sometimes directly and other times indirectly).
The goal is to establish (and maintain) a scenario where nature and humans exist symbiotically and harmoniously in a manner that present and future generations are supported synergistically. In doing so sustainability practitioners are ambitious in their sustainability efforts and often work together to share best practices to ensure the greatest environmental, economic and social impact. That is good news for the one looking to start or enhance their sustainability practice(s).
Eliminate Waste
While many first focus on recycling, the ultimate goal is to eliminate waste. As such the ideal order of waste management is (1) reduction, (2) reuse, and only then (3) recycle. With cleaning products a key in sustainability is reduction of waste. Translating to reducing packaging coupled with reuse. Accomplished by increasing the concentration of cleaner and reusing the applicators, i.e., the spray bottles.
While many may not realize it, the majority of the volume of traditional ready-to-use cleaners is simply water, sometimes as much as 95 percent! At over eight pounds per gallon, water is heavy. This not only results in more bulk and weight to transport, but it also creates wasteful packaging. As required by law spray bottles are labeled such that reuse is discouraged. Just reducing both of these will result in a reduction of one’s carbon footprint.
Supporting these sustainability goals the products available from Green Cleaning Products LLC are super concentrated and are designed to be used with your own spray bottles or the reusable color coded labeled long-lasting spray bottles designed to match each cleaner. Small single use premeasured packets of cleaner are available, alongside the gallon of concentrate for those seeking a wholesale bulk quantity. The simplicity and performance of the cleaners are magical.
Certifications for Green Cleaning Products
Time is short. Budget is limited. Cleaning quickly and inexpensively is critical. When thinking maximizing sustainability, this can be accomplished. Furthermore if the cleaners have one or more of the coveted Green Seal, EcoLogo and/or EPA third party certifications the answer for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credit, Sustainability Management System (SMS) and Chemical Management System compliance are answered.
Additionally standardizing safety communication, usage, and correct application with the color and number coded wall chart that matches the best products for your unique demands enables other operational goals to be achieved.
A system with sustainability and operational concerns in mind ensures success with goals:
- No Waste: Premeasured single use packs or pump system make perfect ready-to-use cleaners without overmixing or chemical waste.
- Low Entry Cost: No costly set-up or capital investment means you can get started right away!
- No Special Equipment: Eliminate complicated, expensive, trouble-prone dispensing machines.
- Mix-and-Match Systems: Select only what is needed for the unique cleaning application.
- Inventory Control: With single use packets, inventory management and budgeting are easy.
- Save Money: Pay for cleaning strength, not water or expensive dilution-control equipment.
- Color and Number Coding: Makes proper identification and staff training easier.
- Less Storage: Store concentrated packs or gallons, not cases or drums.
- Easy Training: No special instructions, just add a packet or one stroke of the pump to water.
Chemical Management
In summary, a premeasured chemical management system this is a comprehensive method to cost effectively obtain professional-grade cleaners. Precise measuring guarantees accurate-strength of ready-to-use green cleaners; minimizing excessive consumption of chemicals while maximizing cleaning performance thus saving money and time.
Together, sustainability friendly products (available in the CleansGreen® Cleaning Kits and Green Cleaning Startup Kit) have helped save untold amounts of valuable resources by reducing waste, simplifying training, and doing a better job faster, i.e., productivity matched with consistent results that also protects our planet sustainably.
