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How to Select Products for a Green Washroom

Businesses today are understandably confused by the tidal wave of environmental claims being made from companies offering so-called “green” or “sustainable” products. So how can a facility manager determine,
with any degree of confidence, which products are truly best from an environmental standpoint as well
as what product criteria to consider? The answer, unfortunately, is not a simple one. And to make an informed decision, one must do a bit of legwork.

Applying principles of source reduction, or waste
prevention, at every stage of the lifecycle is an important
way to drive reduction in overall environmental impact.

Corporate Responsibility
As a first step, facility managers should look for suppliers that are known for a strong culture of corporate responsibility. These organizations understand that environmental protection is critical to business success and will have integrated environmental considerations into all aspects of their operations, including product development. So as part of your research, take a close look at the steps an organization has taken to address environmental and social concerns in a host of areas (look at the company’s corporate web site, review its annual sustainability report, consider perspectives regarding its overall reputation from various stakeholders, etc.). Look for product manufacturers that have clearly stated environmental goals and have demonstrated continual improvement in areas such as:

Water use and wastewater treatment
Energy use and climate emissions
Waste generation and landfill avoidance
Management of significant environmental aspects via a formal Environmental Management System

Lifecycle Thinking
Once you have evaluated a company’s environmental and social policies and practices, you can then focus on product selection. When choosing products for your facility’s washroom, it is important to understand that environmental impact occurs throughout the entire life cycle of the products you buy, and is not simply a function of a single attribute, such as recycled content. Of course it is good to recycle and using appropriate amounts of recycled material when manufacturing products will reduce pressure on natural resources. However, a more comprehensive approach considers the bigger picture and strives to reduce environmental impact at every stage of a product’s life cycle, from raw materials sourcing through final disposal or reuse of the product.

When selecting washroom products for your facility,
it is important to remember that waste is not just
created when the used items are discarded.

Applying principles of source reduction, or waste prevention, at every stage of the lifecycle is an important way to drive reduction in overall environmental impact. Source reduction is the practice of designing, manufacturing, purchasing or using materials or products (including packaging), in ways that eliminate waste at the start–before it ever becomes waste.

Washroom products designed with source reduction in mind can actually help users to consume less, either through improved performance, more reliable/controlled dispensing methods, or both. Generally, if less product is consumed, there is less waste to manage and fewer resources are needed during manufacturing and distribution to deliver on customer needs. In practical terms, there is less product waste, less packaging waste and fewer natural resources needed to complete everyday tasks.

Reducing consumption then, is one of the most significant ways to reduce overall use of natural resources
throughout the entire life cycle. And it saves money and reduces waste.

Understanding a product’s life cycle will provide a much
more comprehensive view of a product’s “green-ness.”

Finally, when selecting washroom products for your facility, it is important to remember that waste is not just created when the used items are discarded. Waste is generated throughout the life cycle due to inefficiencies in raw materials extraction, processing, manufacturing and transportation as well. This is the “hidden waste” that does not show up in the trash receptacle. Manufacturers can reduce hidden waste by:

Manufacturing products with more material-efficient technologies–reducing fiber use, energy use and water use
Compressing or redesigning products and packaging so more product fits into a case
Resizing cases to optimize how they fit onto standard pallets, so truck space can be used more
effectively, reducing the total number of deliveries needed to fill orders
Creating products with reduced packaging, by eliminating unnecessary components (e.g. cardboard cores in bath tissue)

Last, but not least, in the case of washroom products that are wood fiber-based, the source
of the raw materials is an essential consideration. Tissue products should contain fiber that is responsibly
sourced, such as recycled fiber and/or sustainably harvested virgin fibers, preferably those that have received third-party certification, such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.

The benefits of source reduction throughout the product’s life cycle extend from reducing reliance on natural resources to minimizing end-of-life waste to improving cost-in-use. So, understanding a product’s life cycle will provide you with a much more comprehensive view of a product’s “green-ness” and enable you to make more informed purchasing decisions – potentially reducing costs in the process.

Lisa Morden is global sustainability leader for Kimberly-Clark Professional, based in Roswell, GA. For more information about Kimberly-Clark Professional’s source-reduced products, visit www.kcpreducetoday.com/us.

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American School & Hospital Facility magazine and FacilityManagement.com are educational tools that teach institutional facilities professionals and the building team to operate, maintain and design structures efficiently, economically, safely, securely and green. The editorial mission is to report on the topics, issues, trends and products that impact facilities management.