Cleaning up the Workplace: The Importance of Green Cleaning

With 80,000 different chemicals being used in conventional cleaning products and nearly 12 percent of work-related asthma cases attributed to the use of harsh chemicals in the workplace[1], no wonder facility managers are moving away from hazardous products that have been hurting us and the environment for years.

Traditional cleaning products can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When cleaning, these VOC's are released into the air through evaporation and can affect indoor air quality. These products are also known to contribute to health problems such as eye, skin and respiratory irritation as well as other allergic reactions, leading to occupant complaints, absenteeism and lower productivity.

By implementing a green cleaning program in the workplace, facility managers are able to keep employees healthy and boost morale, all while carrying out corporate sustainability initiatives and increasing profits. Studies have shown that by switching a building’s cleaning tools to green products, building occupants experience fewer incidents of skin, eye and respiratory irritation, less severe allergies and decreased headaches and nausea[2]. Practicing green cleaning also improves the company’s image and demonstrates corporate responsibility.

What is green cleaning? According to green cleaning expert, Steve Ashkin, green cleaning is a selection of products and protocols that reduce or eliminate the hazardous effects of housecleaning to ensure a clean and healthy environment both inside and outside the facility.  Over the past few years, many green cleaning resources and tools have become available, such as LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (LEED-EBOM), which provides a turn-key approach to identifying green cleaning strategies and products.

Among LEED-EBOM strategies is the implementation of promoting and improving hand hygiene, including both hand washing with soap that does not contain antimicrobial agents and the use of alcohol-based waterless hand sanitizer.  LEED credits are also given to facilities that purchase sustainable cleaning materials, such as 100 percent recycled and third-party certified towel or tissue products.

Follow the eight steps below to help establish a green cleaning program in your workplace:

1. Adopt a policy – Draft a policy that coincides with the organization’s goals. This tells the building occupants that their health and safety are a priority.
2. Establish a committee – Organize a committee to develop, implement and measure the success of the green cleaning program.
3. Evaluate current products and practices – Auditing products and practices will help determine where improvements need to be made.
4. Design a pilot project – Identify a location within the facility and run a one to three month pilot program that tests several different cleaning products and compares effectiveness.
5. Educate building occupants and custodial staff – Instruct the green cleaning committee to educate the building occupants about the policy and pilot program. Communicate the program through fliers or an internal newsletter explaining how employees can support the initiative.
6. Phase in “green” products – Direct the green cleaning committee to evaluate the products and practices and identify what is most successful. From there, slowly purchase those products as old cleaning products run low.
7. Monitor the project – Review the project periodically to ensure success. Ask product vendors to keep staff up to date on new products and procedures.
8. Reward the staff – Change is never easy. Reward the custodial staff and show them they are part of the process.

If you have not incorporated green cleaning products and techniques into your business, now is the time to start. Projecting a "green image" is good for the environment, good for your employees and good for your bottom line.

Author: Donna Duberg, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint Louis University and Tork^® Green Hygiene Council^™ Member

Donna Duberg champions the benefits of proper hand sanitation and can provide expert insight on how businesses, homes and other open-to-the-public areas can stay healthy and germ free. An assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint Louis University, Duberg is an authority on hygiene and disease prevention. She received her Masters in Clinical Laboratory Science from Michigan State University.