As a result, the commercial cleaning in-dustry is now overwhelmed with terms and acronyms to label green products. Many of these programs are reputable and well respected in the industry. Others may be a bit misleading if you don’t thoroughly research the label. It’s important to stay afloat on all of to-day’s green certifications, and identify prod-ucts that best meet a facility’s sustainability goals. Using LEED As A Guide Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most widely recog-nized and accepted program for certifying high-performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods. Developed and enforced by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED rates both new buildings and existing struc-tures. Many of today’s buildings are striving for LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EBOM) certification. Whether or not the certification is a goal for a facility, LEED’s requirements are the best guidelines to follow for finding the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly products and processes. The current standard, LEED-EBOM 2009, awards a facility one point towards certifica-tion when 30 percent of its cleaning prod-ucts are green-certified. These products range from glass and hard surface cleaners, strippers, hand soaps, janitorial products, trash bags and beyond. LEED-EBOM recognizes two indepen-dent programs that certify green cleaning products: Green Seal and Environmental Choice. ■ Potential impact on the natural envi-ronment, indoor spaces and people exposed to the product ■ Level of safety in the disposal process ■ Amount of recycled content in product packaging ■ Dissolution rate of chemicals ■ Manufacturing plant audits on a three-year cycle ■ Natural resource consumption during the actual use of the product or pro-cess. A product or service will maintain its Green Seal certification as long as all chem-icals and processes remain the same. The Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Seal of Approval (SOA) programs ensure the safety of chemicals on nylon carpet, while also testing product efficacy. Be Aware: Self-promoted Green Programs When evaluating products, be wary of trust-ing any green certification. Find out if the label is endorsed by a third-party organization, or if it’s a self-promoted green program established by the manufac-turer. Some companies have developed their own in-house label for green products. While they may be sustainable, without the support of independent, neutral test-ing organizations such as Green Seal and Environmental Choice, it may be difficult to verify a green product claim. Environmental Choice The second third-party certification body recognized by LEED is Environmental Choice, also known as EcoLogo. The program compares products and ser-vices with others in the same category, and like Green Seal, evaluates the entire lifecycle. Like Green Seal, EcoLogo also places a strong emphasis on efficacy testing. In short, products can’t just claim to be green — they have to actually be effective at cleaning, too. The Future Of Green Certifications While Green Seal and Environmental Choice are currently the most trusted certifications of green products, it’s important to stay up-dated by referencing recommendations of future LEED versions. In addition, LEED has specific criteria for every type of cleaning process and prod-ucts, so use it as a benchmark for all of a facility’s operations. Whether or not a facility manager is striv-ing for LEED certification or mandated to make their building more sustainable, clean-ing itself is an environmentally beneficial practice. Thorough, regular cleaning protects and extends the life of a facility’s assets, which results in less carpet and other materials ending up in a landfill prematurely. A truly clean building not only looks bet-ter, unpolluted air makes it healthier, too. When evaluating green cleaning products for a facility, the most important step is thor-ough research. Many products and processes claim to be green, but some are not truly sustainable and effective at cleaning. Using the LEED program and third-par-ty certifications as a guide, you can rest assured you are using the best green prod-ucts on the market. CM www.cmmonline.com Design For The Environment The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Design for the Environment (DfE) pro-gram is expected to be recognized by the next version of LEED. Much like Green Seal and Environmental Choice, DfE labels green cleaning products. The program’s stringent testing criteria evaluates every ingredient in a product for environmental impact and effectiveness. Beyond Green: Fiber Protection For Carpet Even if a product or service is green certi-fied, it’s important to confirm it won’t dam-age material during the cleaning process. Specifically for carpet cleaning, there are two organizations that certify fiber-safe products and processes. WoolSafe-certified cleaning products are tested and guaranteed to not damage wool carpet. There is also a green WoolSafe seal that ensures sustainability. Green Seal An industry standard for nearly 25 years, Green Seal develops life-based sustain-ability standards for products, services and companies. The third-party certification body evalu-ates every step and aspect in the develop-ment, manufacturing, transportation, use and disposal of green cleaning products. These points include: 19
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