facility focus The Standard For Commercial And Institutional Cleaning Services Digging deep to find what GS-42 certification from Green Seal means for the professional cleaning industry. By: Katherine Pickett I In December 2008, MJV Group — a leading building service contractor (BSC) in Indiana — became that state’s first contract clean-ing service to earn GS-42 certification from Green Seal. “Certification under GS-42 demonstrates our utilization of products and equipment that have a reduced impact on the envi-ronment,” says James Heck, who was president of MJV Group at the time of its certification. “But, further, it helps us embrace processes and procedures that protect the health of our staff, as well as building occupants.” GS-42, known officially as Green Seal’s Environmental Leadership Standard for Commercial and Institutional Cleaning Services, is a rigorous environmental stan-dard for both commercial and institutional cleaning services. While scores of contract cleaning com-panies throughout the country have earned this certification since its inception in 2006, some BSCs may still not be familiar with it. GS-42 compiles industry best practices and standards regarding green cleaning, of which all commercial and institutional cleaning services — but especially BSCs — should be aware. The goals and potential benefits of GS-42 certification include: ■ Protecting human health and the envi-ronment by incorporating effective green cleaning programs ■ Helping cleaning workers to work more effectively and productively, improving results and lowering costs ■ Allowing BSCs to create valuable marketing opportunities that can lead to larger and more prestigious client bases The idea behind green cleaning and sustainable operation is that our actions have a minimal negative affect on our planet and the wellbeing of future generations. ■ Creating higher standards regarding cleaning quality and effectiveness. Processes And Procedures In many ways, embracing more environ-mentally preferable processes and proce-dures, as Heck mentioned earlier, is what GS-42 is all about. “The standard goes beyond simply switching to green-certified cleaning tools, chemicals and equipment,” says Dr. Arthur Weissman, president and chief execu-tive officer (CEO) of Green Seal. “It’s not enough to simply use green chemicals and equipment; they must be used properly with appropriate user training and com-munication.” An example of GS-42 implementation is described by Cynthia Akins, director of environmental services for the Army Distaff Foundation’s Knollwood retirement center — the country’s first military retirement community. GS-42 provided her facility with what she calls, “A blueprint for a more compre-hensive and sustainable green cleaning program.” This blueprint contains a wealth of educational material, including: ■ Instruction regarding product selec-tion, including education about third-party certification ■ Training regarding healthier and more environmentally preferable cleaning techniques and strategies ■ Information regarding strategies for communicating the benefits of green cleaning — and GS-42 specifically — to custodial workers, staffs and build-ing occupants. GS-42 In Action One of the best ways to understand GS-42 and its potential benefits is to study the way in which Akins implemented the program at Knollwood. The GS-42 program helped her facility to make a number of very specific changes that enhanced resident satisfaction and improved overall cleaning efficiency — two 40 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • March 2013
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