Industry Trends Or Get Crushed Swell By: Aaron Baunee, managing editor By The Informed speculation about the future of the JanSan industry. T These past few years have been a tumultuous time for businesses. Whether you’ve turned the tide into record-set-ting profits or merely clung to your comfortable business practices long enough to witness a plateau, much can be learned from your industry cohorts. Green Is The New Normal Green and sustainable are no longer buzzwords used to differentiate a contemporary company from one viewed as antiquated; rather, they per-meate all facets of the JanSan industry. The environmentally preferable mindset is, in some form or another, present in everything from tools, chemicals and equipment, to workloading techniques and payment options. According to a survey by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, 28 percent of organiza-tions now have contracts requiring the use of green chemicals and equipment. Though it is not yet all-encompassing, this is a major advancement from the single-digit figures present just a few short years ago. A major contributor to the green trend are local, state and federal procurement policies mandating sustainable practices. Each year, increasing numbers of municipalities push for green legislation — and the trend is not likely to lose steam any time soon. “There is more need to be certified, more need for green cleaning and more need for technology — all of which help to increase sustainability,” says Suzanne Garvin, director of marketing for CleanTelligent Software Inc. “David Houle, futurist and trend advisor said, ‘Companies that do not do something different by the end of this year will be left behind.’” Operating sustainably is not only trendy and profitable; it is simply the right thing to do. According to Bill Slezak, director of national accounts segment marketing for Rubbermaid www.cmmonline.com 15
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