Measuring By: Jason Marshall, Sc.D. Green Cleaning It may be green, but does it clean? F Dr. Jason Marshall attended the University of Massachusetts Lowell, earn-ing a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1995, a Masters of Science in Environmental Studies in 2001 and a Doctorate of Science in Occupational & Environmental Hygiene in 2008. In 1997, he was employed by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) working in the Surface Solutions Laboratory as a technician, evaluating the performance of alternative cleaning products. As the TURI laboratory director, Marshall has published sev-eral articles focusing on the work conducted at TURI’s laboratory. For years, weʼve heard cleaning professionals say, “I would use ʻgreenʼ cleaners — Iʼd even be willing to pay a bit more for them — but the per-formance just isnʼt there.” Yet, those of us who have lived and breathed the green mantra that has all but revolutionized the cleaning industry in the last few years know that todayʼs green cleaners are not our parentsʼ environmental and performance wannabes. Many manufacturers have worked hard — and spent millions of dollars — to produce todayʼs more environmentally responsible and effective cleaning options. But, while we have several certifications in place to prove the “greenness” of products — offered by such reputable organizations as Green Seal, EcoLogo and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyʼs Design for the Environment (DfE), sever-al of which include efficacy benchmarks — we have had no measurement effort that speaks sole-ly to the performance of green products. As professionals, weʼve had nothing to help us for more info Visit www.cmmonline.com and type in search keyword: Green . For more information on related products, visit www.cmmonline.com , select SUPPLIER SEARCH from the main navigation bar, and enter keyword: Cleaning . Image courtesy of Activeion Cleaning Solutions LLC Organizations like TURI can help cleaning professionals make educated decisions about which chemicals to use in sensitive environments such as classrooms or health care facilities. 18 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • March 2010
CMM – Archives Mar 2010: 18
