since they have been screened by the EPAʼs Design for the Environment (DfE) scientific review team and are certified to contain only those ingredients that pose the least con-cern among chemicals in their class. Consider purchasing cleaning kits that are customized with just enough product to clean the location for a set period of time so you can monitor chemical overuse or underuse. Use containers with proper Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) labeling. Inform employees of the health, safety and environmental benefits of the new stan-dards and train them on the new program. Start by restocking your cleaning supply area with the new cleaners. Hang informational posters or wall clean-ing charts with the correct product usage clearly displayed — use training materials in multiple languages if necessary — and review cleaning and recycling procedures. Also educate customers and employees about your green initiatives. Market your new cleaning approach … preserving the environment is a hot topic. a good practice and model for your industry by translating the amount youʼve recycled and your reduced carbon footprint into everyday items so your employees see the benefit. Businesses, schools, hospitals, retailers and their cleaning service contractors are discovering that the shift to green cleaning can be a healthy change on every front. By fully analyzing individual cleaning meth-ods and costs, and systematically imple-menting a green initiative, it is possible to eliminate toxic chemical release and expo-sure potential, reduce packaging waste, improve sanitation and minimize costs. In the final analysis, many are finding that designing and implementing a green cleaning program just makes sense. CM Evaluate Evaluating during and after the test run pro-vides an excellent opportunity to make sure the goals are being met and identify areas of opportunity and areas of success. Ask employees if they think the program is working and if theyʼd do anything differently. Review absenteeism, and health care costs and assess morale to see how much of an affect the green initiative has had. Document amounts and types of toxic chemicals eliminated and reduced and calculate how much savings have been realized. Note the environmental impact of the new cleaning system, including what toxic chemicals have been eliminated. Review purchasing efficiencies and the new cost of cleaning; work with suppliers/cleaning contractors to make changes if necessary. Finally, enjoy the benefits of green cleaning and knowing that your company is contributing to the health and safety of your employees and preserving the envi-ronment. Promote your green cleaning initiative as Circle Product Information no. 204 on page 32 www.cmmonline.com 37
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