Green cleaning boils down to the use of processes and products that are environmentally friendly and safer for human health when compared to traditional cleaning methods. Denver Janitorial Services are experts in environmentally friendly cleaning processes.
History of Green Cleaning
Soap was first used around 2800 BC when the Ancient Mesopotamians rendered fat, and mixed with ashes (lye) to create the first “cleaning product.” These first soaps, and indeed cleaning products used for millennia, were quite green when you think about it, as they did not rely on synthetic chemicals to do the dirty work. The industrial revolution introduced fragrances and salts instead of lye to how soaps were made. During World War I, a shortage of animal by-products resulted in a shift in soap manufacturing, to include the introduction of synthetic ingredients and phosphates. In the 1960s, the first warning bells were sounded regarding the impact of harsh chemicals on the environment when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published. And in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created and began working to eliminate harmful chemicals from our environment, among other mandates.
The green cleaning movement, however, really got a kick start in 1993, when President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12873 that mandated federal government agencies to create plans to adopt environmentally friendly products and processes. In the thirty years since the Executive Order was signed, not only have green and sustainable products but also practices exploded across many industries, but perhaps none more than commercial cleaning.
Green Clean Certifications
With the green cleaning trend, came a whole new arena of products and claims about healthy, green, and sustainable products. There was no oversight, no industry standards, and no benchmarks. It was a free-for-all! The term “greenwashing” was coined to describe the phenomena of all the false claims and deceptive marketing by companies and products. Out of this chaos came the need to find some common ground to claims of “environmentally friendly,” etc. New organizations and certifications were created to help legitimize claims, such as LEED Certified, B-Corp, and Green Seal. There are now many reputable companies that provide training and certification of staff and businesses to be “green clean.”
Denver Janitorial Services is Green Clean Institute Certified, meaning our staff and cleaning products meet both “green clean” and sustainability criteria in order to maintain our certification with the Green Clean Institute. The Green Clean Institute is an independent, third-party certifier of companies and products. Their role is twofold — to train staff in green cleaning best practices through online video courses and to review and certify green cleaning products.
Green Clean Institute certification means Denver Janitorial Services is committed to the use of products and services that hold minimal to no impact on human health and the surrounding environment. Denver Janitorial Services isn’t greenwashing when we say that our commitment to green goes beyond products, all the way down to proper disposal and recycling methods.
While Kermit the Frog may think it’s not easy being green, he’s wrong when it comes to being green clean! Green cleaning practices have many benefits, not only for the environment, and for human health but also for your bottom line when compared to traditional cleaning products and methods.
Better for the Environment
Green cleaning safeguards the planet’s:
Air quality – by reducing pollutants and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released into the atmosphere, especially important for poorly ventilated indoor spaces, that can harm the ozone.
Water quality – by putting fewer pollutants and VOCs down the drain and into our water supply.
Energy usage – by using high-efficiency appliances, such as high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, or manual techniques that reduce energy usage.
Waste reduction – by emphasizing practices such as recycling, sustainability and reuse means less waste in the waste stream
Better for Humans
The Environmental Working Group’s (EWG), Cleaning Supplies and Your Health, report found chemicals used in many common cleaning products can have negative effects on your health including asthma, cancer, allergies and more.
Switching to green cleaning products can improve indoor air quality by reducing fumes and the number of VOCs released into the atmosphere by harsh cleaning products, thus reducing indoor air pollution and reducing harm to human health. Denver Janitorial Services uses citrus-based cleaning solutions that contain no harsh chemicals or VOCs and are safer for humans, pets, and the planet.
An improved indoor environment can lead to better employee productivity and consumer comfort. A 2015 study from Harvard found that cognitive scores were over 60% higher in green buildings!
Won’t Cost you More
Going green when you clean saves you money because green cleaning products are less damaging to upholstery and carpets, thus are less likely to cause premature fading and discoloration and can be less corrosive on other surfaces. So, your investment in your capital resources will last longer.
And, Denver Janitorial Services doesn’t charge you more to switch to green cleaning practices. That’s right, the cost to you is the same whether you choose green cleaning or traditional cleaning methods!
In fact, going green might even make you money, because a healthier work environment can lead to greater employee satisfaction and productivity and improved customer safety and mood.
So, as your business’s carbon footprint goes down, so will your energy and water bills, thus your bottom line will go up!
By choosing a “green” certified, commercial cleaning service, like Denver Janitorial Services, you are making a positive impact on the planet as well as influencing your employees and customers to “think green.” You are also making the workplace safer for all and are acting as an enlightened, environmentally conscious and concerned consumer and leading the way to a healthier tomorrow for you, your employees, your customers and the planet.