Any cleaning industry professional can tell you that the demand for eco-conscious cleaners is high. Most U.S. states have environmental preferred purchasing policies (EPPs) that mandate sustainable products for statewide purchases. Private businesses are also looking to make sustainable changes in the products they use, with 93% of Russell 1000 companies sharing sustainability reports every year.
To respond to the increased demand, businesses across every industry have implemented sustainability goals and included more eco-conscious options in their product lines.
Despite this momentum, a recent survey conducted by CloroxPro found that 41% of cleaning professionals reported challenges in finding eco-conscious products that meet facility requirements, making it difficult for them to meet sustainability goals and consumer expectations.
Fortunately, cleaning professionals can take five steps to source the best products for their facility:
1. Look for third-party certifications
Product certifications are the key to identifying effective eco-conscious cleaners. Trusted certifications, such as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safer Choice or EPA Design for the Environment (DfE), require product manufacturers to prove that their products are as effective as traditional products, in addition to meeting stringent criteria for reduced impacts on human health and the environment.
Not only do many facilities require products with this certification, but some states do as well. Look for products with these logos on their labels or check the EPA Safer Choice website to find certified products that meet your facility’s needs.
2. Check disinfection contact times and kill claims
Simply put, a product with a two-minute disinfection contact time is going to require less time, effort, and chemical use than a product with a 10-minute disinfection contact time. Full lists of kill-claims and contact times can be found on product labels, or the EPA Master Label, to help you determine if products align with your facility’s needs.
3. Assess PPE requirements
Cleaning professionals have stated that eco-conscious cleaners provide a more comfortable cleaning experience, and products with minimal or no personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements are more comfortable and easier for frontline staff to use. Eco-conscious products rarely require PPE for use, which allows professionals to accomplish tasks more quickly and efficiently, increasing staff productivity and effectiveness.
Additionally, many facilities provide cleaning products to employees and staff who are not trained to handle chemicals. Choosing products with minimal or no PPE requirements will be easier for building occupants who use products.
4. Review cleaning and disinfecting performance
If you choose products with the EPA Safer Choice or EPA DfE certification, you know that they are effective. Performing comparably to standard products is a requirement for the certifications.
Glass cleaners must clean glass without leaving streaks. Look for “streak-free” EPA Safer Choice-certified glass cleaners. All-purpose cleaners must remove soils and dirt as effectively as traditional products. EPA DfE-certified disinfectants go through exactly the same EPA registration process as every other disinfectant. There is no reason to worry that an eco-conscious disinfectant won’t kill germs.
Even among traditional disinfectants, however, you want to choose a product that kills germs you are concerned about. For most facilities, this means looking for a product that kills cold and flu viruses, norovirus, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), along with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), to be compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.
5. Keep current with certificates and training
Although cleaning is a skilled job that requires training, many business owners struggle to find time to train new employees and to provide consistent training to existing ones. Access to high-quality, on-demand training can help provide cleaning professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to confidently keep public spaces clean, improve compliance, help reduce employee turnover, and improve employee satisfaction.
I’m ready! Where can I find products?
At trade shows and conferences, I am often asked, “Where do I buy this?” If you can purchase in bulk, look for a local distributor. For small- to medium- sized businesses, don’t forget to check common online shops, who have search filters specifically for eco-conscious options. Additionally, you may be able to create or find a purchasing co-op with several other small businesses to help you get the benefits of distributor bulk pricing.
Sourcing the right eco-conscious cleaners for your facility can feel overwhelming. But when you know exactly what to look for, you’re one step closer to meeting your sustainability goals, supporting cleaning professionals, and protecting consumers.
