According to the EPA: ‘‘sustainability’’ and ‘‘sustainable” mean to create and maintain conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony…fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.
Part of sustainability is limiting or controlling the consumption of finite resources, notably petroleum. Thus, cleaning products and systems that do not rely on petroleum chemistry — or “
Controlling Consumption
One manufacturer, and advocate of Health Intentional Cleaning, frequently uses the term, “non-consumptive” — referring to its equipment not using or consuming chemicals.
This is an important aspect of sustainability, since there are more than 80,000 chemicals in legal use in the U.S., and many are derived from petroleum.
In addition, these chemicals often come packaged in plastic and cardboard, adding to the burgeoning U.S. waste stream headed for crowded landfills.
Why clean with resource-depleting chemicals, and tolerate and dispose of packaging waste, when you do not need to?
Financial Sustainability
There is also the issue of “financial sustainability” – i.e., eliminating unnecessary chemical use saves money.
A Pennsylvania school district saved $19,883.25 annually in supply expense by eliminating aerosols and harsh chemical products.
Why clean with chemicals when the costs are high and there are non-chemical interventions that work?
Cleaning Not Polluting – The Impact on Labor
When we attempt to “clean,” but are, in effect, adding superfluous chemicals to the environment, we are not
This form of “cleaning” is the most egregious form of putting the cart before the horse, as it often leaves residues on surfaces, promotes
For more information about Health Intentional Cleaning – visit https://www.healthintentionalcleaning.org/.
For the next installment, Part 2, we will discuss the health issues related to sustainability.
