Steve Ashkin, founder of The Ashkin Group and often called the father of green cleaning, doesn’t mince words when it comes to sustainability. For him, it’s not just about swapping in eco-friendly products or recycling a few extra bins of paper. It’s about a mindset—a way of embedding long-term responsibility into the DNA of an organization.
“Every purchase, every decision, every action leaves a footprint,” Ashkin said. That means when a purchasing manager looks at a new vacuum, the questions should go beyond price and performance. Is it energy efficient? Durable? Repairable? What does the supplier stand for? Even asking those questions sends a signal to the marketplace that sustainability matters.
Ashkin is blunt about what he hates: Waste. “I hate wasting money. I hate wasting time. I hate wasting electricity, water, fuel—everything. Because it’s exactly that: a waste.” He believes that cutting waste in all its forms isn’t just good for the planet, it’s smart business. Less waste means less cost, more efficiency, and more respect for both employees and customers.
For Ashkin, the ultimate goal is cultural, not technical. CEOs, managers, and frontline staff all need to think sustainably in their day-to-day roles, from operations to logistics. He insists that sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have.” Regulatory pressures are rising, customers are demanding accountability, and companies that ignore the shift will be left behind.
As for the finish line? Ashkin says there isn’t one. Sustainability is a journey, and the real measure of success is the legacy left behind. At 70, he frames it this way: “Maybe the finish line is being able to proudly say that at this important moment in human history, we really made a difference.”
