In an effort to safeguard the health and well-being of workers in the global electronics assembly industry, ChemFORWARD—in partnership with Apple—debuted a free, web-based tool designed to help cleaning formulators replace high-hazard chemicals with safer, vetted alternatives for the tech industry.

Titled the cleaners and degreasers ingredient optimization application, the tool is a part of the ChemWorks platform that allows users to:

• Search safer ingredients by function—from antimicrobials to surfactants.
• Access verified chemical hazard data, including hazard bands and regulatory red flags.
• Identify ingredients accepted by leading frameworks like GreenScreen Certified™, EPA Safer Choice, and ToxFMD®.
• Navigate compliance with IPC-1402 and other electronics safety standards.

By pre-screening and optimizing formulations before certification, the application reduces cost, saves time, and accelerates the adoption of verified safer products. Once certified, products are featured on the Safer Cleaners Registry, giving the entire industry visibility to safer options.

Thanks to Apple’s support, all ChemWorks.org tools will be available free of charge for the first year. Electronics brands, manufacturers, and formulators can explore the full ChemWorks platform—including the new ingredients application—here.

Fellowes’ 2025 International Day of Clean Air Survey reported that 45% of U.S. millennial and Gen Z workers said they would consider leaving their employer over poor indoor air quality (IAQ)—in comparison to just 18% of baby boomers.

Now in its fourth year, the annual survey finds millennials and Gen Z in the U.S. are far more likely to worry about the health consequences of poor indoor air quality. While concerns about IAQ remain high across the workforce, younger employees are driving a shift in its prioritization.

More than two-thirds (68%) expressed concern about long-term effects, which more than doubles the rate of baby boomers (28%). And their worries are not unfounded: 77% of millennial and Gen Z workers reported experiencing at least one workplace IAQ concern, compared with 60% of baby boomers.

Moreover, 61% of U.S. workers believe their employer is taking the right steps to ensure good IAQ. This perception gap could have real implications for a labor market increasingly dominated by younger workers. In 2024, millennials and Gen Z comprised 54% of the U.S. workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and will continue to shape workforce norms in the years ahead.

The survey also highlighted a growing demand for transparency. Overall, 78% of U.S. workers said it’s important that their employer share workplace IAQ data—a sentiment that is strongest among millennials and Gen Z. When asked about the steps employers could take to increase their confidence in IAQ, workers showed a preference for installed air purification units (49%), followed by updates to HVAC systems (45%), and visible use of IAQ monitors (36%).

For more insights, view the full survey report here.

Held annually during the second full week of September, Environmental Services Week (EVSW)/International Housekeepers Week (IHW) is a time set aside to recognize the efforts globally of hard-working members of all housekeeping and environmental services staff. This year, the week runs from Sunday, Sept. 14, through Saturday, Sept. 20.

The Indoor Environmental Healthcare and Hospitality Association (IEHA) is the official sponsor of EVSW/IHW since its founding in 1981. IEHA is a 1,300-plus member professional association devoted to helping facility managers at hospitals, hotels, and schools maintain cleaner, safer, and healthier buildings. According to IEHA, the week is celebrated in thousands of facilities worldwide.

The week offers the perfect opportunity for facilitators to show their gratitude for the efforts of their environmental services (EVS) workers, housekeepers, and custodians. IEHA suggests these ideas to help make the week a success at your facility:

• Extend heartfelt thanks to each cleaning team member individually, acknowledging their diligent efforts.
• Create a display in your workplace where colleagues can leave messages of thanks, fostering a sense of community.
• Organize a casual gathering, luncheon, or other event to honor your cleaners, emphasizing their role in your team’s success.
• Post your appreciation on your company’s social media channels.
• Sign up your team to compete in the 2025 Housekeeping Olympics, taking place on Nov. 10 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

To learn more about International Housekeeping and Environmental Services Week, visit IEHA’s website.

In regard to EVS in healthcare, check out the Association for the Health Care Environment’s EVSW/IHW 2025 celebration.