Green Cleaning and Sustainability

Green cleaning is a natural part of any school sustainability program.

When it comes to cleaning, greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming are created through the production, transportation, and to a small degree the use of cleaning chemicals, products and equipment. Adopting a green cleaning program can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce waste by cutting down on the energy used and replacing ready-to-use products with concentrates that have less packaging and require less fuel to transport. In addition, green cleaning products do not contain chemicals that will damage the ozone layer. Green equipment cleans more efficiently and requires less energy for the end user.

Green cleaning supports sustainability considerations on a number of levels, including energy use, raw materials, water use, waste management, and the development of new green technologies.

Energy Use

A primary consideration in any sustainability program is energy use. When it comes to cleaning, energy that is used in the manufacture and transportation of products is the most significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions that in turn contribute to global warming. In general, the use of green cleaning products that are manufactured and transported in environmentally responsible ways can help schools reduce their impact on the environment in three areas of energy consumption. Click on the bullets below to learn more.

Transportation

Transportation affects the environment at several points in the product’s lifecycle, particularly as raw materials (including natural resources used as fuel) are shipped to the manufacturer and the processed product is shipped from the manufacturer to the distributor and then to the school. Most green products are shipped as concentrates rather than as ready-to-use (RTU) products so as to reduce the volume of product that needs to be transported. Purchasing locally when possible also reduces the environmental impact of transporting cleaning supplies.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing cleaning chemicals and products can have varying levels of impact on the environment, depending on the practices of the manufacturer. Many manufacturers of green products (and traditional products, for that matter) are implementing energy conservation plans because doing so makes good financial sense in addition to protecting the environment. Some manufacturers are taking this a step further by having their factories or office buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. The Green Cleaning Network and the Leonardo Academy work with green cleaning manufacturers to assess the company’s carbon footprint and provide information on how a company can reduce and offset its harmful emissions.

Equipment Use

Green cleaning equipment that requires less energy and operates more efficiently is not only environmentally preferable but also saves money for schools. Some cleaning chemicals are also designed to be used at a lower temperature, which can reduce energy use and related costs.

Raw Materials and Byproducts

The environmental impact and the health impact of a product is tied closely to the raw materials used in its production. These raw materials vary greatly in their toxicity and sustainability, as do the byproducts of manufacturing.

Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite), for example, is found in many conventional cleaning products and is used in the bleaching of some paper products. The bleaching process creates dioxin, one of the most hazardous substances known to man. Green products that do not involve chlorine bleach, then, promote sustainability efforts by reducing the amount of dioxin released into the environment.

Another sustainability consideration related to materials is the use of renewable versus nonrenewable resources.

Non-renewable resources. A fundamental principle of sustainability is reducing the use of non-renewable resources such as coal and oil and minimizing the use of slowly-renewable resources such as old-growth trees. Petroleum, a non-renewable resource, is used as a basic component for most chemicals and plastics we use today. In an effort to reduce the use of petroleum, many companies have developed bio-based products from agricultural sources such as soybeans and oranges. Green, bio-based products have benefits for health while contributing to sustainability efforts.

Renewable and rapidly renewable resources. Sustainability efforts often emphasize the use of renewable resources – usually those derived from plants – in manufacturing cleaning products. The term “rapidly renewable resource” identifies agricultural products that can be quickly grown again; for example, fast-growing bamboo is considered a rapidly renewable resource in contrast to trees that may take years to re-grow after being logged for paper pulp.

Water Use

Responsible water use (or water conservation) is a key element of sustainability, although it has received less attention in recent years than other aspects of the movement. Water scarcity is becoming increasingly common, however, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office predicts that more than 35 states will experience some water shortage in the next ten years.

As drought conditions become more common, what may seem like minor steps in conservation will become of increasing importance.

Some green cleaning products have been designed to reduce the use of water. Some do not require a rinse, while others use water reconditioning technology. In the case of kitchen washing equipment, solutions that reduce length of wash cycles can support water conservation efforts.

In school construction and renovation projects, bathroom fixtures such as waterless urinals and water faucets that used photovoltaic sensors to automatically turn water on and off can also go a long way to conserve this valuable resource.

Waste Management

An important aspect of any sustainability program – and any green cleaning program – is waste management. Many well-designed green products are created and packaged with the waste management cycle in mind.

The U.S. EPA’s pollution prevention program recommends the “Three R” approach: reduce, reuse and recycle. Click on the text below to learn more.

Reduce

The first step in sustainable waste management is reducing the amount of waste created in the first place. Green cleaning products sold as concentrates or in bulk will reduce the amount of packaging that must be disposed of. Green cleaning products also reduce the amount of toxic waste created in the manufacturing and disposal processes. Wastewater treatment systems are not able to remove all of the containments in the waste stream, making it even more important not to create this waste in the first place.

When cleaning, a key element of waste management is reducing the amount of product that is wasted. Following proper cleaning procedures and paying attention to correct dilution minimizes wasted product. Proper dilution can be ensured by using dilution control equipment or cleaning products that are packaged as pre-measured concentrates.

Reuse

A waste management policy that encourages reuse of paper, books, and other school supplies is not only good for the environment (and for teaching valuable lessons to students), it also has the potential to save the school huge amounts of money in disposal costs. Cleaning with re-useable microfiber cloths versus disposable wipes is just one of many possible examples of reuse in school cleaning programs.

Recycle

Even with the best efforts to reduce and reuse, most schools will produce some waste. With sustainability in mind, this waste should be recycled to the extent possible. When it comes to cleaning product purchases, including janitorial paper, it is important to close the recycling loop by purchasing products made from or packaged with recycled materials. The EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines offer a standard for recycled content for a wide array of other consumer products.

Redesign

As more schools go green and prioritize their sustainability efforts, companies have an incentive to develop more new technologies and products that integrate the fundamental principles of sustainability. One of the most exciting developments is cleaning equipment that can clean by hydrolyzing water without the use of cleaning chemicals. Learn more about this and other developments in New Technologies.