What's the best way to choose green cleaning products for your facility?

1 Know your goals

Before you start shopping for green cleaning products, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with them. Do you want to reduce your facility's environmental impact, improve indoor air quality, prevent cross-contamination, comply with regulations, or save money? Depending on your goals, you may have different preferences and priorities for the type of green cleaning products you use. For example, if you want to reduce waste, you may opt for concentrated or refillable products, while if you want to avoid harsh chemicals, you may look for products with natural or plant-based ingredients.

2 Check the labels

To choose green cleaning products, reading and understanding the labels is essential. Unfortunately, there is no universal definition of what constitutes a green product, and some manufacturers may use deceptive claims to make their products appear eco-friendly. To avoid being fooled by greenwashing, it's important to look for specific information on the labels, such as the ingredients list, certification logos, and usage instructions. The ingredients list should show what the product contains and how safe and biodegradable it is. Avoid products with toxic, corrosive, flammable, or carcinogenic ingredients like ammonia, chlorine, formaldehyde, or petroleum derivatives. Instead, opt for those that have natural or plant-based ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, citric acid, or essential oils. Certification logos are symbols or seals that verify that the product has been tested and certified by a third-party organization to meet certain environmental and health standards. Some of the most reliable certification logos for green cleaning products are Green Seal, EcoLogo, Safer Choice, and Cradle to Cradle. Lastly, usage instructions should tell you how to use the product effectively and safely. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully to avoid wasting the product or exposing yourself or others to risks.

3 Compare the costs

When choosing green cleaning products, it is important to consider the cost. While they may have a higher initial price tag than conventional products, they may also offer long-term benefits and savings. For example, green cleaning products may last longer, require less water and energy, reduce maintenance and disposal costs, and improve productivity and health. To compare the costs of green cleaning products, you need to look beyond the purchase price and consider the total cost of ownership. This includes the unit cost (price per unit of measure), use cost (cost per application), and hidden costs (costs that are not directly related to the purchase or use of the product). Calculating these costs can help you determine if green cleaning products are worth the investment. Additionally, green cleaning products may reduce hidden costs by requiring less time and effort, preventing accidents and injuries, enhancing customer satisfaction, and complying with regulations.

4 Test the performance

The final step to choose green cleaning products is to test their performance. Evaluation of how well the product cleans, disinfects, deodorizes, or polishes the surfaces and materials in your facility is essential. To test the performance of green cleaning products, you can request samples from different sources and compare them side by side. Conducting small-scale trials with the green cleaning products you are interested in is also beneficial, using them in a specific area, time, or task in your facility and measuring the results with criteria such as cleanliness, appearance, odor, durability, and feedback. Additionally, you can seek feedback from your staff, customers, or other stakeholders who use or encounter the products to make informed decisions. Choosing green cleaning products for your facility requires research, analysis, and experimentation; however it can be a rewarding and beneficial process that provides a cleaner, healthier, and greener environment.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?