Green Cleaning Standards

With all the competition that exists now, the green cleaning product marketplace can appear to be confusing. However, many different roadmaps are available relating to Green Cleaning, and the products, equipment, paper, and supplies used in Green Cleaning that can guide your efforts.

Here are brief descriptions and links for major standards and certifying agencies:

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
The ASTM has published the Standard Guide for Stewardship for the Cleaning of Commercial and Institutional Buildings (publication E1971- 05), which outlines the stewardship of cleaning and housekeeping operations for institutional and commercial buildings. For more information about this publication, visit its Web site and enter E1971-05 in the search box at the top of the page. Contact it at 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Phone: 610-832-9500.

California VOC Standards
In an effort to minimize air pollution, California set limits on the concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) for numerous consumer products. The California standards are an excellent starting point to use when evaluating products not covered by the independent standard-setting organizations listed elsewhere in this appendix. Contact California Air Resources Board, 1001 I Street, P.O. Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 95812. Phone: 800-242-4450.

Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI)
CRI represents the carpet and rug industry. The institute’s members are manufacturers representing the bulk of all carpet produced in the United States. CRI introduced its Green Label Testing Program for vacuum cleaners in 2000 and more recently introduced a program for carpet extractors. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 2048, Dalton, Georgia. Phone: 706-278-3176.

The Chlorine Free Products Association
This organization sets standards to promote sustainable manufacturing practices and encourage technologies free of chlorine chemistry. It offers standards for janitorial paper products. It’s independent and not for profit. Contact it at Chlorine Free Products Association,19 North Main St., Algonquin, IL 60102. Phone: 847-658-6104.

EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
The EPA establishes recycled content requirements for paper and plastic products under its Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines. These guidelines are based on producers’ information rather than third-party certification. A database of manufacturers and suppliersof CPG-rated products can be found at along with ideas for saving paper and promoting recycling. Contact it at US EPA, Office of Solid Waste (5305P), 1200 Pennsyvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460.

EPA Design for the Environment Program
Contact it at Design for the Environment (DfE), Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics, US EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Mail Code 7406-M, Washington, DC, 20460.

Environmental Choice
Environmental Choice is sponsored by the Canadian government and certifies over 3,000 products based on Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) standards, which address resource use, chemicals used during production, waste and emissions reduction, energy consumption and packaging. Contact: Environmental Choice Program, c/o TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, 1280 Old Innes Suite 801, Ottawa, Ontario K1B 5M7, Canada. Phone: 800-478-0399.

Greenguard Environmental Institute Indoor Air Quality Certification Program
Contact : Greenguard Environmental Institute, 1341 Capital Circle, Suite A, Atlanta, Georgia 30067. Phone: 800-427-9681.

Green Seal
Green Seal is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture, purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products. They certify hundreds of products using credible, science-based, and transparent standards.Contact: 1001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 827, Washington, DC 20036. Phone: 202-872-6400.

ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard
ISSA is the leading trade association representing the commercial and institutional cleaning industry. Its Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) is a management framework designed to assist building service contractors and inhouse service providers develop quality, customer-centered organizations, and based on those universally accepted principles that have proven to be the hallmarks of well-managed, successful cleaning operations. Contact: 7373 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, IL. Phone: 800-225-4772.

United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) rating system maximizes building operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. It is a recognized, performancebased benchmark for building owners and operators to measure operations, improvements, and maintenance on a consistent scale. LEED-EB is designed for delivering economically profitable, environmentally responsible, healthy, productive places to live and work and provides a roadmap to building owners and managers on green cleaning. Contact: U.S. Green Building Council, 1800 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20036. Phone: 202-828-7422.