Green Cleaning Network News

Members may submit news releases or event announcements related to Green Cleaning by emailing us at newsroom@greencleaningnetwork.com.

Antibacterial Soap: Public Health Survey
Feb 9, 2011 - In response to a recent survey on antibacterial soap by the chemical industry, Beyond Pesticides has released its own survey questions about the health and environmental issues surrounding antibacterial cleansers and asks that you share the link (http://triclosan.questionpro.com) to the short multiple choice survey with your members and colleagues.

The industry survey, supported by the Personal Care Products Council in partnership with the American Cleaning Institute, reported that 56 percent of American consumers use antibacterial soap on a regular basis and 83 percent would like to retain the choice to purchase them. This is no surprise given that consumers do not know all the facts –health and environmental impacts– surrounding the use of antibacterial products and antibacterial agents like triclosan; facts that this industry poll failed to mention.

The truth is antibacterial products available to consumers like antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers do not provide any added health benefits over regular soap. Antibacterial agents like triclosan, found in many antibacterial products, are linked to a host of adverse health and environmental effects including hormone disruption, possible impaired fetal development, and water and food contamination. This chemical is currently under scrutiny at the FDA and is the focus of petitions submitted to both FDA and EPA calling for its ban. If consumers knew all the facts, would they think differently about purchasing antibacterial products? We think they would.

Congratulations to the 2010 Green Cleaning Award Winners!
Jan 26, 2011 - Green Cleaning Network and the Healthy Schools Campaign is pleased to announce the 2010 winners of Green Cleaning Award for Schools and Universities, which recognizes the efforts of schools around the nation with outstanding green cleaning programs.

The Green Cleaning Award for Schools & Universities, presented in collaboration with American School & University magazine honors schools and their partners that embrace green principles and practices in their maintenance operations.

The judging criteria were based on the comprehensiveness and quality of the program and the HSC’s Five Simple Steps to Green Cleaning outlined in their Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools.

The 12 winners of this year show how much one education institution, district or campus can accomplish — and how it can improve in measurable ways!

2010 K-12/School Districts Winners

Grand Award: East Meadow Union Free School District, Westbury, N.Y.
Best New Program Award: Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, Mo.
Honorable Mentions:
- Sonoma Country Day School, Santa Rosa, Calif.
- Green Chimeys School, Brewster, N.Y.
- Newark Public Schools, Newark, N.J.
- Salt Lake City School District, Salt Lake City, Utah

2010 College/University Winners

Co-Grand Award: University of Georgia, Athens
Co-Grand Award: University of Washington, Seattle
Honorable Mentions:
- Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Mich.
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
- University of Maryland, College Park
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.