Cleaning through manufacturing environmentally preferable products, and then disposing them at the end of their lifecycle in an environmentally responsible manner
Organizations such as GreenSeal®, EcoLogo™ and others often praise the jansan industry for how thoroughly it has embraced green cleaning and the use of environmentally preferable cleaning products. Although there was resistance for many years-often due to the confusion about what is and is not green-the parameters and criteria have been defined more clearly. This helps manufacturers develop healthy and environmentally responsible cleaning products.
Going green is a journey, not necessarily a destination. Some experts in and outside the jansan industry suggest that the next step in the green evolution will be similar to the steps now being incorporated in other industries-that of product stewardship programs. Also referred to as manufacturer’s take-back programs, they not only involve manufacturing environmentally preferable products, but also include disposing them at the end of their lifecycle in an environmentally responsible manner. This is a much more product-centered, consumer-focused approach to environmental protection. It calls on all those involved with a product’s lifecycle designers, manufacturers, retailers, consumers, waste managers and disposers-to share in the responsibility of reducing the environmental impact of products, from beginning to end.
Handling e-waste
The electronics industry has taken center stage and actively supported product stewardship. What they call electronic waste or e-waste involves the more responsible disposal of computers, cell phones, fax machines, copiers and other electronic products.
It is estimated that approximately 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next five years and nearly 150 million cell phones are discarded each year. This generates an estimated 65,000 tons of waste annually, much of which is toxic. However, many of the parts and components in these products can be refurbished or remanufactured for other markets, or recycled and used again in completely new electronics.
To address the problem, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, JVC, Panasonic, Philips, Sharp Electronics, Lexmark, Sony, Canon USA, Dell, Gateway, and other companies have helped develop and encourage recycling programs around the country-either directly or through funding programs already operating. They often work directly with major retailers such as Office Depot, Staples, Best Buy and others-taking back used electronics as customers purchase new equipment.
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| An auto dispensing system ensures that just the right amount of cleaning chemicals are used for each cleaning task. |
However, the entire concept of taking back products is still in its infancy, even in the electronics industry. This is because the focus has typically been on the design and development of products and delivering products to its consumers. The notion of taking products back is still new.
Until recently, most consumers were not very interested in e-waste recycling programs. This was partly due to a lack of awareness of the health and environmental threats posed by e-waste. Additionally, recycling opportunities for e-waste, though growing, have been limited, although these opportunities are growing.
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| Some floor machines have built-in vacuum systems to protect IAQ. |
Should product stewardship be mandated?
About 12 countries, mostly in Europe and Asia, now have take-back laws and regulations covering electronics-a number that is expected to more than double over the next few years. Several of these countries require that manufacturers pay fees for privately run organizations to handle e-waste-which is projected to reach 12 million metric tons by 2010. However in other countries, consumers must pay fees when they purchase a new product to help recover e-waste.
Although private companies stepped in to help in the U.S., there are currently no national mandates or a national infrastructure that exists for collecting, reusing or recycling e-waste in the United States. Instead, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has encouraged a voluntary program of shared responsibility. This involves the following.
Manufacturers pay for the processing and recycling of their products, and ensure that recyclers adhere to environmentally safe management guidelines.
Retailers educate consumers about recycling opportunities available for used electronics and other products.
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| Wiping a surface with a microfiber cloth |
State and local governments are urged to provide collection opportunities, alone or in conjunction with retailers, nonprofits, and/or manufacturers in getting collected products to recyclers.
Recyclers are asked to provide preferable cost terms for larger quantity, longer-term contracts and meet environmentally safe management guidelines.
The EPA says it will facilitate the development, implementation and evaluation of take-back pilot programs, as well as the application of lessons learned to a national system.
Non-government organizations are being asked to inform and motivate the public to recycle safely.
Consumers are encouraged and educated to return their products to designated locations and help pay for the collection service where required.
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But will we need government mandates to further green the industry? David Holly, director of contractor services for The Ashkin Group, Bloomington, Ind.-which has been a leading advocate of green cleaning within the professional cleaning industry-explains that environmental laws, regulations and mandates typically have had limited success. He adds that when enacted, manufacturers often just meet the minimum required standards of the regulations-instead of developing technologies and systems that go beyond these requirements.
For this reason, Holly believes that as consumers become more aware of the issues and the need for product stewardship and take-back programs, manufacturers, retailers and consumers will begin doing their share to rectify the problem. He adds that in the jansan industry, there have been some laws and mandates imposed that require the use of environmentally preferable products, but overall, the entire green cleaning movement has been customer-driven-explaining its success.
Take-back programs in the cleaning industry
Most people are surprised to discover how many jansan products are used every year in the United States. It is estimated that American businesses use more than six billion pounds of cleaning chemicals a year. Approximately 500 million pounds of janitorial equipment-enough to fill 10,000 garbage trucks-are shipped to landfills every year. And annually, more than 4.5 billion pounds of janitorial paper products such as toilet tissue and paper hand towels are used, which in turn requires cutting approximately 15 million trees. Some of these products-especially the cleaning equipment such as vacuum cleaners, extractors and floor machines-would be perfect candidates for take-back programs.
According to some experts, one reason why e-waste programs have been so successful is because they are consumer oriented, involving millions of people and millions of products. This has opened the doors for entrepreneurs who see the challenge of handling and recycling as a potentially profitable business opportunity.
However at this time, these types of services have not evolved in the professional cleaning industry. Although used cleaning equipment such as vacuum cleaners, floor machines and extractors may be rebuilt and sold again, many end up in landfills, according to Holly. He adds that today, cleaning contractors will typically want new machines with advanced technologies rather than older, often outdated equipment.
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| Use vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters to protect IAQ. |
For containers-such as the plastic containers used for cleaning chemicals-to meet green certification, the products selected are made from recycled materials and are recyclable themselves. However, due to the costs and difficulties in gathering and cleaning these products, there is little profit incentive presently to take these items back.
Holly predicts that in time many jansan products and equipment will be re-used again and trade-back programs will evolve. It is possible that major big-box retailers now selling cleaning equipment, along with jansan distributors, might be the first to start these programs. If this does indeed occur, this will again demonstrate the industry’s leadership in embracing and supporting environmentally responsible measures and programs.
David Holly is probably right. At this year’s ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America© tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nev., one exhibitor walked the entire floor documenting of how many exhibits and booths displayed the word green prominently on various signage. He counted approximately 150 booths-25 percent of the overall exhibitor booths-extolling green attributes of their products. Four years ago, the number was less than 25. This is a clear representation of how companies are evolving-becoming more environmentally responsible. Sustainability and product stewardship are likely to be the next step.
About the author
Mike Nelson is vice president of marketing for Pro-Link, a jansan-focused marketing and buying group with members and distribution points throughout the United States. Nelson has been at Pro-Link for three-and-a-half years. Prior to Pro-Link he spent seven years in product and brand management positions at Fortune 200 consumer products companies. He can be reached at mike.nelson@prolinkhq.com.
