What does sustainability mean to GSF?

For more than a decade, GSF has incorporated sustainability into its cleaning programs for customers. We clean 40 million square feet per month in schools and commercial office buildings. We believe in sustainability because it is the right thing to do for our employees and our customers. Cleaning in an environmentally friendly way not only benefits the planet but the people who live, visit and occupy indoor environments. 

What do you value in your partnership with Green Seal?

Partnering with a trusted leader like Green Seal helps GSF enhance its understanding of sustainable cleaning and improve its customer offerings. We care about clean and want to deliver it in the most responsible way. Green Seal has decades of experience building a greener, healthier world and we are proud to be a partner.

We will be heavily promoting that GSF’s carefully developed processes are now Green Seal certified to give our customers even greater confidence that we know how to effectively and sustainably clean and maintain their buildings. 

Do your customers see the value of green cleaning? 

Customers are increasingly demanding that cleaning service providers help them limit waste and reduce the environmental impact of their cleaning operations. Indoor air quality is paramount, and cleaning can help uphold good IAQ, which in turn supports the health and wellbeing of facility occupants. We are proud to work with like-minded customers that truly believe in the power of sustainable cleaning.

We train our employees to have the skills and knowledge to effectively clean and to confidently communicate the importance of green cleaning with customers so they can educate them about best practices and new trends that are worth pursuing. 

From an operations cost perspective, how do you find that green cleaning compares to regular cleaning?

There is a common misconception that green cleaning requires a greater investment than regular cleaning. Over the long term, green cleaning is the right choice because it provides savings for the bottom line, the environment and people, both people using facilities and those who clean them. Implementing the right green cleaning solutions, whether from a chemical, equipment or tool perspective, can offer water, chemical and energy savings, as well as enhanced efficiency.

What accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

What we are doing with the electrochemically activated solutions (ECAS) from PathoSans is without a doubt our biggest accomplishment. It goes beyond simply purchasing and installing an on-site generator in a custodial closest. We are changing the entire culture of clean in these facilities, which takes tremendous effort from top to bottom, including training, education and communication around this innovative technology. 

ECAS is an industry disruptor because it completely upends the way facilities engage with chemical companies and distributors. Using cleaning and disinfecting solutions made from water, salt and electricity is a safer, more sustainable and better solution for facilities. It will transform the standard of cleanliness and we are proud to be part of this movement. 

How has the pandemic affected your operations and the demand for green cleaning?

The pandemic has increased the public’s awareness about the cleanliness of facilities and their interest in how organizations are achieving cleanliness. We have always been clear about the way we approach cleaning and our customers appreciate this now more than ever.

With cleaning happening more frequently, this can increase the risk of poor indoor air quality, especially if caustic chemicals are used. Cleaning more regularly can also generate higher volumes of waste, such as from ready-to-use cleaning products in plastic bottles. Facilities can often achieve safer cleaning by transitioning to greener alternatives that benefit the health of building occupants without harming the environment. 

We believe that the demand for green cleaning will continue to be a priority as more organizations look to improve transparency and demonstrate to their customers that they are taking the right steps in their cleaning program. 

What’s next for GSF? 

We recently expanded our Illinois operation into the Rockford area, and are on pace to continue growing our business by bringing on additional customer accounts and talented cleaning technicians and staff members. We are excited to bring our Green Seal-certified Écologique cleaning program to new customers to show them the value that green cleaning can bring to their operations.

North Carolina State University’s certified green cleaning program has generated a host of benefits for the campus community, including improved air quality, reduced operational costs, and improved employee health and morale. To maintain Green Seal certification, University Housekeeping will be reevaluated annually to ensure its cleaning products, processes and employee training meet leadership levels.

Pilot green-cleaning projects led to campus-wide adoption

 “NC State began its shift toward green cleaning more than a decade ago as increased awareness of environmental and human health prompted many manufacturers to develop eco-friendly options. First, University Housekeeping tried a chemical-free cleaning solution made of ionized water and salt. Not only did it work on campus, but it saved money and was safer for building occupants and housekeeping employees. With that success, NC State continued pilot green projects that led to campus-wide adoption. Housekeeping also found safe, effective alternatives to aerosols and harsh chemicals. They use many Green Seal certified cleaning chemicals and hand soap to protect indoor air quality and reduce chemical exposure.”
Carla Davis
University Sustainability Office

We’re looking our for the health of our employees, customers, and the environment

“We’re looking out for the health of our employees, customers and the environment. What makes us stand out is that we adopted green products early and saw benefits early. We were very progressive in making our products and processes better.”
Hezekiah Henry
Supervisor – University Housekeeping

Green Seal examines absolutely everything you do

“Green Seal examines absolutely everything you do. They verify every chemical, every piece of equipment, your cleaning process, your training program. They leave no stone unturned. It is rigorous and comprehensive and helped us standardize our cleaning program in every building. This certification shows our commitment to sustainability and helps us become a leader.”
Vincent Taylor
Deputy Assistant Director – University Housekeeping

Green Seal certification has given our staff greater pride in what they do

“Our staff have to know the reasoning behind our process and the difference between cleaning and green cleaning. There’s a lot that goes into that, and Green Seal certification has given our staff greater pride in what they do.”
Tony Brown
Supervisor – University Housekeeping

I could not be prouder of the entire University Housekeeping team

“Green Seal Certification affirms our dedication to sustainability and the health of our employees and the campus community. I could not be prouder of the entire University Housekeeping team.”
Ada Baldwin
Director – University Housekeeping

Our employees have less chronic illness and ergonomic problems

“Our industry is much more concerned with employee health than it was before. With our green cleaning program, our employees have less chronic illness and ergonomic problems.”
Taft Waldon
Deputy Assistant Director – University Housekeeping

In fact, my organization’s roots lie in a shattering family experience: my younger son was poisoned by pesticides repeatedly applied at school. My son is grown now, with children of his own. But I vividly remember the sheer panic, then the anger and tears of frustration, and a new felt commitment to root reforms for children, as I learned how common environmental hazards were at all schools.

EPA has estimated that half of the nation’s 130,000 public and private schools suffer from indoor pollution. Of course, toxic products are a problem in any environment. But they are especially worrisome in schools.

As parents, we like to think of schools as warm and nurturing places for our kids. After all, other than home, schools are the environment where children spend the most time. Yet tens of thousands of P-12 school buildings daily assault our kids with environmental threats. Many of those threats arise from schools’ routine use of toxic products—everything from cleaning products to dry erase markers to wall paints and PCBs. These products and legacy toxics produce a stew of chemicals that degrade schools’ indoor environmental quality (IEQ).

Children Faces Special Risks from Harmful Chemicals

EPA has estimated that half of the nation’s 130,000 public and private schools suffer from indoor pollution. Of course, toxic products are a problem in any environment. But they are especially worrisome in schools. School buildings are not well maintained and often poorly ventilated. They are crowded—schools are four times more densely occupied than offices. And the children who are packed into these facilities face special risks from harmful chemicals: they are biologically more vulnerable than adults, they face more exposures, and they are less able to identify threats or remove themselves from harm’s way.

Poor IEQ Impacts Health and Children’s Ability to Learn

The science is clear: poor IEQ in schools has direct impacts on children’s health and their ability to learn. Numerous studies have documented the effects, but two high-profile reports stand out. In 2006, the National Research Council found sufficient evidence linking environmental factors and children’s (and personnel’s) health to urge that in the future conventional green buildings be deliberately designed for health. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine found that “[p]oor indoor environmental quality is creating health problems today and impairs the ability of occupants to work and learn” and recommended “preventing exposures” (which it reported can be 100-1,000 times more intense indoors than out).

Advocates for children and education have launched numerous campaigns to improve schools. It’s great to see efforts to improve standards, train teachers, or otherwise enhance the school experience. But a new and improved curriculum, for instance, won’t help kids who can’t pay attention—or who are absent—because their schools made them sick. The school environment must also be addressed.

Reduce Indoor Air Pollution by Keeping Toxic Products Out

So how do we improve school IEQ? My organization is pushing for new policies and a host of other reforms. But the quickest and even the cheapest way to reduce indoor pollution in schools is to keep toxic products out. Schools must replace conventional toxic products with safer, healthier alternatives. Such as certified green cleaning products and safer disinfectants. Unfortunately, schools face special challenges in making these switches. Most local schools are unaware of decades of federal and state policies on reducing and preventing pollution. Unlike many of their sister agencies, education agencies have scant experience with environment generally or with green products specifically and no staff expert in the subject. For these and other reasons, schools are easy targets for greenwashing campaigns by trade associations and vendors.

A Practical Guide to Switching to Green Products

A new resource responds to these challenges. Healthy Purchasing for Healthy Schools was commissioned by the Coalition for Healthier Schools, which my organization coordinates, specifically to help schools understand why and how to switch to green products. The guide covers six product categories commonly used in schools: cleaning supplies, office equipment, paints, office supplies, art supplies, and furniture. It explains the hazards of conventional products and defines ingredients. It includes purchase specifications, names of the certifying bodies for each product category, sample bid specifications, and much, much more.

Armed with this practical information, districts, NGOs, and communities can move forward on green purchasing at school. The result will be immediate, tangible improvements to school IEQ. Children will literally breathe easier—and their parents can breathe sighs of relief.

The Healthy Schools Network is an environmental health research, education, and advocacy organization. The Network is recognized as the founder of the nation’s healthy schools movement and the nation’s leading voice for children’s environmental health at school. The National Coalition for Healthier Schools, which unites advocates from across the country working to protect children’s environmental health at school and has won new guidelines and funds for school environment.