Steps to Sustainability in Commercial Cleaning: Getting Started

Every year, Australians spend millions on cleaning products containing dangerous chemicals and toxins. Not only are these harmful to people and animals, but they’re also harmful to our planet. We’ve come a long way in recent years in understanding the damaging effects such chemicals are having on our health and the environment. As a result, more and more people are seeking out natural, eco-friendly solutions that are safer but still effective.

Driven by customer’s demand for ownership of social responsibility, eco-friendly products and commitment to sustainability, commercial cleaning is going through revolutionary changes. A new, younger, more conscientious generation of customers are demanding the change. Government regulations as well as corporate policies require annual reporting on sustainability. The most successful cleaners are offering exceptional, consistent service and meeting these new green expectations. Like many other industries, cleaning businesses are trying to stay profitable. The measurement of profitability is being redefined by sustainability indexes.

THE ACCELERATION OF GREEN CLEANING TREND

The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association says “green cleaning is arguably the No. 1 trend in the cleaning industry and is showing no signs of slowing down”. They describe green cleaning as “a marketplace phenomenon that is being driven by customer demand and the overall trending of the broad marketplace for environmentally preferable products and services.”

THE GREEN JOURNEY STARTING POINT – ELIMINATE ALL HARMFUL CHEMICALS

For a small commercial cleaning enterprise, it can be overwhelming to think of how to get started with sustainability. In fact, it’s easier than some might think. The number one area in which green commercial cleaning companies are changing is in chemicals.

Not many know that many commercial cleaning solvents are largely derived from petroleum. Classified as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, their disposal can create big problems for both our environment and our health. They also deplete our ozone, pollute our groundwater and damage our respiratory systems.

ENZYME BASED CLEANING PRODUCTS

At Melbourne Cleaning supplies, we offer a wide range of NATURAL Enzyme-based cleaning products for the home, commercial and hospitality markets. These products are designed to reduce cleaning time and are getting results where other products have failed. The magic of Enzymes creates products that are not only environmentally friendly but also outperform chemical cleaners.

Enzyme Wizard is committed to providing customers with effective products that are environmentally responsible. They continually look for ways to limit our environmental impact through enzyme-based cleaners.

What is Global GreenTag?

Global GreenTag is one of the world’s most robust, trusted, and widely recognised eco-labels. They independently assure that every product is fitness tested and certified under their leading certification programs that use the world’s best scientific methods. In Australia, Global GreenTag HealthRATE is recognised, under the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Green Star® Tools.

NEW SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER

Commercial cleaning is also a water-intensive industry, and as such, water waste constitutes a large proportion of their environmental impact. The methods used to approach these problems vary from new investments in technologies, to more subtle changes in business culture and habits. Eco-friendly cleaners are changing by:

• Investing in low-moisture vacuum systems
• Adopting flat-mopping methods
• Simply using less water

Did you know that you could clean and sanitise any surface safely and effectively without any traditional cleaning chemicals? Without the fumes, without the smells, without the foam, without the harmful side effects?

All you would need is cold tap water and a single handheld electronic device to produce a powerful, effective and all-natural cleaner and sanitiser. It is possible by simply looking to nature and technology rather than chemicals.

It’s all built upon aqueous ozone

Aqueous ozone is by no means a new idea or discovery. In fact, it’s been considered one of nature’s most powerful cleaners and sanitisers for more than one hundred years. In nature, ozone (O3) is created through lightning or sunlight and occurs when an extra oxygen atom is added to the oxygen (O2) molecules in the air. Aqueous ozone is created when this ozone penetrates raindrops. It’s completely safe and not to be confused or compared to ozone in gaseous form.

Aqueous ozone is a naturally unstable compound, meaning it will always try to revert to its normal form. This unstable nature is what makes it one of the most effective natural cleaning solutions – the molecules will rapidly seek out and cling to contaminants, killing more than 99.99% of germs and bacteria before converting back to water and oxygen.

Combining nature with technology to create a smarter way to clean

Tersano’s iClean Mini has taken this natural process, replicated it and enhanced it further using innovative technology. By creating Stabilised Aqueous Ozone ( SAO™), the iClean mini unit creates a better cleaner than Aqueous Ozone alone, on-demand. In fact, it’s been tested and proven to provide up to 15% more effective cleaning power. The patented SAO technology filters cold tap water and infuses it with an extra oxygen atom with the press of a button creating the powerful yet safe cleaning solution and germ killer. Sounds complicated, but it’s actually very simple.

SAO™ technology has been used in the commercial cleaning industry worldwide for more than 15 years to clean and sanitise public buildings, hotels, universities, hospitals and major fast-food chains. The iClean mini makes it possible for all Australian households to benefit from it too.

From governmental bodies to independent test laboratories and sustainability organisations, Stabilised Aqueous Ozone™ is a safe, sustainable alternative to traditional chemical cleaners and sanitisers.

Why use Stabilised Aqueous Ozone™ in the home?

• Completely safe for people, animals and the planet.
• Eliminates germs, odours, stains, mould, and mildew.
• Effectively kills >99.99% of germs and bacteria including E. coli, Salmonella, MRSA and more.
• No toxins, fumes or chemical residue.
• Completely harmless to skin, eyes or if ingested.
• Replaces all traditional cleaning chemicals, sanitisers and deodorisers with an all in one chemical-free solution.
• Use on all surfaces that water won’t damage, including benches, bathrooms, toys, fruits and vegetables, cooking utensils and more.
• HACCP and NSF approved for the food industry as a no-rinse sanitiser.

NEW GREEN CLEANING TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTS AND PRACTICES

New technologies, eco-friendly products and green business practices allow green cleaning services to affordably avoid pollutants. Melbourne Cleaning supplies carries brands such as KimberleyClarke, iTeam, Ecolab, Agar, 3M, Diversey, ecobin and Enzyme Wizard which have high sustainability credentials.

Many of these innovations are affordable substitutes and can be gradually implemented in place of their less sustainable counterparts – allowing aspiring green cleaners to transition at their own pace, and within their own budgetary constraints.

NEW SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO DEAL WITH WASTE

Commercial cleaning companies need to improve how they dispose of waste. It’s estimated these businesses produce 40,000 garbage truck loads of waste per year. Eco-friendly cleaners are doing several things to improve how they handle waste including:

• Consistently recycling where appropriate.
• Separating the waste by recyclables, landfill and paper.
• Avoiding the use of plastic liners for trash that mostly contains paper products.

GREEN CLEANING IS GOOD BUSINESS

Cleaning businesses making these eco-friendly changes are showing their commitment to social responsibility, as well as their business acumen. The transition to sustainability in cleaning should make owners proud to be doing their part in taking care of our environment, and with the tools available today, it has never been easier. The bottom line is that everyone wins: owners, employees, customers and the environment.