Amerisource Industrial Supply Blog » Green Cleaning http://industrialsupplyproducts.com Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:37:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Important Facts about Green Products http://industrialsupplyproducts.com/2009/05/28/important-facts-about-green-products/ http://industrialsupplyproducts.com/2009/05/28/important-facts-about-green-products/#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 19:11:47 +0000 Industrial Supplier http://industrialsupplyproducts.com/?p=62 What are “Green Products?”

A common misconception about “Green”, also known as Environmentally Preferred Products is that they are made to protect the environment.   And while that is true, more importantly Green Products are designed to protect the people who use chemicals for cleaning on a regular basis.   Many cleaning products we use everyday contain ingredients that are known or suspected to have possible long-term health implications.  Green Products are formulated to remove all of the potentially harmful ingredients.

 

Why should I use “Green Products?”

Now, more than ever, people are using “Green” products. The most common reasons are:

  • To protect the health of employees and guests. There are concerns about workers long-term exposure to certain ingredients in cleaning chemicals via skin contact and inhalation. 
  • Short-term costs:
    • Rising healthcare costs, loss of productivity and workers compensation premiums associated with occupational illness.
  • Long-term costs:
    • Potential future liability associated with exposure to currently unknown harmful chemical ingredients.  We live in a very litigious society. This has already happened with items such as asbestos, tobacco and lead-based paint.
  • The Federal government is actively promoting the use of green chemistry. Many federal, State and city government facilities are already using green products.  By 2010, all U.S. Federal contracts are required to use green products.

 

How can I identify a “Green Product”?

This can be difficult to do. The old adage “Let the Buyer Beware” definitely applies. Some manufacturers have taken advantage of the “Green Revolution” by misleading customers into thinking their products are green by simply changing the name of the product to a “green sounding” name or by removing only a few ingredients and not actually completely reformulating their products.

 

There are two primary standards for green products in our industry: Green Seal and the EPA.

  1. Green Seal, a Washington, DC-based private business has developed 29 standards ranging from alternate fuel vehicles, newsprint and limited cleaning products. They charge manufacturers a fee to register their products.  Green Seal does not have a testing protocol for Floor Finishes, Sealers, Strippers or Maintainers.
  2. The EPA, who has developed the Design for the Environment Program (DfE) for institutional cleaners and maintenance products.

 

We at Pioneer Eclipse believe that the EPA is the ultimate authority for Environmentally Preferred Products because:

  • They are part of the U.S. Federal government and not a privately-owned business.
  • EPA testing standards include All Products used in our industry, not just a select few.  Additionally, the EPA testing standards are much more restrictive (safer) than Green Seal.
]]> http://industrialsupplyproducts.com/2009/05/28/important-facts-about-green-products/feed/ 0 What Is Green? http://industrialsupplyproducts.com/2009/04/29/michigan-industrial-supply-products-green-cleaning/ http://industrialsupplyproducts.com/2009/04/29/michigan-industrial-supply-products-green-cleaning/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:20:57 +0000 Industrial Supplier http://industrialsupplyproducts.com/?p=1   Presidential Order #13101 defined GREEN as;

“products and services that reduce the health and environmental impacts compared to similar products and services used for the same purpose.”

dfe-logo The Design for the Environment (DfE) program works with industry partners to improve human health impact, reduce environmental risks, and control costs

 

 

  ecologo1

Canadian version of DfE.  North America’s oldest and most widely recognized certification of environmental leadership and programs

 

 

  

greenseal-logo

Green Seal is an independent, non-profit organization protecting the environment by promoting the manufacture and use of environmentally friendly products and services

 

 

How Amerisource Industrial Supply Can help

Our process ensures you are using the best environmental products, controling consumptions and waste with the least amount of effort and where possible we recover waste streams for resuse. 

 Focus on Consumable Supplies

  • Paper Products
  • Plastic Liners
  • Hand Soaps
  • Cleaning Chemicals
  • Cleaning Equipment
  • Restroom Deodorizers  and Fixtures
  • Matting

 

Paper Productsintuition

Named the second greenest company in the world, SCA Tissue is our preferred paper products provider.  Also recognized as one of the 100 most environmentally sustainable companies, they recycle over 700,000 tons of paper products annually and  have won numerous awards for energy efficiency, waste water reuse, and pollution prevention. AmeriSource carries the full line of SCA Tissue away from home products – including towels, toilet tissue, wipers, and napkins.

Why is SCA the right Choice

  1. Hands free dispensing
  2. 100% recycled paper content – post consumer waste
  3. Controlled consumption (mechanical or electronic)
  4. Waste reduction ( product and packaging)
  5. Potential for 7 LEEDS points
  6. Cost Competitive

Plastic Liners and Garbage Bagsliners

  1. Do you need a liner or a garbage bag?
  2. In industrial applications we can eliminate the need for liners and  garbage bags?
  3. Right-Fit Liners from Berry reduce plastic waste by fitting your container exactly
  4. Complete line of recycled resign bags

Hand Soap

Kutol and Technical Concepts are both Green Seal and allow us to offer an extensive array of alternatives to suit your needs – foam or lotion, counter or wall mount, and hands free

Which one is right for you?

  1. Waste reduction – Product & Packagingcleanshape
  2. Promote hand washing
  3. Eliminate antibacterial hand soap
  4. Reduced consumption (foam)
  5. No Cross contamination
  6. Reduced labor costs – top fill counter dispenser
  7. Hands free dispenser
  8. Cost competitive

 Cleaning Chemicals

  1. Certified by DFE or Green Seal
  2. Safe for employees and occupants
  3. Cost Competitive
  4. Performance competitive
  5. Proportion control systems to ensure proper dillutions
  6. Reusable dispensing to eliminate waste
  7. Concentrated to minimize packaging
  8. Floor finish and stripper systems free from Zinc & other toxic chemicals

Cleaning Equipment

  1. Hepa filtration improves indoor air quality
  2. Low moisture system reduce risk of mold
  3. Enhanced extraction cleaning systems
  4. UHS equipment traps dust and contaminants

Restroom Deodorizers & Equipmenttcell

T-Cell Odor Control

  1. No Batteries 
  2. No propellants
  3. •No VOC

    4. Noise free

  4. •Reduced waste

    5.  

Hands Free Restroom Fixturesautoflush

  1. Flush valves for toilets & Urinals
  2. Auto Faucets
  3. Hands Free Soaps Dispensers
  4. Automatic enzyme cleaning per flush

Hands free fixtures ensure a more sanitary restroom and reduces the risk of germ and bacteria contact.  They also save water and soap.

Entrance Matting

  1. Traps dirt and grime to protect floors and reduce cleaning requirementsmatting2
  2. Traps water to reduce slip and fall accidents
  3. Traps dust to reduce airborne contaminants and improve air quality
  4. Contain soil and water for convenient disposal
  5. High performance mats extended life reduce landfill requirements
  6. Potential for 1 LEEDS Point  
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