With Earth Day 2023 coming up, it’s only natural that you might want to find some better cleaning products. Better for you and the environment, green cleaning supplies are sourced with health and sustainability in mind and are the perfect cleaning supplies to use this Earth Day. At TNT Group Janitorial + Building Supplies, we know that figuring out green cleaning supplies can seem like a lot, so we’ve put together a deep dive into green cleaning products.
Earth Day 2023: What are Green Cleaning Products?
TNT Group Janitorial + Building Solutions is proud to have access to the best quality green cleaning products to ensure a great clean with a low environmental impact. Green cleaning products are created using non-toxic and biodegradable ingredients that are safe to use.
They are also frequently sourced and formulated sustainably, using methods that don’t unnecessarily strip the earth of resources. As a result, these products reduce air and water pollution while combating ozone depletion and climate change.
Professional cleaners like TNT Group Janitorial + Building Solutions usually use the term green cleaning products to refer to these sustainable and non-toxic cleaners. Still, some households might have a slightly different idea of green cleaning. For home cleaning, green cleaning often means becoming a kitchen chemist, mixing natural household ingredients like lemon and vinegar to create a cleaning solution that doesn't use any chemicals and simply leverages household products' natural powers.
Earth Day 2023: Misleading Claims About Green Cleaning Products
Not to scare you off, but when choosing to clean green, it’s important to know what you’re looking at and what you’re looking for. Many labels will say something is “green” (a healthier option for you and the planet) or “eco-friendly” (less impactful on the environment) to make their product more attractive. However, these terms don't have strict regulations, so having nice packaging doesn't guarantee you'll get the best green cleaning products available.
Terms to Look For on the Label
At TNT Group Janitorial + Building Solutions, we know not to just immediately trust the "green" claim on the front. Instead, we look for specific words and ingredients on the label to ensure it meets our high standards.
Look for:
Non-toxic
Biodegradable
Bulk packaging from recycled materials that are in turn recyclable
Phosphate-free
A full-disclosure label that lists active and inactive ingredients
Natural fragrances
Free from dyes, hypochlorite, and chlorine
Sustainable
Sustainable farming practices
Another important thing you can look for is certifications. The regulatory bodies award these to the manufacturer for meeting certain standards and cannot have use without the regulatory body’s permission.
Some certifications you can look for include the following:
Certified Organic- No genetically modified organisms or synthetic fertilizers are used in the product. You’ll see this more often in food, but cleaning products use it as well.
Certified Biobased- This certification gives you a clearer idea of exactly how much of a product contains biobased products. Biobased products are wholly or partly derived from living materials like plants.
Green Seal- The OG. This is the original green cleaning certification. It’s been around since 1989 and includes evaluations from the start to the very end of the product's manufacturing. These gauge whether the product meets the certification standards.
Ecologo- The Ecologo is a third-party certification. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) issue it, which has been developing safety standards for more than 100 years. Therefore, this certification proves that products have a reduced environmental impact.
Does Green Cleaning Work in Office Spaces?
Your office or work environment are the perfect places to use green cleaning. Whether you have a retail space that sees a lot of people walking through on a daily basis, or you have a core group of valued employees who spend their days in your walls, ensuring that their space is clean and the cleaning uses the healthiest materials in the process is crucial. Moreover, professional cleaning services like TNT Group Janitorial + Building Solutions use green cleaning products to ensure we meet your high standards at every turn.
For more details on how we can help you get a mean green clean, visit our website.
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