New Programs Help Differentiate Between Green Products

New Programs Help Differentiate Between Green Products

Current green certifications and labels help distributors and end users separate environmentally friendly products from traditional ones. However, two new programs will now help to differentiate green products from each other.

ISSA, Lincolnwood, Ill., and Ecoform, Knoxville, Tenn., have collaborated to develop an information-based environmental label (IBEL) to communicate, in a format similar to a food label, important health and environmental information associated with the product.

"IBEL is an ambitious effort to create the next generation of environmental labels that will complement existing eco-label programs while providing a uniform platform for companies to articulate the environmental attributes for the hundreds of product categories for which eco-label programs do not exist," says Jack Geibig, Ecoform president, in a news release.

Existing standards cover only a limited set of products, leaving "orphan" products with no options for third-party certification. IBEL will provide green verification for products such as mop handles, buckets, equipment and niche chemicals.

In addition, IBEL's quantitative reporting system will reward continued product innovation and further reductions in health and environmental impacts rather than using pass/fail criteria. The program will feature multiple product verification tiers, up to and including full product verification by third-parties.

IBEL is being developed by Geibig along with a Core Development Committee comprised of eco-label organizations, state and federal representatives, cleaning product manufacturers, contract cleaners, institutional purchasers and health and environmental advocates. The label will undergo a pilot test by manufacturers of chemical and non-chemical products before being launched in the summer of 2010.

In order to promote cleaning products that are both green and effective, the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA), Westerville, Ohio, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell's Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) have launched the High Performance Cleaning Product (HPCP) Testing Program.

The fee-based program will test soil removal efficacy of green hard-surface cleaning products and recognize products that perform well in standard and customized cleaning tests.

"While it is accepted that lower-toxicity, environmentally-preferable or green cleaning products are better for human health and global ecosystems, the question remains: Do such products clean well when compared to conventional or even other green products?" says Beth Risinger, CEO and executive director of IEHA in a news release.

Products accepted into the program will be tested using a variety of scientific methods and devices producing a detailed analysis of product performance. The program is not a certification or a standard, but manufacturers can use this information to improve their formulations as well as promote their products.

"For institutions and consumers, the value we provide is unbiased performance testing to enable product selection based on objective data rather than on anecdotal information," says Jason Marshall, laboratory director of TURI, in a news release. "For vendors, products that are effective cleaners will have a clear scientific basis for associated marketing claims."

Manufacturers of cleaning products that qualify after testing will be entitled to display the IEHA "High Performance Cleaning Product" designation and logo.

JohnsonDiversey Adopts New Corporate Identity

JohnsonDiversey Inc., Sturtevant, Wis., and Clayton Dubilier & Rice Inc. (CD&R), New York, announced an agreement under which a CD&R-managed fund will invest $477 million for a 46 percent equity interest in the company as part of a broader recapitalization transaction valued at $2.6 billion.

JohnsonDiversey will also adopt a new corporate identity and simplify its name to Diversey Inc. Along with this change, several of the company's channel brands, including Butchers and Johnson Wax Professional will be integrated under the brand Diversey.

The recapitalization will provide the company with the financial flexibility to accelerate growth in the global commercial cleaning and hygiene market. In addition to the CD&R fund investment, the transaction contemplates a debt financing package of approximately $1.9 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Johnson Family of Racine, Wis., will retain 50 percent ownership in the company, and S. Curtis Johnson will remain chairman. CD&R Operating Partner James G. Berges will serve as chairman of the executive committee. Unilever will also retain a 4 percent ownership interest in the company. JohnsonDiversey will continue under separate agreements to sell and distribute into the commercial market certain Unilever and S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. consumer-branded products.

JohnsonDiversey has been one-third owned by Unilever NV since its acquisition of DiverseyLever in 2002. As part of the 2002 acquisition, JohnsonDiversey agreed to purchase all or part of Unilever's ownership at a future date.

IN BRIEF

PAK-IT LLC, Philadelphia has merged with JBI Inc., a publicly traded company based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. PAK-IT CEO Robert G. Shoemaker, President Steve Seneca, Vice President of Operations and Technical Director Ronald Kurp and Vice President of Sales & Marketing Frank Wiley will join the JBI team.

Building Professionals of Texas Janitorial Service, Houston, was ranked as No. 66 on the Houston Business Journal’s Houston Fast 100.

KBM Facility Solutions, San Diego, has been named the 38th Fastest Growing Privately Held Company for 2009 by the San Diego Business Journal.

Pro Clean, Altamonte Springs, Fla., has achieved ISSA’s Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) Certification with Honors. Pro Clean is the second cleaning company in the state of Florida to become CIMS certified.

Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Winchester, Va., reached a settlement of its patent infringement lawsuit brought against The Libman Co., Arcola, Ill. Under the terms of the settlement, Libman will cease selling the products which were at issue in the lawsuit and will pay Rubbermaid an undisclosed settlement amount.