Evolution Of Floor Care Chemicals

As the push towards sustainability expands and state and federal legislations requiring green cleaning continue to multiply, the demand for greener floor care chemicals grows. Once perceived to be some of the most toxic products in a cleaner's arsenal, finishes and strippers are being transformed to meet the green demands of end users.

When they first came to market, managers were skeptical of green finishes and strippers because they questioned the product's effectiveness. This skepticism of green claims, questionable performance and perceived higher price points deterred many managers from making the switch to green.

Since its inception, though, technology and product formulation has evolved. Manufacturers have responded to end user concerns with product introductions that meet the functional needs of the cleaner, while minimally impacting the environment. Managers that were once reluctant to go green are now finding environmentally preferable finishing and stripping alternatives that are comparable in performance to their traditional counterparts.

"Cleaners who have always stripped and finished floors the same way and never thought about changing need to know that there are green alternatives out there, and they work," says Keith Schneringer, marketing manager of San Diego-based Waxie Sanitary Supply.

Greener Solutions

As green demands thrive, manufacturers continue to grow floor chemical lines with green finishes and strippers that outperform their predecessors. It's clear to see the evolution of these products has been well received as more end users implement green floor care chemicals into their cleaning arsenal.

According to a 2008 Housekeeping Solutions survey, only 55 percent of respondents admitted to using green floor finishes and strippers in their cleaning program (up slightly from 49 percent in 2007). In 2009, usage jumped to 75 percent.

But it seems that when it comes to floor care chemicals, a green designation isn't the only driving factor to the purchase of these environmentally friendly products. This year, 78 percent of Housekeeping Solutions readers commented that cleaning's impact on occupant/employee health was "very important," ranking it the number one priority in cleaning — up from number two in 2008. Products that minimally impact the health of building occupants are heavily sought after.

"When looking for a green floor care product, you want something that has low volatile organic compounds (VOC), low odor and high durability," says Schneringer. "You don't want an odor that will affect building occupants, but you also want something that improves the floors appearance and is durable — all the while minimally impacting the environment."

The ideal product is easily identified when marked with certification labels. Chemicals that are certified by a third-party take out any guess-work for managers looking for products that meet green and health requirements.

To qualify for certification, Green Seal requires that finishes and strippers have a pH of 11.5 and VOCs of 3 percent by weight at the greatest dilution and 7 percent for heavy build-up. Traditional products, comparatively, have a pH of 13 or 14 and are 10 to 30 percent VOC. These elevated levels of pH and VOCs mean the solution has high levels of acid (or base), are considered toxic and can result in poor indoor air quality.

Manufacturers comment that finishes and strippers at the high end of the VOC and pH spectrum are stronger chemicals and will outperform the green alternatives, but at the expense of the building occupant and the environment. Products at this level are best suited for extremely difficult jobs or a program where floors have not been maintained properly.

In addition to pH and VOCs, managers purchasing green floor care chemicals should also look for those that do not contain heavy metals.

"There are environmental concerns with traditional floor finishes in that polymers with heavy metals, such as zinc, can make their way into the waterways and become harmful to aquatic life. To reduce their environmental impact, end users should look for a green finish that does not contain zinc or other questionable ingredients," adds Mike Sulkin, president of LBH Chemicals & Industrial Supply Inc. in Ft. Wayne, Ind.

Product Performance

As mentioned earlier, in its infant stages, the performance and effectiveness of green floor care chemicals was widely scrutinized by end users. It was perceived that green products would make the job of stripping and finishing more difficult.

"Over time, though, the chemistry of these chemicals has evolved and the products have gotten a lot better," says Sulkin. "End users are now much more accepting of green floor care chemicals."

Industry experts comment that green strippers perform up to par with their non-green counterparts, but floor finishes still have some ground to make up.

"It would be fair to say that green finishes don't last as long as traditional products," says Schneringer. "But, I think as chemists continue to analyze the products, and the end user continues to drive the demand, we will start to see green finishes evolve."

In the meantime, some end users find themselves applying these green finishes more frequently to achieve the desired level of shine on floors. Increasing frequency and the amount of product used has been known to spark strong debate among jan/san executives throughout the industry about "what it means to be green."

According to some experts, using less of a traditional floor care chemical is just as "green" as using environmentally preferable chemicals more frequently. In other words, using traditional finishing and stripping products that require maintenance less frequently is better for the environment than doing more passes using finishes and strippers deemed "green."

Arguably, this has a lot to do with appearance levels and meeting cleaning expectations and less to do with the environmental impact of an individual product.

"People think this is an either/or proposition, but ideally, managers will address both the green and frequency issue," says Schneringer. "Use green products in a way that will extend the life-cycle of the floor. Find a product that is both green and reduces the overall impact on the facility. They're out there."

Supply and Demand

Years ago, green chemicals were perceived as premium or niche products. The elevated price points and questionable performance made it difficult for managers to justify their purchase.

Today, as green finishes and strippers become more mainstreamed, cleaners have seen more advanced products enter the marketplace. According to Schneringer, as manufacturers offer effective solutions to cleaning challenges, competition in the marketplace will drive prices down.

"In years past, converting to a green program might have meant elevated expenses, but now cleaning departments could convert to a successful green chemical program with little-to-no up-charge. They might even be able to save money," says Schneringer.

With lower price points and technology of chemicals improving, now is the time for end users who are incorporating green products into their cleaning to re-evaluate their floor care programs. The evolution of green finishes and strippers can result in a simplified and streamlined floor care program.