A Chance To Stay Ahead Of The Green Curve

It should come as no surprise to anyone that this year’s ISSA/INTERCLEAN® show has a heavy emphasis on green cleaning. Environmentally friendly products and initiatives have been present in the industry (and at this trade show) for a number of years, but the movement is coming close to reaching a fever pitch.

As of this writing, seven states have passed legislation requiring green cleaning in schools or government facilities. But that’s not all: Another two states have passed recommendations, a dozen other states are currently working to pass new green laws and jan/san distributors in at least three additional states are in the process of forming coalitions to draw support of green legislation.

Distributors need to take note of this growing interest in green — your customers already have. A recent survey of building service contractors indicates that 81 percent of respondents use green products; similar results were found from a survey of in-house service providers — 73 percent of respondents said they use green products.

This year’s ISSA/INTERCLEAN provides a number of opportunities for distributors to keep up with the green movement. On Tuesday, Oct. 6, green consultant Steve Ashkin will present his seminar, “The Green Cleaning Update,” reviewing new state legislation and an update of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Another good learning opportunity will be the “Overview of the Illinois Green Cleaning For Schools Act,” on Friday, Oct. 9. This session will outline the requirements for green cleaning Illinois schools — a benchmark other states have used as a model for their own legislation.

The new Green Connections Center on the trade show floor features plenty of green resources in one location. Distributors can see the newest green products demonstrated in a mock restroom and classroom, or pose questions to government agencies, third-party certifiers and industry consultants in the center’s Green Pavilion.

Dan Weltin
Sanitary Maintenance
Editor-in-Chief