The American Cleaning Institute’s (ACI) has released its 2013 Sustainability Report. The report shows overall decreases by member companies in four environmental metric data points: energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water use and solid waste generation.

According to a press release, in 2012, 24 ACI member companies, including cleaning product makers and suppliers, contributed environmental metrics data reflecting U.S. cleaning product-related production. To ensure year-to-year comparability in all data categories, only companies whose data spanned all three reporting years (2009, 2010 and 2011) are presented in the report.

The U.S. cleaning product industry’s second biennial sustainability report showcases continual adoption of sustainability practices within the cleaning products supply chain. It also highlights how ACI and its members are improving product safety and transparency and giving back to those in need.

"As an organization representing the cleaning product supply chain, we are proud of our industry’s progress in sustainability and transparency," says Ernie Rosenberg, president and chief executive officer. "We continue to build the pathway for all ACI member companies to showcase sustainability successes and challenges that are integral to doing business in today’s marketplace."

Among the findings of the 2012 ACI Sustainability Metrics Program:

Overall, 2011 showed a reduction in the industry’s footprint for all four environmental metrics compared to 2009 During this period, energy use decreased 9 percent, greenhouse gas emissions decreased 7 percent, water use decreased 5 percent and solid waste generation decreased 17 percent. There was improvement in the energy use profile per cleaning product produced. From 2009 to 2010 energy use saw a 6 percent decrease and from 2010 to 2011 this metric decreased 4 percent. There was a 12 percent decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2010 to 2011.

Read more from the report at: www.cleaninginstitute.org.