The Next Trend Of The Decade

The biggest trend in our industry from the last decade was no doubt green cleaning. During the last 10 years, what many had written off as a fad became mainstream and a mainstay in cleaning. My guess is that the most significant trend for these next 10 years will be sustainability.

Making sure that cleaning products and processes didn't harm the environment, cleaning staff or building occupants was just step one. Now, building service contractors, in-house cleaning professionals and even building owners will want to make sure cleaning products aren't just green when they're used, but also when they're made, delivered and disposed of.

This prediction shouldn't really blindside anyone in the industry. Select product manufacturers have been trending this way for the last few years: replanting forests, switching ingredients to renewable resources, shrinking packaging size for delivery and implementing take-back programs for unwanted products. These are just a few examples but you get the idea. During this next decade, more manufacturers will undoubtedly embrace sustainable initiatives.

Many BSCs who embraced green cleaning are looking to take the next step as well. Not only are they reducing their own company's impact on the environment, but they want their cleaning products to be more sustainable, too. From production to delivery to use to disposal, a product's lifecycle matters to them — and if you want to make the sale, it should matter to you, too.

Currently, it's not that easy to identify a sustainable product (most certifications only test how green a product is during usage). However, the market is moving in this direction: Green Seal recently introduced its new pilot Company Certification Program, GS-C1, that tests not only how green a company's product line is, but its business operations, as well. The certification is aimed at consumer products, but if a manufacturer offers both consumer and commercial products, it could apply for the pilot.

Probably the easiest sustainable product to identify is paper. Manufacturers can apply for certifications for using renewable energy or responsible forestry methods. For other products, ask your suppliers about what sustainable steps they may have already taken.