Janitorial Greenwash Fraud
The focus for “Going Green” is almost all about products, and the product providers has been more than anxious to celebrate the new opportunities to capture this new market. The feeding frenzy will continue for a while yet, but what happens when nearly every janitorial firm has added some Green products to their carts? The equalization factor kicks in, and nearly every janitorial firm will claim to be Green by self-acclamation, but has anything really changed?
Can Green program will not come from a new Green product. It comes from the practice of the janitorial crew that are often the missing piece to the Green program puzzle. the fallacy is that practice does not evolve out of a tool. It is obvious that you cannot become a great mechanic by purchasing a great set of tools. Neither will you suddenly become a great golfer because you bought a new set of golf clubs. A woman will not lose weight by buying a dress that is two size too small.
Going Green means you have a basic working knowledge of Green Practices as well as a new set of products on the cart. The workers are equally as important as the products being used. For example, does the working staff really understand that a microfiber can be used without chemicals? Do they use the “Spray and Wipe” routine instead of allowing for “Dwell Time” for the new product? Do they understand how to remove dust rather than just moving it?
The old janitorial processes do not easily fit into the new generation of Green practices. What makes us think that the person showing up for work understands how to apply a new environmentally-safe product, or use a resigned mop and bucket system? Issues like cross-contamination and infection control are pressing issues as diseases like MRSA spread through the school or workplace. This means that the Green credentials of most janitorial services is little more than a veneer that hides an standard program with token Green products thrown in.
The Green Clean Institute is the only program designed to train and certify a janitorial service in Green practices and the assist a janitorial service implement a Green program. This is a federal trademark that offers more than good intentions. The janitorial industry is in transition from a “task-oriented” service to a “service-oriented” program that requires a solid basis of working knowledge. This is the time to step up to a higher set of standards, new mandates, and duties that impact the safety, health, and future of all those working in our schools and offices.
A little study of the word custodian reveals that there is a serious contribution by these often ignored workers. The challenges of our generation creates an even greater duty than ever before. In this era of strain of our resources, new threats to our health, and new environmental legislation, the custodial duty is to protect our general health through a better working environment. The fraud being carried out by quasi-Green janitorial services will soon hit the wall when professionally evaluated.
My recommendation is not to merely stick your toe into the Green program, but to embrace the program that is going to be around a very long time. I do not mean that you must run off to save the whales, sell your car for a bicycle, or chain yourself to a tree. We all know that Green is the direction of business, so take your firm Green by marketing yourself as Green, transitioning to Green products, and training your staff in a Green Clean certified program. A Green program has three pieces: A Green Agenda by decision-makers, inclusion of Green products, and the upgrading of the workforce to Green practices.
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