How can manufacturers and building service contractors work together in 2010 to move closer to achieving a truly sustainable planet?

The big challenge facing manufacturers is the ability to make products that are a safer alternative to the traditional offerings and at reasonable prices. I'd like to think that we are among the companies that dispel the myth that green products have to be expensive.

The second myth in the industry is that every product is green. You can't look at the television, the Internet or any printed media without being bombarded with the idea that every product is green.

Certifications don't guarantee that products are safe beyond the recommended uses. Education about the ingredients, proper labeling and the appropriate use of cleaning products are the keys to safety for the occupants, the product end users and the environment.

Brent Crawford
President
Core Products
Canton, Texas

Matt Wood
CEO and President
ProTeam
Boise, Idaho

For ProTeam, sustainability is a design issue, and we build it into every vacuum we manufacture. We don't believe in the concept of a throw-away vacuum, or in wasted time, effort and energy.

Our backpack, canister and upright vacuums are made to last, and they do, which helps cut down on our growing landfills. With ergonomics built into every one of our machines, user body strain is eliminated, safety is increased, and sick leave and health costs are reduced. Plus, we have vacuums suitable for day cleaning, further helping you to cut down on utility use and utility bills. Our powerful motors and suction-only designs help extend the life of carpets and floor surfaces - reducing the rate at which flooring materials make it into our landfills. And, with fewer moveable parts on our vacuums, and with body parts and filters that are easily washable, there are fewer replacement materials and less to throw away.

The industry is "green maturing." We are now moving into a new level of "green" that will focus on the overall sustainability of the products used in the industry.

Contractors should start asking more questions about the actual ingredients, manufacturing process, and other "life-cycle" issues of the products they use. End-users should also become more familiar with a product's HMIS rating and how the HMIS acts as a clear measuring tool for environmental and health issues.

Luke Bobek
Director of Industrial & Institutional Sales
Earth Friendly Products
Addison, Ill.

Jim Bruno
Marketing Manager
Rochester Midland Corp.
Rochester, N.Y.

Sustainability is measured in terms of social, environmental and financial impact. Manufacturers and building service contractors need to work together to create cleaning programs with measurable improvements in all three areas. This includes meeting EPP (Environmentally Preferable Purchasing), choosing the right materials and creating the best cleaning processes. All should be measured by the health and safety of workers and building occupants, financial improvement, and environmental impact, such as water conservation, energy reduction, reduced materials, recycled content, transportation and even the reduction of use of hot water to clean where possible.

Using readily available tools within our industry, and partnering with experienced and knowledgeable organizations will help building service contractors implement more sustainable cleaning programs in 2010.

Manufacturers have a responsibility to produce sustainable products that clean as effectively as the products they make that are not marketed as "green." As an industry we need to beware of "greenwashing," - projecting a green image without the certification to validate the claim. Manufacturers must ensure any green product claims are credible and substantiated so BSCs can trust the information they're given, and believe that the extra effort they are expending to "go green" delivers real value. Whether they are paying a premium for a sustainably produced product, or providing their staff with extra training so it is properly applied, BSCs are making an investment of scarce resources and the industry must commit to helping them make the most of that investment.

Distributors play a critical role in the effectiveness of BSCs' green programs. Our focus is on helping BSCs demonstrate value to their clients. xpedx capabilities extend far beyond supplying product; we also monitor site compliance and use our data to validate environmental claims for our customers' customers.

Providing access to the certified, environmentally-preferable brands our customers demand, while offering the training they need to use the products effectively, is still a critical competency. "Effectively" means proper application, of course. Equally important is the ability to implement a green cleaning program while maintaining profitability.

Michael Feenan
Vice President of Marketing
xpedx
Loveland, Ohio