For a number of reasons, the housekeeping or cleaning mission comes into play more these days as facility executives shape short-term and long-term facility management agendas. Similarly, the level of cleaning product and equipment research and development may be at an all-time high.

Better products. Better equipment. Better service. That’s good for end users, but you better do your homework because today’s available cleaning arsenal is as diverse as it is versatile and, therefore, more challenging to assemble.

The latest kids on the block — “green” products and equipment — complicate the buying process even more for specifiers already pressed to make buildings more attractive and presentable, healthier and environmentally friendly.

So, an increasingly tough product decision-making task is made even tougher, albeit for all the right reasons. As you try to get your arms around the best way to make decisions regarding green products, here’s some questions you should be asking your suppliers:

1.What do you know about green cleaning?
How did you learn about green cleaning? What seminars have you attended? Do you have any certifications or other training relative to green cleaning?

These questions will help you get a sense of what your product provider really knows, how deep the company’s knowledge is, and how company professionals learned what they know. A supplier can’t be a good green consultant if his or her knowledge is only superficial.

2. Can you provide “green cleaning” customer references?
Can I contact your references? What benefits did you achieve for them? Did you document the benefits?

These questions are designed to help you determine how much experience product sources really have. Working with a company that has a track record of successfully helping end users “go green” increases the odds that it will be able to successfully facilitate your transition to green products.

3. What is the extent of your green product/service offerings?
Do you offer a single, innovative product? Do you offer a complete line of products? Do you offer a complete system, such as chemicals, tools and equipment?

Some companies are coming out with single products used for multiple purposes, while other companies have broad product lines. There is no right or wrong response to this. Just make sure you understand what the supplier is offering so you can make the best decision.

4. Are you familiar with the U.S. Green Building Council and LEED (“Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”)?
Are you a member? How do you participate? Are you involved with a local chapter? Are you on any committees? Do you have a building in LEED – your own or one of your customers? Does your program meet the requirements of LEED-EB? If so, which points can you help deliver? Can you help me with my organization’s potential LEED documentation?

It is hard for me to believe that a company that is really into green cleaning wouldn’t be a member of the U.S. Green Building Council or be familiar with LEED-EB (LEED for Existing Buildings). Just make sure if they claim to be an “active” member of the council that they can document it. Their contacts could be very valuable. But if they are exaggerating their claims here, they likely are exaggerating their claims elsewhere, as well.

5. What makes your green cleaning program different from a traditional program?
Everybody has a “green” glass cleaner and everybody’s glass cleaner, more or less, gets the job done. Describe your green program of products and compare it with a traditional product program. Have you modified your procedures to reduce harmful product exposure and improve the health of building occupants?

Try to determine what makes them different from other green product suppliers, how they define “value,” and how much long-term help they will provide. And please remember that green cleaning is NOT about “doing more with less,” reducing costs, labor efficiencies, etc. While these considerations may be important, green cleaning is about protecting health and minimizing environmental impact.

6. Are your products and equipment certified by credible green certifying agencies?
For example: Green Seal for chemicals. Carpet & Rug Institute for vacuum cleaners. Green Seal or Chlorine-Free Paper Association for janitorial paper.

7. What is your local expertise?
Everyone has a “technical expert”. But is the technical expert available when you need him? Is your technical expert 1,000-plus miles away at corporate headquarters? What kind of green cleaning training do you provide your local representatives?

If your cleaning crew has ever had a problem during a complete strip-out at 2 a.m. in the morning, then you can appreciate how helpful it is to have someone local who can troubleshoot at a moment’s notice. Also, make sure that local reps are well trained on green procedures.

8. How can you help me communicate the benefits of the green products you sell me to my customer — the building occupant?
Establishing green cleaning’s credibility is an important aspect of implementing and maintaining a successful green cleaning program. Working with a supplier that can augment any in-house green marketing program can be very valuable.

9. What kind of training programs do you offer?
Are the training programs comprehensive or only for single products? Are the training programs designed for people who don’t speak or read English? Are the training programs focused only on procedures, or do they offer programs to help with work-loading and staffing requirements?

As stated earlier, green cleaning is much more than just products. Finding a good training program is incredibly valuable. Look for one that addresses the needs of people who don’t read or speak English. And make sure that it is more than just OSHA “Right-to-Know” information that focuses on the hazards of individual products based on their MSDS (material safety data sheet) documentation.

10. Let’s pretend we have a “blank slate” as far as establishing a green cleaning program. Outline an effective program based on what you know about my particular needs.
This is that “open-ended” question that gives your supplier an opportunity to demonstrate its breath of green cleaning expertise.

What can the supplier bring to the table regarding your particular green cleaning needs? This question helps determine if the supplier has spent serious time thinking about what it will take to really help your organization succeed and prosper as an environmentally conscious business operator.



Stephen Ashkin is president of The Ashkin Group, LLC, a nationally recognized consultant firm with extensive experience helping federal agencies, states, counties, cities, school districts, commercial buildings and others implement green cleaning strategies. Ashkin is a 24-year veteran of the cleaning industry and is described in the book Environmentalism Unbound as the "leading advocate for a stronger environmental profile among cleaning product manufacturers and suppliers" and "the most visible industry figure advancing the cause of environmentally preferable products." For more information, email SteveAshkin@AshkinGroup.com or visit www.AshkinGroup.com.