Green cleaning is cleaning to protect health without harming the environment.

DID YOU KNOW?
In the United States, commerical and institutional cleaning is a $140 billion industry, annually consuming approximately 6 billion pounds of chemicals, 4.5 billion pounds of janitorial paper, and using a billion pounds of tools, equipment, and other supplies.  The extraction of raw materials and manufacturing of these products have significant environmental impacts, as does their transportation, use and disposal.  Many of our raw mateirals are limited and nonrenewable, which means that once depleted, they are no longer available to future generations for their use.

WHY GREEN CLEANING:

• Improves the environment by reducing toxic pollution and waste, conserving resources and habitats, and minimizing global warming and ozone depletion.
• Increases health and wellbeing, particularly in populations most affected by product choice, such as school children, service staff and the elderly.
• Demonstrates to various business segments that environmentally responsible products can improve quality and boost profitability.

Defining Green - Products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on health and environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.
Two Key Points:

1. The definition is comparitive - it compares products and services to existing or traditional products and services used for the same purpose.
2. The goal of green is to reduce health and environmental impacts.  This means that green isn't simply an environmental issues, but relates to human health as well.

Steve Ashkin - The Ashkin Group

Eight Simple Guidelines For Green Cleaning and a Healthier Environment