Janitorial Greenwash Fraud

Everyone is "Going Green" because all it seems to take is the addition of a few Green products to meet the loose criteria for a Green janitorial service. Green programs do not come packaged in a bottle of Green cleaner. Yet, the many manufactures want us to believe that using their product makes our homes, offices, or janitorial services Green

The confusion is the belief that a product will create a Green service. It does not work like that, but is sets the tone for an ongoing self-deception and a fraud of others. Does a great set of tools turn an amateur into a trained mechanic? Does buying a dress that is two sizes too small make a woman slimmer? Does the purchase of a set of golf clubs enable a person to plan in the Master's Tournament? The facts are that buying an product will not turn your company into something that it is not.

A Green program means that the workforce has a solid basic knowledge of Green Practices along with a fresh supply of Green products on the cart. In reality, the workers doing the work are more important to the Green program than the choices of products in the janitorial service. Proof of this is the general ignorance of microfiber cloths that can be used without chemicals. Do they understand the concept of "Dwell Time" versus the spray and wipe process? Does the janitorial staff know how to remove dust rather than moving it around the room?

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.

There is only one true Green Clean credential in the market today is the federal trademark offered by the Green Clean Institute. It is necessary to understand that the janitorial world is in transition from a "task oriented" business to a superior "service oriented" business. Janitorial services have new mandates, higher expectations, and are expected to provide Green program that will protect the safety, health, and future of all those who inhabit our buildings.

The word custodian has renewed meaning as we realize that we are expecting these often-ignored group to handle the challenges of our day and render services at a higher level than ever before. There is a charge to keep, a duty to render, and a lot at stake for any janitorial service in this new and Green age. Green janitor fraudsters are going to eventually hit the wall as questions of reliable performance are asked and evaluations become more common.

I advise you not to simply stick you toe into the Green Clean program. It is he smart choice to realize that a Green program is a long term commitment to a new process. We are not talking about saving the whales, trading your car for a bicycle, or turning vegetarian. It is obvious that the Green movement is a permanent direction that places more emphasis on the health of the workers than the shine of the floor. Understand that a Green program has three important parts: Green Agenda by decision makers, Green Products, and Green Practices by the workforce. Isn't it time to truly "Go Green" rather than fake it?