Cleaning products & services
Key environmental impacts
The most significant environmental impacts related to cleaning products are:
- Air pollution, ozone formation (smog), bioaccumulation or food chain exposure and maybe hazardous effects on aquatic organisms due to the use of certain chemicals within cleaning agents.
- Negative impact on the occupational health of employees due to the use of certain cleaning agents that contain solvents classified as harmful to health
Both the environmental and health impacts can be substantially reduced by excluding certain chemicals from the products you buy.
Taking a different approach to the way cleaning services are carried out can also help to greatly reduce the amount of cleaning products needed - an even more direct way of reducing impacts.
Cleaning product purchases
The Procura+ key criteria for direct cleaning products purchases focus on two main aspects:
- Exclusion of certain substances or ingredients: For the cleaning agents, the products and ingredients suggested for exclusion are those most hazardous to the local environment and human health, and effective alternatives are available for all. The classifications referred to, are those laid out in EC Directive 1999/45/EC and Council Directive 67/548/EEC. Further information on the substances excluded is included in detailed chapter on cleaning products in the CD-ROM.
- Dosage devices and instructions: In many cases excessive amounts of cleaning products are used because users are not aware of the appropriate dosage or do not have usable measuring devices. A great deal can be saved through the inclusion of dosage devices and instructions
To download the Product sheet for cleaning products click here [pdf-file]
To download the detailed guidance for cleaning products here [pdf-file]
Contracted cleaning services
Many public cleaning services are now carried out by private companies. Where a competitive tendering approach is used this leaves additional possibilities for including environmental criteria. The Procura+ key criteria for contracting cleaning services focus on the following aspects:
- Exclusion of certain substances or ingredients: For the cleaning agents, the products and ingredients suggested for exclusion are those most hazardous to the local environment and human health, and effective alternatives are available for all. The classifications referred to are those laid out in EC Directive 1999/45/EC and Council Directive 67/548/EEC.
- Responsible cleaning practices: Cleaning staff are constantly in touch with substances that contain chemical components than can be irritating, corrosive, etc. Therefore in order to guarantee safety conditions, staff have to be trained and clear procedures must be in place.
To download the Product sheet for cleaning products click here [pdf-file]
To download the detailed guidance for cleaning products click here [pdf-file]