Category: Customer Spotlight

Asian Paints on Integrating Sustainability into Business Objectives

Posted on by Rajeev Kumar Goel
What does sustainability mean to Asian Paints?

Sustainability has been a strategically important element for Asian Paints, and we have integrated our sustainability agenda into the company’s business objectives. We consider sustainability as a key driver for long-term value creation for all our stakeholders. For us, sustainability means providing best-in-class, safe, and eco-friendly products that are low in VOC, high in durability, and higher in renewable content. Sustainability for us also means constantly working towards minimizing our manufacturing’s environmental footprint and being water positive. 

As an India-based multinational company, why do you partner with Green Seal?

Green Seal, we think, is the most stringent and comprehensive product certification program and it is integrated with LEED and IGBC requirements. Green Seal also has qualified experts who ensure that the products that are certified are truly green and ensure minimal environmental impact and the safety of our customers. Partnering with Green Seal also provides a gateway to know upcoming changes in the regulations and helps us adapt to the changes in a structured manner. 

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

In India, Asian Paints continues to be a frontrunner when it comes to environmental sustainability and green products. From a sustainability standpoint, we are proud of developing a revolutionary interior paint, Royale Aspira, with superior stain resistance, anti-bacterial activity, and crack-bridging performance. Royale Aspira is the first architectural paint in India to earn Green Seal certification. We are also proud of our product Nilaya Naturals – an interior architectural paint with more than 90% content from natural origins. 

What kind of health or sustainability features and information are your customers looking for today?

Awareness of the toxicity and environmental impact of architectural paints is very limited in India. In the absence of regulations and with limited customer awareness, sustainability for us is largely a voluntary initiative. The segment of real estate and interior architects are critical about the sustainability features of a paint. Low VOC, lead- and other heavy metal-free, longer service life, resistance to mold, and water-based products are some of the features that customers are looking for. 

What’s next for Asian Paints?

In 2023, Asian Paints created an ESG framework for the company and published sustainability goals for 2025 and 2030. This further substantiates our commitment to sustainability and the country’s decarbonization targets. We have set audacious goals around product certification, durability, restricting the use of carcinogens, mutagens, and reproductive toxins, reducing Scope 3 emissions through product formula optimization, and increasing the renewable content in our products. 

Anything else you’d like to share?

Asian Paints started publishing separate sustainability reports in 2014 and has made remarkable progress. Management and the board are committed to delivering products and services in an environmentally sustainable manner. Product stewardship has been the source of driving sustainability objectives. 

CleanGo GreenGo on Creating Effective, Greener Solutions

Posted on by Anthony Sarvucci
What does sustainability mean to CleanGo GreenGo? 

At CleanGo GreenGo, sustainability means using products or processes that don’t harm or deteriorate our environment or our health. It also means opting for greener solutions over toxic alternatives to help solve our day-to-day challenges and create longevity and better health. 

Why do you partner with Green Seal? 

We believe in what the Green Seal mark stands for. We like that the Green Seal certification gives people reassurance that the product is truly green and not just greenwashed. 

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint? 

We are proud that we were able to achieve an effective all-purpose cleaner that utilizes greener and cleaner ingredients as opposed to our toxic competitors. 

What kind of health or sustainability features and information are your customers looking for today? 

I think our customers understand that toxic and caustic products endanger our families, pets, and environment. Being conscious of this helps them choose products like ours. 

What’s next for CleanGo GreenGo? 

We are always working on new products and trying to conquer new cleaning challenges in several diverse marketplaces. 

Anything else you’d like to share? 

We recently swapped out highly toxic products currently being used in the petroleum industry to produce oil and gas as well as clean equipment and tanks with our Green Seal-certified products.

Marcal Paper on Providing Quality Paper Products with Minimized Ecological Footprints

Posted on by Jon Thomson
What does sustainability mean to Marcal Paper? 

Since the 1950s, Marcal Paper has been committed to sustainability, long before it was “fashionable.” Marcal is dedicated to protecting our planet – for current and future generations – and making a positive impact on the environment by providing high-quality products while minimizing our ecological footprint. 

Why do you partner with Green Seal? 

We believe that Green Seal is the largest and most respected third-party environmental accreditation organization in the U.S. Furthermore, many of our customer partners, as well as government organizations, require LEED points and products that are Green Seal certified. So, choosing to partner with Green Seal was not only a decision based on good stewardship of our environment, but it was also a good business decision. 

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint? 

We are extremely proud that we do not use any trees to supply our paper mills — just wastepaper that could have ended up in our landfills. However, our new NTT Paper Machine at the Natchez, MS, paper mill is our newest shining star when it comes to innovation and sustainability. 

Recently, an independent third-party, in-depth study was performed and found that Marcal’s new NTT Paper Machine with premium Structured Sheet Technology reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) manufacturing emissions by an impressive 41% when compared to Through-Air-Dried (TAD) premium towels. Now, customers who want a premium paper towel can choose a quality product that is environmentally preferable. 

What’s the biggest sustainability challenge you’re facing? 

Sourcing affordable, quality, recycled fiber has always been a challenge. As the market for recycled paper products continues to expand, fiber prices rise and the availability of clean, quality fiber gets tighter. That is why Marcal Paper continues to invest in the most modern technology available to allow for use of a wider variety of recycled fiber to keep our pricing competitive and our quality high. 

What kind of health or sustainability features and information are your customers looking for today? 

The majority of our customers are looking for high-quality paper products that are made from 100% recycled fiber. A large percentage of those are looking for products that contain a large amount of post-consumer fiber and paper that is processed without using bleach or other harsh chemicals. But it doesn’t stop there. We have had customers ask if our towels are safe for use in their worm farm or if we use any animal byproducts because they want vegan paper towels and tissue. 

What’s next for Marcal Paper? 

Since Marcal developed the process of using recycled fiber to make quality towels and tissue in the 1950s, we have never stopped searching for ways to provide quality paper products with the least impact on our planet. Stay tuned to find out what the next big Marcal innovation will be.

Mum & You on Reducing Their Environmental Impact Without Compromise

Posted on by Catherine Stopp
What does sustainability mean to Mum & You? 

It is about helping mums and dads to buy and use products that have a minimized impact on their environment and that are shipped responsibly without compromising on benefits that are important to them as new parents. We help them to feel less overwhelmed and less guilty in making their product choices at a time when everything in their lives is changing. 

Why do you partner with Green Seal? 

Green Seal is a mark of quality, and it is trusted. 

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint? 

We are most proud of our baby wipes. They have been 100% biodegradable and plastic free since we started the company. 

What’s the biggest sustainability challenge you’re facing? 

Finding suppliers to make the products we know our consumers want. Most urgently, it has been finding suppliers to make products that biodegrade and do not contain plastic at a price that can be afforded in mass market. 

What kind of health or sustainability features and information are your customers looking for today? 

Our consumers are most interested in purity, which can be defined as the absence of ‘harmful’ ingredients in our cosmetic products. This often goes hand-in-hand with a desire for products that are compatible with eczema-prone or sensitive skin. 

Biodegradability remains important too. 

What’s next for Mum & You? 

We are launching onewipe, a significantly bigger, thicker wipe. In testing, 85% of the panel agreed that they needed to use just one wipe per usage occasion. This obviously reduces the amount of waste being generated as well as cutting costs for parents. 

We are also launching a Bamboo wipe. It is still 100% biodegradable but comes from a source that is more renewable and is grown without the need for pesticides. Bamboo is a fantastic material to use in wipes as it is both soft and extremely strong. 

Safely on Creating Affordable Luxury Homecare Products

Posted on by Jelina Saliu
What do you think makes Safely’s brand stand out?  

We believe Safely is a truly disruptive brand in the homecare market and have made it our mission to change the way the world thinks about cleaning. We believe home care is more than just cleaning, and we believe that when it comes to caring for your home, you shouldn’t have to compromise. Consumers deserve natural ingredients that are safe for them, their family and our planet – and they deserve it all at a price point that won’t break the bank. That is why we created Safely – to elevate your every day. 

What does sustainability mean to Safely?  

We are committed to building an inclusive and sustainable values-driven company for the 21st century. We hold our three core values dear and express them in our brand:

1. We believe that an aspirational homecare experience should be accessible to all, not just a privileged few – and that the first step to having a beautiful home is having beautiful products that don’t just look good but work great.  

2. We believe home care can be about more than just cleaning. We believe that by using natural ingredients that are safe for you, your family, and the world we can nurture more well-being in the world.  

3. We believe that everyone wants a clean house and peace of mind, regardless of their ethnicity, gender or socio-economic background, so we champion the world in all its glorious diversity in everything we do. 

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?  

From day one, Safely has been determined to work hard to maximize efficiencies and reduce environmental impact. We have a higher percentage of active ingredients than other natural cleaning grocery-store brands, delivering exceptional performance. Our natural plant-based enzymes and surfactants keep Safely users and their families safe — no gloves required. Our product range is formulated without harmful chemicals such as phthalates, propyl-paraben, butyl-paraben, and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). We take pride in our best practices. 

Safely products have memorable, elevated scents. Why is this a focus for the brand? 

For us, building Safely means sustainable practices, highly effective products, and natural scents. Unique fragrance formulas that help evoke an olfactory memory is a huge differentiator that makes us so unique in this category. Partnering with Green Seal allows us to bring our luxury grade scent experience without any compromises and safer-for-you ingredients. 

Why did you partner with Green Seal? 

Green Seal certification is based on rigorous testing, which covers performance, health, and sustainability criteria. Our brand is aligned with Green Seal’s mission to use science-based programs to empower consumers and companies to create a more sustainable world. 

What’s next for Safely? 

Holding our commitment to our values close, we envision Safely to be the undisputed leader of the new “affordable luxury” segment of the homecare market by 2025. We recently expanded into scented air diffusers and have a lot of new product innovation rolling out in the coming months. From a growth perspective, we are excited to share that Safely is going to be in over 6,000 stores in 2023. 

Link Hospitality on the Value of Green Cleaning Programs

Posted on by Ricardo Marquez
How many square feet of space does Link Hospitality clean? 

We clean over 1 million square feet of space through commercial buildings, hotels, and transportation facilities. 

What does sustainability mean to Link Hospitality? 

At Link Hospitality, sustainability is one of our core values and refers to all of our company practices that support ecological, human, and economic health. 

What innovation or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?  

I’m most proud of our work to incorporate additional sustainability measures into our green cleaning programs. For example, we successfully worked with a client in the transportation industry to create a green cleaning program for them that also includes a recycling program. 

What do you value in your partnership with Green Seal? 

We value the support Green Seal provides us and the leverage we receive from sharing our partnership with potential clients. 

Do you see business value in your certification? 

The Green Seal certification has helped us to reach a new line of customers that prioritize certified green cleaning. Certification also helps validate that our company practices make a difference when it comes to human and environmental health. 

Do your customers see the value in green cleaning? How do you help educate them? 

Yes, our existing customers see the value in green cleaning.There has also been an increased need for green cleaning companies and programs recently, so more businesses are beginning to look for more sustainable options. We educate our customers about the value of our offerings by sharing our knowledge of sustainability practices and implementing our green cleaning programs. 

From an operations cost perspective, how do you find that green cleaning compares to regular cleaning? 

Green cleaning promotes sustainability, which appeals to our customers because it offers them an added benefit they don’t get from traditional cleaning methods. Contrary to popular belief, green cleaning also helps reduce our operating costs. 

How has the pandemic affected your operations? And have you seen a change in the demand for green cleaning vs. conventional cleaning? 

The pandemic significantly impacted our operations. Since most of our clients are hotels and they were shut down at the beginning of the pandemic, we saw a dramatic reduction in customers. Since the pandemic, there has been increased interest in green cleaning, and more buildings and facilities are now required to contract green cleaning programs. 

What’s next for Link Hospitality? 

We are targeting a new line of customers now that we have earned the Green Seal certification. We want to grow by providing clients with sustainable ways to maintain their facilities while at the same time providing added value to their customers and guests. 

Outrigger Resorts & Hotels on the Company’s Commitment to Culture and Conservation

Posted on by Monica Salter
Tell us about Outrigger Hotels & Resorts.

Outrigger Resorts & Hotels is a “toes-in-the-sand brand” with a bold mission to be the premier beach resort company in the world. We currently have 33 properties in Hawai‘i, Fiji, Mauritius, Thailand, and Maldives. Each of our resorts have five iconic elements, or brand pillars including: a renowned beach location, a must-see beach bar, an authentic live-music experience, signature experiences rooted in local culture, and a commitment to conservation.

Our corporate culture stems from a platform called The Outrigger Way – founded 30 years ago – it’s a tripod of authentically caring for host, guest, and place with our values as our guide. It serves as a compass for key business decisions and helps to ensure that we celebrate the host culture in every destination we reside.

What does sustainability mean to Outrigger?

As a premier beach resort company, Outrigger’s link to the ocean is unbreakable. Because healthy oceans make for healthy communities, many of our sustainability ESG (environment, social, governance) and sustainability initiatives as well as our partnerships are connected to ocean conservation. We recently presented a new plan with baseline metrics for ESG goals across all Outrigger Resorts & Hotels with programmatic approaches and specific KPIs connected to 23 initiatives. 2023 will be a year of executing this plan.

What innovation or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

Since 2014, Outrigger has had a global conservation initiative called Outrigger ZONE (OZONE) that is dedicated to increasing coral health and resiliency in the waters surrounding our iconic beach destinations. The inspiration for this came from our Castaway Island, Fiji property where the Mamanuca Environment Society was one of the first to propagate coral from broken pieces. Today, Outrigger ZONE is activated through coral planting with guests, hands-on educational opportunities including our Coral Kids Clubs, beach cleanups, and more. Since this platform launched, we have preserved and protected more than 100 football fields of coral. Outrigger is also the pioneer Hawai‘i hospitality company to promote reef-safe sunscreen to its guests.

Outrigger ZONE continues to thrive today and has expanded to incorporate additional environmental initiatives including reducing energy, water, and waste.

Do your guests value your commitment to sustainability?

Outrigger has a number of ways that we involve guests with our green initiatives, depending on the unique attributes of the property and location. For example, at our newly transformed Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, guests are welcomed with a re-usable beach bag and metal water bottle to refill during their stay to reduce plastic waste. The impressive artwork at the hotel entrance is made of plastic fishing rope that was discarded in the ocean and washed up on the Hawai‘i shores. This piece, created by artist and marine biologist, Ethan Estess, helps to ignite dialogue about the importance of sustainability and plastic reduction. At the A‘o Cultural Center, guests learn how sustainability was a way of life for Native Hawaiians and at our pool deck, complimentary reef-safe sunscreen is provided to help ensure that harmful chemicals don’t end up in the ocean.

Data shows that the share of eco-conscious travelers has risen consistently over the past decade and increasingly these consumers want to stay in sustainable accommodations. In post-stay reviews, TripAdvisor, and social media comments, we have seen an appreciation for Outrigger’s conservation efforts and that this is a factor in the high rate of return guests.

How about your staff?

Outrigger hosts are at the heart of our sustainability initiatives. Each property has Outrigger ZONE ambassadors that help to localize activities and programming for guests. Hosts participate in OutriggerCARES Volunteer opportunities each quarter that are connected with ocean health – this ranges from beach cleanups to the removal of invasive vegetation and re-planting native species. Our Fiji property has an environment officer, and our Maldives property has a marine biologist on staff at all times.

What do you value in your partnership with Green Seal?

Outrigger is proud to be the first in the State of Hawai‘i to earn the prestigious Green Seal sustainability certification for its properties, as well as the first hospitality brand to pursue the certification outside of the United States in Fiji and Mauritius. The Green Seal designation further solidifies Outrigger’s allegiance to meeting the highest standards of protecting the health and environment for its guests and hosts. It’s helpful to have a third-party review and validate the efforts that Outrigger is taking – especially in connection with reducing energy, water, and waste.

Additionally, our Green Seal certified properties show up as “Eco-Certified” in Google Travel hotel search results, making it easier for consumers to find and book a certified Outrigger property.

Outrigger is also part of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) – a collection of 40 brands with 800 hotels spread across 100 countries; the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty program is now launching a “Green Collection” inclusive of only green-certified resorts. Green Seal is one of only a dozen global certification programs that meet the standards required to be listed in the Green Collection.

What’s next for Outrigger?

Celebrating our 75th Anniversary this year, Outrigger is looking at implementing science-based standards that raise the bar on sustainability. With thousands of people coming through our resorts and hotels each day, we have an incredible opportunity to help educate our guests and make a positive difference. We’re committed to growing our barefoot luxury brand and investing in our people and the planet along the way.

3M on Their Sustainability Value Commitment

Posted on by Daniel McGurran
What does sustainability mean to 3M?

At 3M, sustainability is tied to shared global needs. We believe a sustainable future is one in which ecosystems thrive, communities are safe and healthy, and opportunities are equitable and accessible for all people. The challenges we must solve for a sustainable future don’t always follow clear rules or methods — but we see them clearly.

Collectively, our strategies and goals chart 3M’s path forward. Our sustainability strategy is a systemic approach, seeking to drive innovation and holistic impact against shared global needs. We set impactful and measurable goals, demonstrating our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) progress.

Why do you partner with Green Seal?

We partner with Green Seal because it’s a name our customers know and trust — just like 3M. When our customers see a Green Seal certified product, they know it delivers an environmental benefit that has been thoroughly investigated and proven.

What kind of sustainability features and information are your customers looking for today?

First and foremost, it’s important to acknowledge that our customers are looking for sustainability in their products as a deciding factor in their purchasing. Specific to our markets, customers are looking for products that contain recycled content as well as ways to reduce water and chemical usage.

What product or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

At 3M, it’s simple: we are a science-based company, and we use science to improve lives. As society’s challenges continue to evolve, so does our focus. We are relentlessly innovating and adapting our technologies to help solve the problems of today and tomorrow while driving sustainable growth for our company.

Our customers depend on 3M’s products to advance, enhance, and improve their companies, homes, and lives — and we have a responsibility to live up to those expectations. Every item we sell must meet quality standards and must be safe for its intended use.

One of our core technology platforms is the sustainable design of our products, processes, and packaging. We demonstrate this through our goal that every new product that we offer must have a Sustainability Value Commitment (SVC). By embedding sustainability in this way, we can support 3M’s growth and advance our commitment to improving our business, our planet, and every life.

What’s next for 3M?

We will continue applying our scientific expertise to improve the lives of our employees, our customers, and our communities. We see the need for businesses to become regenerative to help restore the environment where we live, work, and play.

Our efforts to meet our goals will continue to leverage the success of our Sustainability Value Commitment and build on our Strategic Sustainability Framework — empowering science for Circular, Science for Climate, and Science for Community.

India-Based Multiplex on Today’s Global Market

Posted on by Mahesh Gopala Krishna Shetty
What does sustainability mean to Multiplex

We believe in the statement, “Earth has enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” So, we ensure our action in any area will not affect the outcomes of other areas. In other words, sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We at Multiplex believe that there are three pillars of sustainability, namely: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability. Sustainability refers to being responsible for future generations.

As an India-based company, why do you partner with Green Seal?

We are in a global village today. LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization) opened a huge space for every sector in the global market. Hence it is important to have global recognition for a product which is new to many parts of the world.

Understanding that Green Seal certification is the highest benchmark of ecolabelling a product can achieve, we obviously opted for it. We are happy that our products have been thoroughly evaluated and met the standards of Green Seal. We at Multiplex feel extremely proud to have partnered with Green Seal.

A global customer may connect to the certifications to be confident about product quality. Green Seal certification gives us a competitive advantage over others in the marketplace.

Has the pandemic created any challenges or opportunities for Multiplex?

The pandemic has created a challenge for the whole world. It has had a huge impact not only on health and wellbeing, but also on our societies, economies, and politics worldwide.

With the outbreak of the pandemic, people have started focusing more on cleanliness and hygiene. Hence, this pandemic created an opportunity for us to serve our nation with innovative, bio-organic cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products. We developed these products by exploring nature’s own technique of cleansing and sanitizing.

Our parent company, Multiplex Bio-tech Pvt. Ltd., developed Multiplex Shuddi, a bio-organic product and one-stop solution for cleaning homes, offices, vehicles, public areas, water bodies, swimming pools, and more. Manufactured in both powder and liquid form, Shuddi is a microbial consortium containing proprietary metabolites of naturally occurring beneficial microbes that are extremely efficient in digesting both organic waste (food waste, dead plant, animal waste, manures) and hydrocarbons (oils, grease and certain herbicides and pesticides) by secreting enzymes.

What product, innovation or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

Among the range of innovative bio-organic products developed by our R&D team, we are very proud of Shuddi Multipurpose Liquid. This innovative product is a bio-product with a blend of enzymes, organic acids, and natural cleansers produced during the natural fermentation process. This product can be used for cleaning floors, toilets, and animal sheds. Regular use of Shuddi Multipurpose Liquid eliminates bad odor, repels insect vectors like mosquitos and flies, removes dirt and stains, kills harmful germs, and keeps the applied area clean and hygienic for a longer period. It also keeps livestock living areas hygienic and healthy.

From a sustainability point of view, we are proud to say that the water used to clean the floor with Shuddi can be used for your plants. Indiscriminate use of harsh chemicals for cleaning has led to pollution of groundwater and water bodies. This motivates us to develop bio-organic products in the hygiene sector in order to reduce the impact and adverse effects of these harsh cleaning chemicals.

Anything else you’d like to share?

As part of the global market, we wish to explore and engage our R&D to research, innovate, and invent need-based products that benefit people across the world.

Serval on Cleaning for Health

Posted on by Fabio Costa
How many square feet of space does Serval clean?

Serval operates in more than 400 cleaning operations in 5 Brazilian states. Of these operations, 7 are Green Seal-certified with an area equivalent to 360,000 square feet. Our team has solid experience in optimizing cleaning routines in high-traffic environments, such as shopping malls, condominiums, hypermarkets, educational institutions, offices LEED certified buildings, hospitals, and industries.

What does sustainability mean to Serval?

The GREEN CLEANING program is our approach uniquely designed to improve human health and promote sustainability in the different spaces we clean. From choosing the most effective equipment and products to operating procedures and staff training, we strive to meet with excellence in the strictest socio-environmental criteria, which include compliance with all legal requirements applicable in the country.

What do you value in your partnership with Green Seal?

Having the Green Seal as a reference in our operations is a quality differential in the market as it makes us permanently seek excellence. Our certified operations show our customers that we are capable of offering a quality final product with strong foundations in efficiency and sustainability.

In our institutional marketing, we promote the standardization, safety and efficiency of our processes through an international certification of quality in cleaning services.

Do your customers see the value in green cleaning?

Before the pandemic, customers were more interested in hiring a service with quality and good cost. Today, with green cleaning we offer, in addition to quality and cost, a high standard of service through a systematically trained cleaning team, products with low environmental impact and smart equipment. We always seek to communicate this to our customers through lectures, information on our social networks and in new contracts.

From an operations cost perspective, how do you find that green cleaning compares to regular cleaning?

In our Green Seal-certified operations, we have seen a reduction in the cost of chemicals used in cleaning. In addition, the assurance we provide our customers about biosecurity is not directly reflected in the costs of operations, but is a differential of trust and credibility when compared to regular cleaning

What innovation or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

SERVAL is a local industry leader in sustainability with the expertise to service operations in LEED certified buildings and develops strong partnerships with leading green organizations to ensure that our Green Cleaning program meets international standards.

SERVAL is the company responsible for the green cleaning program of the SEBRAE-Ceará headquarters building, which is LEED Platinum certified. It was through this operation that the green cleaning process became a discussion for the opportunity for internal improvement on a daily basis.

How has the pandemic affected your operations?

The pandemic has brought greater concern about biosecurity and effectiveness in cleaning processes. Mainly in hospital environments, protocols and cleaning procedures became more rigid and the customer much more demanding. The search for reliable disinfectant products has become a concern. Certified green cleaning operations already provided assurance of these features before the pandemic.

What’s next for Serval?

SERVAL seeks to continuously improve its processes and offer more and more excellent services. In 2022 we aim to expand certified operations to the industry.

MomRemedy on Changing the Way Families Clean

Posted on by Jen Cosco
What does sustainability mean to MomRemedy?

At MomRemedy, our mission is to change the way families clean by offering an eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaner and stain remover that is powerful yet safe to use around your family and the environment. Though there are a variety of natural cleaners on the market, what sets MomRemedy apart is the use of natural and plant derived ingredients. Several of the MomRemedy products are reusable, like the MomRemedy Glass Refill Bottle and the MomRemedy Zero Waste Reusable Wipes in a Glass Jar, along with our environmentally friendly packaging that is 100% recyclable. MomRemedy eliminates the need for multiple cleaning products throughout the home, making it a truly powerful and effective eco-friendly cleaner that solves life’s everyday messes.

What are eco-conscious consumers looking for today from cleaning product brands?

Consumers are becoming more aware of the products they use in and around their home. The education is out there on how to read and understand labels. They are doing their research and choosing the brands and products that are truly safe. Above all, consumers want to know that what they are buying does what it says and does it safely. At MomRemedy, we clearly indicate what ingredients we use and have done independent testing to solidify our claims of being non-toxic and an effective cleaner and stain remover.

Why do you partner with Green Seal?

Green Seal is a nonprofit dedicated to spreading sustainability in products, which aligns with MomRemedy’s vision to have safe and effective cleaning products available to homes everywhere. Partnering with Green Seal has allowed us to be 100% confident that our products are eco-friendly, effective, and non-toxic. We are incredibly proud to share the honor of Green Seal certification with our community.

We use Green Seal to educate our customers and potential customers about the impact the products we choose can have in our surroundings and environment. Many people are not aware of the impact of using cleaning products, which are making their way into our soil, food, and bodies. Consumers trust Green Seal and can trust MomRemedy to make better informed purchasing decisions.

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

At MomRemedy, we made the decision not to use any preservatives in our products. Many cleaning products contain preservatives to help with shelf life, which can contain formaldehyde-releasing agents that are inhaled in the air or absorbed into the skin.

Making the decision not to include these preservatives in our cleaning products was an easy one. Additionally, we offer a larger refill size of our cleaner and a sustainable refillable glass bottle to cut down on plastic waste.

What’s next for MomRemedy?

Right now, we are focused on getting national distribution on grocery shelves across the country. You can find our products in over 300 stores, and that number is growing weekly. In the coming months and years, we will continue to stay focused on our mission, which is making safe and effective cleaning products available to every household.

Anything else you’d like to share?

We are proud to share that MomRemedy was just awarded a 2022 Clean House Award by Better Home and Gardens as the Best Do-Anything All-Purpose Cleaner and Stain Remover!

Benjamin Moore on the Company’s Greenest Product Offering

Posted on by Alfredo Valiente
What does sustainability mean to Benjamin Moore?

Benjamin Moore remains steadfast in our commitment to our stakeholders and our long-standing pledge toward a more sustainable future. With an emphasis on the continued evaluation of employee needs and benefits, prioritization of high-demand products, and support for charitable partners and programming, these efforts remain at the forefront of our company culture. Premium quality coatings have been at the foundation of the brand for 138 years. Through third-party certifications like Green Seal and ongoing efforts to develop low-VOC coatings, we are able to meet the needs of customers and our obligation to the environment.

Tell us about Benjamin Moore’s Eco Spec line of paints. What makes it the brand’s greenest interior premium paint?

Benjamin Moore introduced the Eco Spec line in 2008 as one of our first zero-VOC paints ideally suited for commercial facilities, such as schools, corporate buildings, hospitals, nursing homes, medical clinics, and assisted living facilities. In 2021, as part of an effort to simplify our portfolio to better serve our customers, we discontinued redundancies and rebranded Eco Spec as our greenest product offering that exceeds the most stringent environmental standards for both commercial and residential customers.

The new Eco Spec Interior is a 100% acrylic paint that offers zero VOCs, zero emissions, and low odor. It delivers excellent hide, great touch-up, and quick-drying properties for a fast job turnaround. Also, our patented zero-VOC Gennex colorants ensure that Eco Spec remains zero-VOC, even after tinting.

Eco Spec is our greenest paint because it has been independently tested to be Green Seal-certified and certified asthma & allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. These independent certifications validate the fact that Eco Spec meets or exceeds the strictest environmental requirements. In addition to securing those third-party certifications, we’ve refreshed the Eco Spec label to drive appeal to a wider audience that insists on green attributes.

Why do your customers value low-VOC paints?

VOCs are volatile organic compounds that drying paint can release into the air, significantly affecting the immediate environment and, in some extreme instances, human health. In buildings that need to maintain good air quality like daycares, schools, and hospitals, it is important to use the most environmentally responsible products, because increased exposure to VOCs may elevate the risk of developing respiratory issues.

That’s why we recommend products like Eco Spec with zero VOCs, zero emissions, and low odor for the benefit of those spaces, their occupants, and the environment in general.

Why do you partner with Green Seal?

Green Seal is a respected global environmental certification organization and obtaining the Green Seal certification verifies that Eco Spec meets the highest environmental standards in the industry.

What product, innovation or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

Our commitment to research and innovation has led us to many industry firsts, including:

  • The first eggshell interior finish, in 1972
  • The first Computer Color Matching System (now an industry standard), in 1982
  • The first pearl interior finish, in1988
  • Our zero-VOC latex paint, EcoSpec, in 2008
  • The first company in the U.S. to introduce a zero-VOC waterborne tinting system to the marketplace (our patented Gennex Color Technology), in 2006

And years before the federal government required it, we eliminated lead, formaldehyde and mercury from our paints and met VOC standards.

The Federal Trade Commission has determined that an emission-free or zero-emissions (or VOC) paint claim can be substantiated by, among other things, evidence demonstrating the paint has trace levels of emissions six hours or less after application (and thereafter), and contains no substance that could cause material harm to the health of the average adult under normal anticipated use. Eco Spec paint meets this standard.

Finally, we take these proprietary ingredients and custom formulate them to optimize their performance in each of our products. You might call this process the key component of our competitive advantage and success.

What’s next for Benjamin Moore?

We will remain committed to our professional painters and customers that insist on green attributes, premium performance and the best color selection in order to exceed their expectations.

The Honest Company on Inspiring Everyone to Love Living Consciously

Posted on by Don Frey
What does sustainability mean to The Honest Company?

​​The Honest Company was built around the ethical values of transparency, trust, sustainability, and a deep sense of purpose with a mission to inspire everyone to love living consciously. We know that everything our consumers put on, in, and around their body matters. That’s why we hold ourselves to The Honest Standard of safety and transparency and do everything we can to support wellness for our consumers. This standard is our guiding principle, the way in which we apply our values to innovation and development, and it’s the thoughtful and uncompromising approach we take with every product we make. With people and planet in mind, we prioritize continuous improvement by striving to use clean ingredients and sustainable packaging. Our in-house labs, toxicologists, and partners work tirelessly to develop effective products that meet rigorous standards of safety. Additionally, we strive to use recyclable materials, such as compostable tree-free paper and 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard, to support our consumers in their effort to reduce, reuse, and refill.

The Honest Company recently created a Conscious Cleaning Collection of products. Why did evolving your line of cleaning products feel like a good fit for the brand and for The Honest Company customer?

At Honest, we believe part of being an ethical lifestyle brand is creating effective products consumers love to use (and re-use). We strive to create formulas with responsibly sourced ingredients and packaging. Our sustainability mission starts with the practices that we implement within our own lab and in our formulas. We believe that it’s not enough to ask consumers to practice sustainability without committing to that mission as well – which is why we created our Conscious Cleaning line, featuring clean formulas and reusable packaging that is designed with the environment in mind.

Our Conscious Cleaning Essentials produce a powerful clean with naturally derived ingredients and without harsh chemicals. Our refillable cleaning essentials are designed to help reduce plastic waste without compromising on effectiveness. Reusable bottles mean less bottles heading to the landfill. Plus, by shipping the bottles empty, our kits are about 5.5 pounds lighter, which means less energy is used to transport them. That little change makes a big difference across thousands of kits.

Why do you partner with Green Seal?

Green Seal is a new partnership that is a natural fit for our brand. They are a leader in helping businesses and consumers make healthier, greener choices with confidence, which closely aligns with our Honest mission to inspire everyone to love living consciously. Our partnership with Green Seal creates synergies to bring products to life that truly push the sustainability envelope!

How do you use Green Seal in your marketing?

Green Seal’s standards define sustainability leadership in the marketplace and reward industry innovations. After we certified our Clean Conscious Essentials with Green Seal, we included the logo on our product pages and package graphics. Additionally, we have partnered with the Green Seal team on product messaging that helps educate consumers on the most sustainable practices — like using cold water instead of hot water to make our cleaning solutions.

What’s next for The Honest Company?

We strive for continuous improvement, and we are constantly evaluating new package materials and questioning the status quo. Check out our website, Honest.com, to learn more!

Podsy on Pod-Based Refillable Cleaning Systems

Posted on by Green Seal
WHAT INSPIRED THE LAUNCH OF PODSY?

The Podsy Founding Families answered many important questions during development of Podsy™ Cleaning Systems. They all circled back to what is best for consumers’ wellness, pets, planet, pocketbook, and ultimately our families. The message is simple. You should not have to sacrifice quality when looking for an eco-value cleaning solution.

WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN TO PODSY?

At Podsy sustainability has two core principles: The health and wellness of consumers and their families along with products that enable reduction of waste and carbon neutrality. Our non-toxic formulas are child and pet safe, with 100% all-natural formulations coming soon. Podsy bottles are designed to be refilled and reused for years. This helps keep bottles and packaging out of landfills when compared to single-use bottles. They also use less shelf space and weigh much less than Ready-To-Use bottles. It’s better for you and our planet.

WHY DO YOU PARTNER WITH GREEN SEAL?

It was important to hold ourselves to a higher standard. Partnering with Green Seal allowed us to quickly understand where we can improve and where we will have success. Verification of 3rd party performance testing is also very important.

Podsy bottles are designed to be refilled and reused for years. This helps keep bottles and packaging out of landfills when compared to single-use bottles. … It’s better for you and our planet.
WHY DO YOU THINK CONSUMERS ARE RESPONDING TO REFILLABLE CLEANING SYSTEMS RIGHT NOW? 

Refillable, and specifically pod-based refillable cleaning systems are coming of age for several reasons. After more than a decade of success within the laundry and dishwasher space, trust has grown. Changes in environment are clearer to many who may previously have been reluctant to embrace new products. Adoption is happening faster as value plays an impactful role. Refills are cheaper than buying bottles many times over. It’s an exciting time and consumers are driving the demand.

WHAT VALUE DOES THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION BRING TO A CLEANING PRODUCT?

To us, it’s important to signal that we have aligned ourselves with successful trusted experts specializing in household cleaners. We do more than just say we are sustainable. Our certifications validate successful results from ongoing testing. They allow us to continuously improve our product lines while measuring with the highest standards in leading our industry.

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM A SUSTAINABILITY STANDPOINT?

We’re proud of developing a cleaning system that eliminates Ready-To-Use (single-use) bottles at scale while increasing value for consumers and the efficacy of cleaners.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR PODSY?

Product development is ongoing and we are even more excited about our 2022 product lines. The Podsy Pure line of cleaners with all-natural ingredients and enhanced packaging across all product lines will further highlight our focus on sustainability.

ABCO Products on the Paradigm Shift to Cleaning Sustainably

Posted on by Green Seal

ABCO Cleaning Products is a family owned, certified minority-business enterprise that manufactures a full range of high-quality mops and complementary tools used for everyday floor cleaning.

We recently transitioned our production facility to solar power, optimized our packaging to reduce corrugate box waste, and designed equipment to convert 100% post-industrial apparel waste into high-quality Natura Yarn cleaning products that are Green Seal Innovation Certified.

A key part of our business strategy is grounded in promoting circularity in the apparel sector by diverting more than 10 million pounds of material that would have been destined for landfills to Natura Yarns that are now used in more than 228 Green Seal-certified skus. 

WHY DO YOU PARTNER WITH GREEN SEAL?

We’ve seen a growing customer trend toward purchasing sustainable cleaning product alternatives. Aligning with Green Seal has elevated the brand equity of ABCO Products in the marketplace. Customers demand that products meet Green Seal’s standards – it has become a prerequisite for doing business. 

Customers demand that products meet Green Seal’s standards – it has become a prerequisite for doing business. 

HOW DO YOU USE GREEN SEAL IN YOUR CUSTOMER MARKETING? 

Using the resources provided by Green Seal, including messaging, marketing materials and social media promotion, has generated increased business for ABCO Products on a national scale in multi-market segments, including industrial, fast food, educational and sanitary maintenance supply.

ABCO’s private label partners get access to all the same marketing benefits. They are able to use our Green Seal certification to sub-register products and use the mark on their labels, packaging and promotional materials. 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ABCO? 

We’re focusing now on optimizing our PTS injection molding facility. This facility manufactures a variety of plastic cleaning tools that in 2020 converted more than 2.1 million discarded plastic bottles into brooms & brushes as part our portfolio of sustainable products.