Last Summer, I warned of a dangerous trend of over-disinfecting buildings to reassure people about safety amid the pandemic – with minimal effectiveness at reducing virus spread and significant risks to people’s health from toxic chemicals. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance to confirm that regular cleaning is preferable to disinfecting most of the time. When is disinfecting appropriate? The CDC now says to
Category: Trends in Sustainability
Microbial-Based Cleaning Products
Update: On November 11, 2021, Green Seal issued six standards with updated criteria for microbial-based cleaning products. Spray-applied microbial-based cleaning products are now eligible for Green Seal certification. All documents on this criteria revision can be found on Green Seal’s Library of Standards page. Green Seal is proposing several important improvements to our standard criteria for microbial-based
How to Safely Clean and Disinfect for Coronavirus
Are you concerned about properly disinfecting for coronavirus while also protecting people from the health risks associated with hazardous chemical exposure? Green Seal’s new Guidelines for Safer COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection spell out five effective and responsible cleaning practices for occupant health and safety during the pandemic. Improper cleaning and disinfection practices – such as
The Fairmont Chicago Reaps Benefits of Certification
In order to set smart and ambitious sustainability goals hotels generally find they must address unique infrastructure, operations, and purchasing challenges, often without a road map. Significant water, energy and cost savings, increases in corporate bookings, an improved guest experience, and higher staff morale are just some of the benefits that make the effort worthwhile.
Honoring the Custodial Workers Who Keep Our Schools Healthy
Right now, 15 states and 2 U.S. territories have ordered or recommended school building closures for the rest of the academic year due to concerns with the rapid spread of COVID-19. These closures have disrupted the formal education of approximately 55 million students across U.S. public and private institutions. But they have not slowed the
ABCO Natura Yarn Mop Heads – Innovation Criteria
Update: The public comment period for ABCO Products has ended. Green Seal accepted public comments between April 6, 2020 and May 7, 2020. Learn more about ABCO Products and its product certification status on Green Seal’s Environmental Innovation Registry page. Green Seal’s Environmental Innovation Beta Advisory Program allows product manufacturers to explore environmental and health impacts, engage
Serving Our Stakeholders During the COVID-19 Health Crisis
Green Seal is closely monitoring developments regarding the novel coronavirus COVID-19, which was declared a national emergency by the White House and a pandemic by the World Health Organization. During this emerging and rapidly changing situation, we rely on the CDC for updated information as it becomes available. Green Seal is committed to providing trusted
Our Standard Means Uncompromising Cleaning Performance
At Green Seal, we often hear the question: how do I know green cleaning products work as effectively as conventional ones? With coronavirus prompting more frequent use of cleaning products (and more inhalation of cleaning chemicals), here’s a window into Green Seal’s performance requirements for certified green cleaning products. Defining Clean Amid the coronavirus epidemic,
BMS: An Interview with Green Seal CEO Doug Gatlin
Green Seal partner Building Maintenance Service (BMS) sat down with Green Seal CEO Doug Gatlin to discuss green cleaning, sustainability in the janitorial industry, and why being Green Seal certified matters now more than ever. WHY IS THIRD-PARTY VALIDATION IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CLEANING SERVICES INDUSTRY? Green cleaning is a common
Partnership Leads to Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Program
For the past 30 years, Green Seal® has served as the nation’s most trusted ecolabel for products and services. Millions of Americans interact with a Green Seal label every day, from the cleaning procedures used in their office buildings to the low-VOC paint used on their bedroom walls. We have certified thousands of products, services, and
30 Years Strong: A Look at Green Seal and Ecolabelling
If you follow us on social media, you probably already know that Green Seal is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month. Because anniversaries are a natural time to reflect, we’ve been looking back at our history and the role Green Seal has played in the wider story of the sustainability movement. We’ve also been digging
Consumers Spur Action on Toxins Like Methylene Chloride
It has always been clear to Green Seal that toxic substances such as methylene chloride and 1,4-dioxane have no place in the products used in homes, schools or workplaces – that’s why we have long prohibited these and a long list of other hazardous chemicals in our certified products. Growing consumer awareness of the health
Will CA Transparency Law Spur Safer Cleaning Products?
Growing public demand for ingredient transparency across the marketplace is prompting regulators to require manufacturers and retailers to publicly communicate the ingredients in everything from personal care and baby products to cosmetics and cleaning products. Starting this January, cleaning product manufacturers for the first time will have to post their product ingredients online to comply
Emerging Wellness Trends Advance Green Hospitality
What’s that smell? Deodorizer? Bleach? When you enter your hotel room for the night, you shouldn’t have to worry that the air you breathe will provoke headaches, allergies, or asthma. That’s the mindset of a growing generation of consumers who view sustainability as inextricably linked to human health – and who support hotels that do
SAVOR…Chicago Earns First Convention Center Certification
by Doug Bradley, SAVOR…Vice President of Culinary Managing food service waste in a convention center is an immense challenge. Chicago’s McCormick Place, the largest convention center in the Americas, draws almost 3 million visitors each year. SAVOR… Chicago takes the responsibility and opportunity to manage our business sustainably very seriously, a commitment that led us to be
