Green Cleaning Workshop

Implementing Greening the Cleaning®: A Seamless Transition

Mark C. BlaireEnvironmental Programs Director

The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology®

Hackensack University Medical Center

Overview• In 2001 HUMC became first healthcare facility to

implement the Greening the Cleaning®– Have assisted over 300 facilities.

• Started as a result of stakeholder interest – Deirdre Imus.

• Patient and worker safety.• Resulted in overall cost savings of 15%• Substantial reduction in work related injury/illness

due to cleaning chemicals.• The Deirdre Imus Environmental for Pediatric

Oncology®.

The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology®

Mission:

The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology® at Hackensack University Medical Center, a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation, represents one of the first hospital-based programs whose specific mission is to identify, control, and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially pediatric cancer, as well as other health problems with our children.

Hackensack University Medical Center

• Overview:– Fourth Largest Hospital (by inpatient admissions)– 2.85 million square feet– 781 beds occupied over 98%– 7,800 employees– 1,400 Volunteers – Over 2million outpatient visits/year

Why Green Cleaning?• Not the cause de jour.• Is Best Management Practice. • Corporate Stewardship.• Internal and external stakeholders.• Proven to be competitive with traditional cleaning

chemicals.• Improved customer/employee satisfaction.• Marketing tool.

Greening the Cleaning®

• Our main building block• Greening the Cleaning® means eliminating to the

greatest extent possible, all cleaning agents containing hazardous ingredients and replacing them with environmentally responsible products that utilize natural or naturally-derived ingredients that achieve the least level of toxicity and while maintaining highest level of efficacy.*

Greening the Cleaning® Product Standards

There are many shades of “Green”

• Full disclosure of all ingredients. • Third party certification of product formulations. • Rigorous Quality Assurance/Quality Control program. • Water supply should be purified, and free of chlorine and residual

chlorine. • Require raw material suppliers to certify their materials. • Product formulations must meet or exceed established American Society

for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for the specific product category for efficacy.

• Achieve the least level of toxicity while maintaining the highest level of efficacy.

• Must be cost competitive with traditional cleaners.

Generally Recognized Green Product Standards

• Do not stipulate the use of natural or naturally derived ingredients,

• Allows for petroleum derived ingredients, • Do not adequately address ingredients that may be potential

carcinogens, teratogens, mutagens, endocrine and hormone disruptors,

• Allows for synthetic fragrances, • Allows for chlorinated organics, • Do not address the potential bioaccumulation of certain

chemicals, • Do not call for disclosure of all ingredients, • By their own admission the standard does not have provisions

for product safety • Allows for phosphates

Tier I Products• Tier I Products – Tier 1 General Cleaning Products are

comprised of all natural or naturally derived ingredients and include but are not limited to general purpose cleaners, glass and window cleaner, basin tub and tile, hand soaps (non-disinfectant), laundry detergent and bowl cleaners. Products in Tier 1 should meet the following standards:

• Must be free of any known human carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens and endocrine disruptors.

• Must not contain Nonyl Phenol Ethoxylate (NPE) or Alkyphenol Ethoxylate (APE).

• Must not contain compounds or substances which cause or contribute to the creation of atmospheric greenhouse gases, ground level smog or ozone depletion.

• Must not be corrosive to skin or inanimate surfaces.  • Must not be a severe skin or eye irritant.

Tier I Products – Cont.

• Must not be delivered in single use aerosol cans or cans using ozone depleting propellants. 

• Must not contain petroleum-derived or petrochemical blended fragrances.

• Must not contain heavy metals that are toxic to humans, animal life or the environment. 

• Should not be combustible below 150ºf.  • Must not contain chlorine, chlorinated or brominated

solvents • Must not contain compounds that persist or bio-

accumulate in human or animal tissue or in the environment.

Tier 1 Products – Cont.• Must not contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) at levels

exceeding the limits established by the Southern California Air Quality Management District Resources Board for the applicable product categories.  Products must not be listed on the hazardous air pollutants list of the Environmental Protection Agency.

• Should be readily biodegradable at greater than 90% in thirty days without the need of being run through a municipal effluent treatment process.  If not biodegradable due to inorganic content the ingredient must be chemically inert. 

• Must be obtained or derived from replenishable natural (plant) sources

Tier I Products – Cont.• Should be derived from renewable resources. • Should have a pH level between 4 and 10 wherever possible.  • Should be as concentrated as possible to green the supply

chain.  Products should be capable of being dispensed through automatic systems in order to reduce user and environmental contact.

Greening the Cleaning®

Benefits of the Program:

1. Cost Reduction2. Toxicity Reduction3. Quantity Reduction4. Space Reduction5. Waste Reduction6. Education of Personnel

Greening the Cleaning®

• Testing of “Green” Products at HUMC• Conversion to the Program (Staff Reaction)• Results of the Program1. 15% Cost Reduction2. Reduction in number of products used3. Maintained cleanliness levels as measured

by Press Gainey4. Reduction in employee incidents to occupational

health

Greening the Cleaning®

• Implementation: A Seamless Transition1. Ordering of your products, dispensing system and spray

bottles2. Training provided for staff (No Cost)3. Policy & Procedures provided for staff, at your request (No

Cost)4. You’re on your way

Keys to Success• Supported and driven from the top.• Don’t let change paralyze the organization. by

trying to do everything at once – “One Change at Time!”

• Establish multidisciplinary team to ensure involvement and ownership at all levels and departments.

• Communication, Communication, Communication!!!

Greening the Cleaning®

• The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center For Pediatric Oncology, @

Hackensack University Medical Center

30 Prospect Avenue, Research Building Room 240

Hackensack, NJ 07601201-336-8071 – Phone201-336-8160 – Fax or

Visit our Website: www.Dienviro.com