Toxics Use Reduction Institute Green Labeling Surface Solutions Laboratory Efforts: Green Seal European Flower Massachusetts EPP.

Toxics Use Reduction Institute

Green Labeling

Surface Solutions Laboratory Efforts:Green Seal

European FlowerMassachusetts EPP

Environmental Labeling

• Best Known National Environmental Label– Green Seal of Washington, DC

• Examples of Other Programs– Canada’s Environmental Choice– Nordic Swan– Swedish Environmental Programme

• Involved with Detergents

• Green Label Initiatives Not New– Blue Angel (Germany, 1977)

Green Seal

• Independent, non-profit organization– Strives to achieve a healthier and cleaner

environment– Identifying and promoting products and

services• That cause less toxic pollution and waste• Conserve resources and habitats• Minimize global warming and ozone depletion

• www.greenseal.org

Green Seal Standards• Alternative Fueled Vehicles (GC-02)• Anti-Corrosive Paints (GC-03)• Coated Printing Paper (GS-10)• Commercial Adhesives (GS-36)• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (GS-05)• Degreasers (GS-34)• Electric Chillers (GS-31)• Fleet Vehicle Maintenance (GC-10)• Food Service Packaging (GS-35)• Green Procurement Criteria (GS-38)• Green Facilities Operation and Maintenance

Criteria (GS-39)• Household Cleaners (GS-08)• Industrial & Institutional Cleaners

(GS-37)• Industrial & Institutional Floor-Care

Products (GS-40)• Lodging Properties (GS-33)

• Newsprint (GS-15)• Occupancy Sensors (GC-12)• Paints (GS-11)• Paper Products Used in the Preparation of

Food (GC-08)• Paper Towels and Paper Napkins (GS-09)• Photovoltaic Modules (GS-32)• Powdered Laundry Bleach (GC-11)• Printing and Writing Paper (GS-07)• Re-Refined Engine Oil (GS-03)• Residential Central Air Conditioning Systems

(GC-09)• Residential Central Air-Source Heat Pumps

(GC-15)• Reusable Utility Bags (GS- 16)• Split-Ductless Air-Source Heat Pumps (GC-

13)• Tissue Paper (GS-01)• Watering Hoses (GC-01)• Windows (GS-13)• Window Films (GS-14)

The European Union’s Eco-label

• Voluntary System Designed to– Encourage Businesses to Market Products and

Services That Are Kinder to the Environment– Help European Consumers Both Private and Public

to Identify Those Products

• Program Is Part of a – Broader Strategic Goal of Promoting Sustainable

Consumption and Production– Wider Approach on Integrated Product Policy (IPP)

The EU’s Eco-label (cont.)

• Ecological Criteria Set Forth in the Official Journal of the European Communities by Commission

• Signed in Brussels in 2001

European Union Eco-labeling Board Mission Statement

• “To Be Recognized as Europe’s Premier Award for Products and Services Which Are a Genuinely Better Choice for the Environment”

• “To Help Manufacturers, Retailers and Service Providers to Get Recognition for Good Standards, and Purchasers to Make Reliable Choices”

• Not Meant As a Barrier to Trade

Important ‘Flower’ Facts

• Diverse Range of 21 Product Groups Included– Textiles, Paints, Washing Machines,

Cleaning Products

• Expanding into Tourist Accommodations

• Nearly 200 Licenses Issued to Date

The ‘Flower’: A Powerful Tool

• Covers 25 Member States of the European Union

• Also Found on Products in Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland

• Potential Market to More Than 375 Million Consumers

What the Eco-label Award Means

• Official Recognition for a Product’s– High Level of Biodegradability

– Minimal Impact on Aquatic Life

– Satisfactory Cleaning Performance

Role of TURI’s Laboratory

• Designated Test Center– Demonstrated Competencies in Test

Methods and Standards Such as International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

– Responsible for Presenting the Technical Data of the Product in Light of EU Ecological Criteria

– Product Performance– Prepared Extensive Portfolio or Dossier

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing

• Massachusetts program to promote safer and effective cleaning products– Green Seal Certification Process– Laboratory Performance Evaluations

• EPP Cleaning Products Update

Statewide Contract for Environmentally

Preferable Commercial Cleaning Products

• Goal– Offer Commonwealth buyers a broad range

of cleaning products• Reduced environmental and health impact • Performing equally• Cost-effective

– The need for less toxic cleaning products exists because certain ingredients in traditional cleaning products may pose threats to health and the environment

Product Categories

• General Purpose Cleaners

• Bathroom Cleaners

• Glass Cleaners

• Carpet Cleaners • Disinfectants /

Sanitizers

• Floor Care System (stripper, finish, cleaner)

• Hand Soaps• Janitorial Paper

Products (recycled content)

Environmental Screening

• Products underwent an extensive third-party review of their potential health and environmental impacts– Do not contain carcinogens or other prohibited ingredients– Are not corrosive to skin and eyes– Are not toxic to humans or aquatic life

• Minimum environmental and health standards established for this contract are based on the Green Seal Standard for Industrial and Institutional Cleaners (GS-37)– http://www.greenseal.org/standards/industrialcleaners.htm

Performance Screening

• Once the products passed the stringent environmental and health criteria – Tested for cleaning performance

• General purpose• Bathroom• Glass

• Carpet

Listed Vendors

Product Manufacturer Name

State Contractor Name & Address

Contact Person For the Contract

Statewide or Regional Award and #

Product Applications Offered Under the Contract

The Clean Environment Company, Inc.www.safegreenclean.com/

Edison Chemical Co., Inc.215 Sydney StreetDorchester, MA 02125

Richard Weinfeld1-800-266-2365 (ph)617-265-5495 (ph)617-265-5498 (fax)[email protected]

StatewideGRO160100

General purpose Cleaner Bathroom Cleaner Glass Cleaner Carpet Cleaner Floor care system Hand soap

ECOgent Environmental Solutions, Ltd.www.ecogent.ca/index1.htm

Chemspec901 North Newkirk StreetBaltimore, MD 21205Local Rep: PO Box 564Southborough, MA 01772

Timothy Stephens1-800-638-7370 (ph)508-485-9747 (ph)206-333-0440 (fax)

[email protected]

StatewideGRO160200

General Purpose Bathroom Cleaner Glass Cleaner Carpet Cleaner

EnvirOx, LLCwww.h2orange2.com

Atlantic Cleaning Products50 Finnell DriveWeymouth, MA 02188

Shaun Mahoney1-800-423-1136 (ph)781-331-2996 (fax)[email protected]

Central and Eastern MAGRO160300

General Purpose Cleaner Bathroom Cleaner Glass Cleaner Carpet Cleaner Sanitizer / Virucide Recycled Janitorial Papers

New England Maintenance Depot

125 Frank B. Murray StreetSpringfield, MA 01103

Gary Pollard1-800-942-2473 (ph)413-739-3341 (ph)413-737-5851(fax)[email protected]

Central and Western MAGRO160400

Simplex6 Commercial StreetSharon, MA 02067

Charles Rice1-800-222-2621, 781-784-

8484 (ph)781-784-8100 (fax)[email protected]

Central and Eastern MAGRO160500

Boston Chemical / M.D. StetsonCompany, Inc.www.mdstetson.com

M.D. Stetson Company92 York Ave.Randolph, MA 02368

Andrea Glass1-800-255-8651 (ph)781-986-6161 (ph)781-961-1764 (fax)[email protected]

m

StatewideGRO160600

General Purpose Cleaner Bathroom Cleaner Glass Cleaner Carpet Cleaner Disinfectant Floor Care System Hand Soap Recycled Janitorial Papers

Product Manufacturer Name

State Contractor Name & Address

Contact Person For the Contract

Statewide or Regional Award

Product Applications Offered Under the Contract

Rochester MidlandEnviroCarewww.rochestermidland.com/

Casey Engineering Maintenance, Inc. (EMI)8 Panas RoadFoxborough, MA 02035

Craig Smith1-800-333-4385 (ph)508-543-4379 (fax)[email protected]

Central and Eastern MAGRO160700

General Purpose CleanerBathroom CleanerGlass CleanerFloor Care SystemHand Soap Recycled Janitorial Papers PENDING – carpet cleaner and disinfectant

Richco Products237 Memorial DrivePO Box 1250Springfield, MA 01101-1250

Bryan Hauschild1-800-343-3221 (ph)1-800-258-2480 (fax)413-734-8241 (ph)413-731-5511 (fax)[email protected]

Central and Western MAGRO160800

Rochester Midland Corp.333 Hollenbeck StreetRochester, NY 14621Local Rep: 19 Pleasant St.Carver, MA 02330

Robert Proulx1-800-388-4762508-866-5141 (ph)508-866-3506 (fax)[email protected]

StatewideGRO160900

Cleanline Products, Inc.www.cleanlineproducts.com

Supreme Industrial Products, Inc.PO Box 382Randolph, MA 02368

Larry Stern866-878-9100 (ph)866-366-9537 (fax)[email protected]

StatewideGRO161000

General Purpose CleanerBathroom Cleaner Glass CleanerCarpet CleanerPENDING - Disinfectant

Ramsey Companywww.ramseycompany.com

Grainger Industrial Supply209 Brooks StreetWorcester, MA 01606

Kevin Fleury1-888-994-4627 (ph)508-853-6298 (fax)[email protected]

StatewideGRO161100

General Purpose CleanerBathroom CleanerGlass Cleaner

Summary

• Similarities of Green Programs Throughout the World

• As Industrial Degreasers Become Greener, Janitorial Applications Start to Overlap

• Scientific Organizations’ Role Should Remain Robust in Third-Party Certification Processes

For More Information

• Dr. Carole LeBlanc Laboratory Director Toxics Use Reduction Institute University of Massachusetts Lowell One University Avenue Lowell, MA 01854-2866 978-934-3249 [email protected]