How To Implement a Sustainable Cleaning Program

March 02, 2022 Leave a Comment

Sustainability should be top of mind in nearly all modern, forward-thinking organizations. Not only does it boost production and innovation, but it also promotes healthier lifestyles and the preservation of the Earth's natural resources.


Sustainability is both an asset and a necessity when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting practices. Especially when addressing the repercussions chemical cleaners have on people's well-being and the environment.

Sustainability's Role in Cleaning and Disinfecting

In general terms, sustainability refers to methods, products, and solutions that can be used for long periods of time without running out because they create a balance with the environment.

A sustainable system is powered by natural resources without ever risking said resources for future generations. This means coming up with ways to reduce the waste of resources or even reusing/replacing them without affecting their life cycle.

How does sustainability relate to cleaning and disinfecting?

Institutional cleaning has slowly but steadily made its way into adopting sustainable cleaning methods after seeing the operational advantages that go with them.


As stated in CleanLink's article "Sustainability and the Future of Commercial Cleaning," the primary goal behind sustainable methods is to protect people's well-being and benefit society as a whole.

This goes from helping employees with improved cleaning systems to overseeing plans that make sustainable cleaning more accessible in all parts of the community.

Speaking strictly of sustainability in cleaning and disinfecting, there are two basic advantages that extend to many parts of a business's cleaning routine. People also see these traits as improvements when comparing sustainable cleaning methods to conventional cleaning practices that produce waste:

• No chemical residues: The main advantage of sustainable cleaning methods is their positive effect on the environment and their safety profile.
  
  Conventional cleaning methods involve chemical cleaners and disinfectants that may cause harm to the environment and adverse health effects.
  
  Bleach, ammonia, peroxides, and other toxic ingredients are often used in a surprising number of cleaning products. A product's concentration of bleach, for instance, can be enough to provide decent disinfecting power but still cause harm when in direct contact with people.
  
  Chemical-based products leave harmful fumes in their wake, lingering in the air long after the product has dried.
  
  Typically, when chemical disinfectants dry, they leave a sticky film on surfaces. They also take an average of ten minutes to take effect, leaving room for people to spread them from one surface to the next or on themselves.
  
  On top of acting faster, sustainable products can match or even surpass their cleaning and disinfecting power without releasing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air.


• Cost-effectiveness: Because they reduce the waste of resources, sustainable products are often accessible in terms of financial costs.
  
  At worst, the products will match the price range of their chemical-based counterparts; at best, the initial price alone will actually be lower, not to mention all the extra money you'll be saving on implementing a sustainable cleaning method that generates solutions on demand.
  
  Sustainable cleaning encourages fewer expenses throughout the year, either by reducing shipping and transportation costs or by ruling out the storage requirements needed for chemical products.
  

These advantages come with an obvious payoff. For one, sustainable cleaners don't have a high concentration of toxic ingredients. They can be used by custodians and other members of your staff without having to worry about misusing them.
There's no need to rigorously train staff to use these products, and productivity levels increase through safer cleaning practices.

Businesses and institutions should highly consider developing a plan of action to create a sustainable cleaning program. Here's why.

Creating a Sustainable Cleaning Program for Your Business

Sustainability goes hand in hand with efficiency.

Effective/versatile cleaning practices are the best way to complement eco-friendly products. More importantly, they directly result in less waste. This key feature tells us whether a method is genuinely sustainable.

Sustainable systems consume less water and electricity. They also promote products that last longer without running out and take less time overall to deliver the expected hygiene standards.

Introducing a sustainable cleaning program doesn't require a major shift in your current dynamic. Setting up a sustainable purchasing policy that prioritizes people's well-being is a great way to start.

Proper training should also come early on. Your cleaning staff should understand the ins and outs of sustainable cleaning, including product recycling and disposal.

Let's look at all the other steps that go into the program:

• Daily cleaning habits that cover all surfaces in a room will go great lengths to stop high-touch areas from collecting dirt and bacteria. Giving the same focus to other parts of a room, like glass partings, windowsills, etc., will make things more efficient when the workday is in full swing.


• You might have to invest in upgrading your equipment (ventilation systems, sanitizer dispensers, floor care equipment, etc.). It will pay off when you compare how much time and effort it takes to get your space clean and disinfected, whether you're dealing with multiple office cubicles or larger workspaces.



• Depending on the nature of your business, you could stop using disposable items for certain tasks. Recycled toilet paper, refillable spray bottles, and microfiber cleaning cloths are all viable items to have in almost any organization.
  
  They would bring no extra costs to your budget because you'll be saving on disposable products over time and implementing a sustainable cleaning program using recycled goods.


• The point above also extends to cleaning tools. Mops, brooms, brushes, dust rags, and other tools made out of recycled materials do their job as well as traditional tools. Microfiber technologies can actually help these tools last longer.


• Before making a transition to sustainable cleaning products, do your research to verify the brand's credentials, including the validation of accredited organizations.
  
  Also, research the product itself. Check the ingredients and instructions to make sure you're not using more products than necessary to meet the expected hygiene standards.



• Concerning the usage of cleaning products, the American Cleaning Institute® (ACI) recommends reading the product's instructions to avoid wasting more than what's needed during a cleaning session. They also recommend recycling used product's containers.


• Remember to encourage feedback along the way. Make sure to create an open work environment where members can make suggestions or bring new ideas to the table.

Harsh chemicals represent the most immediate risk posed by traditional cleaning practices. Even labels that identify certain products as 'green' or 'eco-friendly' can be misleading since the product's overall concentration of chemicals is often still high enough to cause substantial damage to the environment.

A sustainable system like electrolyzed water not only removes these risks entirely (it's non-toxic and safe for the environment). The labels are easier for users to understand the instructions and the ingredients are made of natural minerals. These systems reduce the waste of water and other environmental resources.

The Future of Sustainable Cleaning Is Within Reach

GenEon Technologies provides the ideal alternative to make sustainable cleaning a reality via the benefits of using electrolyzed water.

We provide solutions that remain accessible for all kinds of markets while making a real difference down the road to creating a safer environment.


GenEon's sustainable cleaners and disinfectants are made with renewable, natural ingredients. They release no harmful fumes and minimize water consumption.

Moreover, you can use our portable system to create all the products you need and effectively disinfect large spaces and harder-to-reach surfaces without wasting time or risking accidents.

We understand that sustainable cleaning equals safer cleaning products: they should not endanger people or the environment. If anything, they're more effective because of how they harness natural resources, simultaneously preserving the quality of the air and surfaces while killing germs of concern.

Using the power of water and natural minerals, GenEon keeps your spaces better protected while killing more germs, viruses, and bacteria than most store-bought products.

Because GenEon's systems help you create everything you need on-site (cleaner, degreaser, sanitizer, disinfectant). There's no need to juggle multiple products at a time.

We make cleaning simpler through a straightforward process that kills 99.999% of common germs and bacteria, including harmful pathogens like HIV, Hepatitis B and C, human coronavirus, and tuberculosis.

Sustainable cleaning has become a big part of today's world, benefiting businesses in all industries. At GenEon Technologies, we've always understood the value of sustainable cleaning and disinfecting methods, both from a business standpoint and to create a safer environment where people can thrive.


There's a world of difference between chemical-based cleaners and a sustainable technology that effectively promotes a safer environment. We're helping you set the highest hygiene standards with the best cleaning, degreasing, disinfecting, and sanitizing solutions.

If you have questions, remember that you can always reach out to us by filling out our website's contact form to request specific information about our products. Discover how sustainable cleaning can improve your business while protecting the people around you.

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