Page 42 - CIJ Aug 2024 - Digital Edition

SUSTAINABILITY

Implementation of Green Practices &
Products in Facilities Management

1. Choose the right effectiveness and also lead to
product higher costs. Simply informing
the Supervisor once and
Nowadays, several companies expecting everyone to follow
advertise their products as suitable instructions will not
“Green” or “Environmentally work. The new products need
Friendly”. Sometimes the green to be demonstrated (preferably
credential is limited to the colour by authorized company
of the packaging! Step 1 would representatives) and advantages
be to ensure that a truly green or explained.
environmental-friendly product Workers need to be able to ask
is procured. For this, a facility questions and clear their doubts in a
manager would need to up skill his/ non-threatening atmosphere. Repeat Solomon Ellis
her knowledge on the attributes that – repeat – repeat and continuous
make a product truly environment monitoring is required at the initial (different aromas, different cleaning
friendly. The information is easily phases until the old habits are routines) with the facility users to
available but few of us bother to erased and new habits inculcated. avoid confusion and complaints.
increase our knowledge instead 4. Track changes in
of only relying on vendor’s 3. Communicate with
presentations and statements. users about the change Environmental markers
The gold standard would be to in products used Once you have implemented
have third party certification by a the changes, make sure you
recognized agency. In addition, the Switching to green products may track changes in environmental
FM should make it a point to look entail changes in cleaning patterns markers like IAQ, allergens, even
into the product contents, check or frequencies. The products may reduction in sick leaves taken etc.
the MSDS etc. because ultimately have a different aroma. Smell is and communicate these to upper
the FM will be answerable to the one of the most powerful of our management. Your Company
Company Leadership if any mistake senses and “smell memories” are Directors may also sit on Boards
is exposed. The products selected powerful and long-lasting while of other Companies and if they
should be checked and verified to being mostly subconscious. If users become aware of the positive
not include any corrosive material, are confronted with a workspace outcomes of using eco-friendly
VOCs and potential carcinogens. that smells differently than what products, they will promote their
they are used to, it may cause them use in other facilities within the
2. Train the Janitorial some confusion or even discomfort. Company or even other companies
It is essential to communicate
staff on Usage of Green the changes and what to expect thus having a wider impact than
just one facility.
Products
Training the Janitorial Staff is
probably the most important step of
introducing green products. Mental
Inertia is an important factor
here. People are used to working
in a certain way, using certain
mixing formulae which have been
ingrained into them from years of
repetition.
Using a green product in the
same way as other products
would blunt their environmental CIJ

AUGUST 2024•Clean India Journal
42 www.cleanindiajournal.com