Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 50.72
Liaison Philip Mansfield
Submission Date Feb. 17, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Carleton University
OP-13: Cleaning Products Purchasing

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.25 / 1.00 Philip Mansfield
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Management and Planning
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have an institution-wide stated preference to purchase third party certified cleaning and janitorial products?:
Yes

A copy of the green cleaning product purchasing policy, directive, or guidelines:
The green cleaning product purchasing policy, directive, or guidelines:

Carleton university has prepared a Green Cleaning Standard to ensure that present and future cleaning practices maintain a high degree of sustainability. The standard outlines proper sustainable training and procedures as well as certified products, chemicals and equipment. The standard is grouped into 5 categories: training, procedures, products, further standards and continued improvement. This can help create healthy high performance cleaning and a more productive indoor environment with fewer burdens to our natural resources.

Carleton University is partnered with our internal custodial contract provider for all cleaning on campus. In doing so we have created a Green Cleaning Plan for the campus and Carleton University encourages that both the Standard and Plan be used in conjunction with each other.

This cleaning standard was created to meet current industry best practices. New buildings on campus are required to input data and information in the Green Globes Energy and Environment Assessment for New Construction. Existing buildings must complete the APPA online assessment for campuses which measures the ongoing sustainability of each building and of the whole campus at Carlton University. This Standard will identify the credits corresponding to green cleaning. Other
standards include the policies put in place by Green Seal, Environmental Choice, Ecologo and CRI’s Green Label Program.


A brief description of steps the institution has taken to ensure that the purchasing policy, directives, or guidelines are followed:

As outlined within the guidelines attached, Carleton has introduced a number of steps to ensure the policy is implemented. This includes general communications and formal meetings with our cleaning contractor towards its implementation and effectiveness. In addition a formal training program is in place and set procedures are in place to ensure guidelines are followed.


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (expenditures on cleaning and janitorial products)?:
No

Expenditures on Green Seal and/or UL Environment (EcoLogo) certified cleaning and janitorial products:
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Total expenditures on cleaning and janitorial products:
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Has the institution's main cleaning or housekeeping department(s) and/or contractor(s) adopted a Green Seal or ISSA certified low-impact, ecological (“green”) cleaning program?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s low-impact, ecological cleaning program:

Currently, many green products are already being used to clean the 44 buildings at Carleton. Products may vary from mild cleaning soap and general cleaning capability products to hard strippers and waxing agents. Equipment ranges from buffers and polishers to walk-behinds and ride-ons. Each product shall clean common soils and surfaces in its category effectively, at the most dilute/least concentrated manufacturer-recommended dilution level for routine cleaning, as measured by the following applicable standard test methods.

In addition Carleton University uses several aqueous ozone units which converts water into aqueous ozone that acts as a cleaner. The unit is produced by Tersano and their website states “The unit produces a continuous flow of approximately 3 gallons of aqueous ozone per minute which is then easily transferred for use in mop buckets, floor cleaners and auto scrubbers. It provides residue free performance for a longer lasting clean and low slip/fall hazard on even the smoothest floors.” The unit eliminates the need for ordering cleaning products, decreases waste and bottles and is a
very effective cleaner. Carleton University uses this system as well as other products outlined within our guidelines (attached).


A copy of the sections of the cleaning contract(s) that reference certified green products:
The sections of the cleaning contract(s) that reference certified green products:

See references within the contractors guidelines: Choosing Products and Cleaning Supplies.


The website URL where information about the institution’s green cleaning initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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