University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
OP-13: Cleaning Products Purchasing

Purchasing - the acquisition of goods and services on the best possible terms, has historically been based on two criteria, price and quality, with the view to maximizing benefits for the procuring organization. Sustainable, or “green” purchasing broadens this framework to ensure that quality criteria includes minimal adverse environmental and health impacts. In making a sustainable purchasing decision, the entire life cycle costs (financial, environmental, and social) of the product are taken into consideration. The life cycle takes into account extraction, production, manufacturing, distribution, operation, maintenance and disposal. Many “green” products are competitively priced with their conventional counterparts, are of comparable quality, and have one or more of the following attributes: •High Content from Post-Consumer Recycled Materials •Low Embodied Energy (consumed to extract, manufacture, distribute and dispose) •Recyclable •Non-toxic •Energy Efficient •Durable and/or Repairable •Produced in an Environmentally- and Socially-Sustainable Manner

Staff training: All custodial staff are fully trained in accordance with the Green Cleaning Training Program. Training instruction is hands-on with all the techniques and products demonstrated in one-on-one or small group sessions. The training program incorporates instructional materials provided by cleaning product and cleaning equipment vendors. Supervisors receive additional training in green cleaning principles in order to be able to deliver positive reinforcement to custodians and to encourage exploration of additional opportunities. Clean facilities in an environmentally sound manner. Utilize Green Seal certified cleaning products throughout campus. Replace worn out vacuum cleaners with HEPA filter upright vacuums. Utilize microfiber cloths that can be laundered as needed. Handle indoor pests in an environmentally sound manner. Incorporate integrated pest management practices to deal with indoor pests. Use of dilution stations: The Green Seal (GS) cleaning products are well concentrated. Dispensing systems are used to assure proper dilution. Wall mounted units are connected with cross connections and include back-flow protections to protect the water supply from contamination. Urinal blocks and automatic aerosol deodorizers with high levels of VOCs are not used. Chemically treated dust cloths are not used. Cleaning products are stored in designated areas with exhaust ventilation. Cleaning products are stored to limit access by the general building population. All cleaning products are stored at under shoulder height to prevent accidental injury.

Clean facilities in an environmentally sound manner. Utilize Green Seal certified cleaning products throughout campus. Replace worn out vacuum cleaners with HEPA filter upright vacuums. Utilize microfiber cloths that can be laundered as needed. Handle indoor pests in an environmentally sound manner. Incorporate integrated pest management practices to deal with indoor pests. Use of dilution stations: The Green Seal (GS) cleaning products are well concentrated. Dispensing systems are used to assure proper dilution. Wall mounted units are connected with cross connections and include back-flow protections to protect the water supply from contamination. Urinal blocks and automatic aerosol deodorizers with high levels of VOCs are not used. Chemically treated dust cloths are not used. Cleaning products are stored in designated areas with exhaust ventilation. Cleaning products are stored to limit access by the general building population. All cleaning products are stored at under shoulder height to prevent accidental injury.

Green Cleaning Program for UW Oshkosh Section 5: Cleaning Products (original document from above) Product: Prominence Heavy Duty Floor Cleaner Manufacturer: Diversey Green Seal Certified: GS-37 Product: Glance NA Non-Ammoniated Glass Cleaner Manufacturer: Diversey Green Seal Certified: GS-37 Product: PERdiem General Purpose Cleaner Manufacturer: Diversey Green Seal Certified: GS-37