ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE CLEANING PRODUCTS

Revision Date: 8/01
Process Code: Navy/Marines: SR-07-99; Air Force: SV03; Army: N/A
Usage: Navy: Low; Marines: Low;  Army: Low; Air Force: Low
Alternative for: Incineration for the Destruction of Classified Materials
Applicable EPCRA Targeted Constituents: N/A
Overview: Operations and maintenance (O&M) activities offer a broad range of sustainable development opportunities. As part of O&M, custodial activities offer opportunities to affect the indoors environmental quality of a building. Using environmentally preferable cleaning products in place of traditional cleaning products can improve indoor air quality, reduce the risk of staff exposure to hazardous substances, and reduce the toxicity of wastewater. Environmentally preferable cleaners are typically less toxic to human health and the environment. Specifically, they may contain lower
levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone depleting chemicals, bioaccumulating chemicals, or cancer-causing ingredients. Currently, no regulatory standards exist for allowable levels of indoor pollutants and reduction efforts are voluntary. However, the benefits of switching to environmentally preferable cleaning products can be substantial. 

Commercial cleaning products can be evaluated for their environmental preferability based on the following attributes:
  • Irritation potential 
  • Chronic health risks 
  • Time to ultimate biodegradation 
  • Bioconcentration factor 
  • Percentage of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 
  • Amount of product packaging 
  • Presence of ozone depleters 
  • Potential exposure to the concentrated cleaning solution 
  • Flammability 
  • Presence of cosmetic additives (fragrances and dyes) 
  • Energy needs

Source: U.S. EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program

The U.S. EPA also has identified a list of chemicals that it has asked for voluntary reduction in use. These are:

  • Benzene 
  • Cadmium & Compounds 
  • Carbon Tetrachloride 
  • Chloroform 
  • Chromium & Compounds 
  • Cyanides 
  • Lead & Compounds 
  • Mercury & Compounds 
  • Methyl Ethyl Ketone 
  • Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 
  • Methylene Chloride 
  • Nickel & Compounds 
  • Tetrachloroethylene 
  • Toluene 
  • Trichloroethylene 
  • Trichloroethane 
  • Xylenes

Check cleaning product labels for these toxic chemicals and identify alternative products that contain less harmful constituents. Many companies will send samples of their products for a trial. Try several brands to determine which is best for your applications.

U.S. EPA makes available "Purchasing Decision Wizards," found at www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/cleaners/select. These wizards let the user select the attributes of most concern then provides the user with a list of product manufacturers that meet the chosen attributes.

To further reduce adverse impacts associated with cleaning products, consider switching to non-aerosol cleaning products so that less material is volatilized and more is used for its intended purpose. Training employees to understand proper mixing and product use also can reduce potential exposure to harmful substances. 

 
Compliance Benefit: Using environmentally preferable cleaning products will help facilities meet the requirements of 1) Executive Order 13101, requiring executive agencies (e.g., DOD) to incorporate waste prevention and recycling in their daily operations, and to consider the following factors in developing plans, drawings, work statements, specifications, or other product descriptions: elimination of virgin material requirements; use of recovered materials; reuse of product; life-cycle cost; recyclability; use of environmentally preferable products; waste prevention (including toxicity reduction or elimination); and ultimate disposal, as appropriate.

The Air Force Engineering Technical Letter (ETL) 00-1 (5 January 00) ensures that Air Force civil engineer specifications comply with public law, Executive Order, and Air Force policy, including U.S. EPA’s comprehensive procurement guidelines and other environmentally preferable products purchasing activities.

The compliance benefits listed here are only meant to be used as a general guideline and are not meant to be strictly interpreted. Actual compliance benefits will vary depending on the factors involved, e.g. the amount of workload involved.

 

Materials Compatibility:
No materials compatibility issues were identified. However, always consider the recommendations of the manufacturers of building materials, when choosing cleaning products for facility maintenance.

 

Safety and Health: Environmentally preferable cleaning products often have decreased effects on the user and on occupants of the space being cleaned. However, cleaning products in any form can have health and safety implications. Mild acids and bases can cause irritation to the skin and mucous membranes. The effects vary by chemical. Proper personal protective equipment should always be used. Consult your local industrial health specialist, your local health and safety personnel, and the appropriate MSDS prior to using new products.

 

Benefits:
  • Replaces hazardous cleaners with biodegradable detergents.
  • Spent water and cleaners may be discharged into the local sewer system if they meet the discharge regulations. 
  • Reduces employee exposure to carcinogenic and neurotoxic chemicals. 
  • Helps to meet state and local air regulations regarding ozone-depleting substances (ODSs).

 
Disadvantages:
  • Some products may not be as effective as traditional products. 
  • May be more expensive in some cases. 
  • May require more labor to be as effective as traditional products. 
  • May be more difficult to locate for purchase. 

 

Economic Analysis: The costs incurred will vary depending upon the material being cleaned, the volume of cleaning required, the product being replaced, the replacement product, and the contaminant(s) being removed. Economic data are specific to each application. The principle costs to consider include:
  • Capital cost of alternative cleaners compared to traditional cleaners. 
  • Quantities necessary to achieve performance equivalent to that of traditional products. 
  • Dilution ratios, if a cleaner is sold in concentrated form. 
  • Lost worker time due to sickness or injury associated with using or exposure to traditional cleaners. 
  • Any additional personal protective equipment (PPE) which might be necessary when using traditional cleaners. 
  • Any special handling or storage considerations for the chemicals in question. 

 
Approving Authority: Specify environmentally preferable cleaning products when preparing Performance Work Statements for custodial contracts. Approval is controlled locally and should be implemented only after engineering approval has been granted. Major claimant approval is not required.

 
NSN/MSDS:
Product NSN Unit Size Cost MSDS*
None Identified        


*There are multiple MSDSs for most NSNs.
The MSDS (if shown above) is only meant to serve as an example.

 
Points of Contact: Army:
Mr. Robert Solyan
Pollution Prevention Program Manager
Directorate of Safety, Health, and Environment
Bldg. 4304, 3rd Floor, Wing B
Aberdeen Proving Grounds
Aberdeen, MD 21005-5001
Phone: (410) 306-2275 
DSN: 458-2275 
FAX: (410) 306-2261
Email: bob.solyan@usag.apg.army.mil 

 

Vendors: To identify additional specific vendors and product manufacturers, U.S. EPA makes available "Purchasing Decision Wizards," found at 

Visit the following web site for a list of cleaning products vendors compiled by GSA and U.S. EPA

NOTE: For a list of products, please refer to the GSA Environmental Products and Services Guide, http://pub.fss.gsa.gov/environ/pdf/EPSG2001.pdf

 
Sources: Cleaning Products Pilot Project, Environmentally Preferable Products Program, U.S. EPA, February 1997. www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/cleaners/select/
Ms. Karen Kivela, Environmental Quality Directorate, Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, January 2000.

 

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