Sustainable Facilities Management & Packaging

Better for business, the community and the world.

We’re committed to helping you achieve all your goals. One of the most important is protecting our shared
world. From green products to responsible cleaning programs, from waste reduction to certification
support, we’ll bring you the latest tools and techniques for sustaining wholesome buildings, vibrant
ecosystems and a healthy bottom line.

EPA Safer Choice Products

Products that bear a label of compliance with the U.S. EPA Safer Product Standards. These products contain safer ingredients without sacrificing quality or performance when cleaning and maintaining facilities such as businesses, office buildings, hotels, schools and sports venues.

ECOLOGO Products

Products, services and packaging designed for reduced environmental impact, as certified by the global safety consulting and certification company UL. These products have undergone rigorous scientific testing and auditing to demonstrate compliance with a wide variety of third-party performance standards.

Forest Stewardship Council Products

Wood and paper-based products that come from forests responsibly managed for a variety of environmental, social and economic benefits. FSC chain of custody certification traces the path of products
from forests through the supply chain.

Green Seal Certified Products

Products that comply with a rigorous set of sustainability standards while meeting the same performance
and quality expectations as traditional, non-green products. The Green Seal mark represents 33 standards
covering 400 product and service categories. We also carry a limited amount of Full Cycle Certified Green
Seal products.

Products with Compostable Certifications

Products that carry trusted and relevant compostable certifications, including Cedar Grove, BPI
(Biodegradable Products Institute) and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials).

Products that Support LEED Certification

Products that are certified to comply with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design standards for existing buildings (LEED-EB). These are facility-maintenance products
that help maximize operational efficiency and minimize environmental impacts.

Green Product Glossary

Biodegradable products will eventually break down when exposed to sunlight and water in a natural
environment. Since most garbage goes to tightly packed landfills that prevent exposure, the term may be
confusing. Biodegradable materials include those that can be composted.

Carbon footprint refers to all the greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, that are
associated with a product throughout its lifecycle from extraction of raw materials until final disposal.

Compostable products break down in an industrial composting facility to produce material containing soil-
rich nutrients in the form of microorganisms, with no toxic residues. Composting is a human-assisted
process, but these items may also biodegrade eventually in a natural environment. Compostable products
include PLA, paper, cardboard, bagasse and molded fiber.

Recyclable products can be collected and reprocessed to produce new items. Common recyclable
materials are paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum.

Recycled content refers to a percentage of recovered/recycled material that is incorporated into a new
product. The material can be post-consumer (collected after consumer use) or post-industrial (collected
during the manufacturing process). Materials containing recycled content include paper, cardboard, certain
plastics and aluminum.

Renewable resources are plant-based materials that can be grown again and again. These materials
include PLA, wood-based products such as paper, cardboard, bamboo, sugarcane and waste/byproducts
from those materials.

Reuse is using an object or material again, either for its original or another purpose, without significantly
altering its physical form. Reuse is not recycling, since recycling alters the physical form of an object or
material. Reuse is considered to be a form of waste prevention.

Source reduction, also known as waste prevention or pollution prevention, is the design, manufacture,
purchase or use of materials and products with the goal of reducing the amount or toxicity of materials that
are discarded. Examples include right-sizing can liners and using coreless toilet paper.

Sustainable products provide environmental, social and economic benefits while protecting public health
and the environment over their whole lifecycle, from the extraction of raw materials until final disposal.

Let's partner to build a more productive, sustainable and profitable business.

Let’s work together to understand your unique challenges. To devise perfect-fit solutions. To help your people become more efficient and effective every day.

Let's Get Started