Environmentally friendly cleaning products had a reputation in their infancy for being expensive and less effective than their heavy-chemical counterparts. But as heavy-chemical products come under fire from a federal regulatory agency, some business owners say the green products are becoming integral to everyday operations.
Trichloroethylene, TCE, used as a commercial degreaser, and methylene chloride and N-Methylpyrrolidone, NMP, both used for paint and coating removal, are the latest chemical products the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering banning. The agency said in a statement that it is looking to reduce the safety risks posed by the commercial and consumer use of the products.
Although some businesses will need to make adjustments and find different products to use if the chemicals become restricted, many companies have made the switch to green cleaning agents and encourage the transition away from heavy-duty cleaners.
Paul Senecal, a managing partner at the cleaning and maintenance company AffinEco LLC, said the Bridgeport-based business started using green products in 2005.
“We did that a long time ago because we thought it was a good thing to do, and it became a commercial advantage,” he said.
Senecal said that when AffinEco would get questions about using environmentally friendly products, it was able to say it converted years ago. “That certainly made us and our clients look good, and that got us loyal customers,” he said.
George Arco, president of Arco Cleaning Maintenance Co. in Mount Kisco, said at first he was hesitant to use green products.
“When the green products first came out they were more expensive, but now they”™ve become more reasonable in price,” he said. “It”™s been a challenge to get products that work as well, but they”™ve come a long way in the industry.”
When asked if he thought the green products were not as effective, and if so how he dealt with that, Senecal said he told his employees to make it work.
“They just need to be a little smarter about how they clean, and that”™s OK,” he said.
Thanks for writing about this Colleen. We have been trying to get companies to understand the tremendous financial upside when changing to less hazardous products. Lots of snake oil out there but there are real solutions if companies have the desire to change. We are happy to help if anyone is interested.
B. Scott Taylor,CEO