Volume CXXXIII, Number 7 October 31, 2003

Cleaning supplies green-friendly
KEISHA PAYSON
CONTRIBUTOR

Starting in the spring of '03 Bowdoin Housekeeping began to replace four of our old cleaning supplies with Butcher's G-Force. This new product has been "Green Seal Certified" to meet the standards for industrial cleaners while at the same time reducing the amount of toxicity and air pollution that is produced by many cleaners.

What does "Green Seal Certified" mean? Green Seal is a non-profit organization that has been federally funded to created stricter environmental standards for industrial and institutional cleaners. Butcher's G-Force product meets Green Seal's certification in several ways. Those ways include:

-No carcinogens added

-Not corrosive to skin and eyes

-Primary package is recyclable material

-Readily biodegradable

-Low VOC content (Volatile Organic Compounds). VOC: Organic compounds whose emissions contribute to photochemical smog formation.

Housekeeping is proud to announce that nearly 75 percent of the cleaning products used are now Butcher's. All but five buildings on campus have switched at least partially to the greener products including window, floor, and toilet cleaners. Not only are the products greener but they are diluted specifically so as not to use unnecessarily strong amounts of chemicals. Housekeeping also makes it a priority to recycle all cleaning supply bottles that are made from #2 plastic.

Sustainable Bowdoin would like to send a special thank you to Ann Goodenow and the entire Housekeeping department for their efforts in making the Bowdoin community a safer and greener place!

Have Questions/Comments? Contact Keisha Payson at cpayson@bowdoin.edu or at 721-3086.

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