Green Flooring Initiatives On The Rise

This article was originally published in Plant Services.

A variety of health and safety standards, environmental regulations and federal programs are influencing development of new floor care products. Among the goals of the “green” flooring initiatives are minimizing toxic ingredients, chemical releases and frequency of stripping and recoating. Further benefits derive from conserving water and energy, preventing pollution and reducing waste.

Voluntary Guidelines
Green Seal is a non-profit organization that awards its seal of approval to manufacturers whose products meet specific rigorous standards, and encourages organizations to become environmentally sensitive purchasers. The Green Seal Environmental Standard for Floor Care Products addresses floor finish and stripper products. For example, Green Seal considers a floor finish stripper to be “green” only if the concentration of volatile organic compounds is 6% or less–significantly less than 15% to 30% found in traditional floor finish strippers.

Federal Initiatives
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with industry to improve human and environmental health through its Design for the Environment (DfE) program. Under the DfE Formulator Program, the EPA teaches formulators how their chemicals and byproducts affect the environment, and how to design safer, more environmentally friendly products that have comparable performance.

Products bearing the DfE logo contain only ingredients that pose the least concern among alternative chemicals in their class. For example, DfE-recognized products that contain a surfactant will readily biodegrade to non-polluting byproducts. DfE partnerships are formalized in a voluntary memorandum of understanding.

Interview With a Product: Clarke Focus II MicroRider Autoscrubber

Plant Services hosts a weekly column titled, "Interview With a Product", which is a Q&A on readers' favorite products uncensored and without their packaging.

Recently, their interviewee was the Clarke Focus II MicroRider Autoscrubber. Check out the interview below!

Clarke Focus II MicroRider Autoscrubber: Happy to be here.

Plant Services: What industry are you designed for?
N: I'm ideal for diverse applications, ranging from sizeable locations to areas that are inaccessible with larger riders. 

PS: So what exactly do you do?
N:  With my 26-inch disc scrub deck or 28-inch Boost scrub deck, I'm built to deliver flexible operation to meet diverse cleaning requirements.

PS: What sets you apart from the competition?
N: I feature a low-profile SafetyGlide deck, which is designed to automatically move in line with the path of my rear squeegee. My deck is engineered to ensure precise, straight edge cleaning without additional labor-intensive detail edge mopping.

PS: Interesting. What is your best feature?
N:  I feature an optional, onboard chemical mixing system that is made to automatically deliver the correct mixing solution to the scrub deck.

PS: Why should someone buy you?
N:  My compact size ensures easy maneuverability in areas with limited access or tight corners. My Safe-T-Steering and quiet performance also increase user safety and make daytime cleaning and cleaning of noise-sensitive areas viable.

PS: How would people at your company describe you?
N: Well, Jill Kohls says that I satisfy diverse cleaning challenges, while maximizing productivity. She is forever complementing me on my small, easily maneuverable design and wide cleaning path.

PS: Tell us more about Nilfisk-Advance.
N: Nilfisk-Advance is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of professional cleaning equipment. With global company headquarters in Denmark, the company has developed professional cleaning equipment for over 100 years. 

PS: And now it's time for a fun question. What irritates you?
N: Dirt.

Check out this interview, and others, at: www.plantservices.com