“ “GREEN” FLOOR CAREGREEN” FLOOR CARE

www.ENVIRO-SOLUTION.com www.ENVIRO-SOLUTION.com • • Resource Center Resource Center • Presentations & Reports • Other Helpful Sites• Presentations & Reports • Other Helpful Sites

1)1) OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

• The demand for ‘Green Seal’‘Green Seal’ or ‘Environmental Choice ‘Environmental Choice ProgramProgram (ECP)’(ECP)’ Certified cleaning products has grown dramatically over the past 6 to 12 months

• To support the demand for ‘Certified Green Products’‘Certified Green Products’ Green Seal and ECP has released Criteria for Floor Finishes, Strippers and Carpet Care

• The draft criteria can be found on their respective websites

1)1) OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

• Check out the Green Seal “Choose Green Report”“Choose Green Report” at www.greenseal.org/recommendations/CGR_floorcare.pdf

It is a very informative 12 page report providing an overview of the market, health and safety hazards of traditional products, etc. Note pages 7 & 8 for the recommended products

2) WHY THE NEED FOR “2) WHY THE NEED FOR “GREENGREEN” FLOOR CARE” FLOOR CARE

Annually, Americans spend over $1 billion on floor care products

The institutional/commercial cleaning industry employs 2-3 million custodians

From 1993 to 1997, 12% of work-related cases in four major States were associated with exposure to floor care products

Most people spend 90% of their time indoors

Floor Care products contribute to Indoor Air Pollution

2) WHY THE NEED FOR “2) WHY THE NEED FOR “GREENGREEN” FLOOR CARE” FLOOR CARE

• Safer for cleaning workers, building occupants and visitors, and the environment

• Easy to do

• Works as well

• No more costly & can improve productivity

2) WHY THE NEED FOR “2) WHY THE NEED FOR “GREENGREEN” FLOOR CARE” FLOOR CARE

Environmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care ProductsEnvironmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care Products

1) VOC’s • Contribute to Indoor Air Pollution• Can cause nose & lung irritation, rashes, headaches

nausea and asthma

2) 2 Butoxy Ethanol (111-76-2) also known as Ethylene Glycol Butyl Ether (EGBE)

• Common ingredient in strippers• US-EPA considers this ingredient a possible human

carcinogen• Also considered a learning toxicant

2) WHY THE NEED FOR “2) WHY THE NEED FOR “GREENGREEN” FLOOR CARE” FLOOR CARE

Environmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care ProductsEnvironmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care Products

Ethylene Glycol Butyl Ether (EGBE) 111-76-2 & Ethylene Glycol Ethyl Ether (EGEE) 110-80-5 or Ethylene Glycol Methyl Ether (EGME) 109-86-4

• Has been found to cause birth defects and damage to reproductive organs

• Potentially hazardous through both inhalation and skin contact

2) WHY THE NEED FOR “2) WHY THE NEED FOR “GREENGREEN” FLOOR CARE” FLOOR CARE

Environmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care ProductsEnvironmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care Products

4) Zinc• Component of many floor finishes• Can be toxic to aquatic life in streams, rivers & lakes

5) Endocrine Disrupters• Synthetic chemicals that can create changes in the

hormones of humans and animals• Can cause cancer, birth defects and immune problems• Even very small concentrations can interfere with

reproductive and many biological processes

2) WHY THE NEED FOR “2) WHY THE NEED FOR “GREENGREEN” FLOOR CARE” FLOOR CARE

Environmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care ProductsEnvironmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care Products

6) APE’s / NPE’s• Surfactants found in floor finishes• Bioaccumulations and the possibility of acting as

environmental endocrine disrupters

7) Ammonia• Found in some strippers• Severe respiratory tract irritant, and exposure to its

fumes may trigger immediate attacks in chemically sensitive individuals such as asthmatics

2) WHY THE NEED FOR “2) WHY THE NEED FOR “GREENGREEN” FLOOR CARE” FLOOR CARE

Environmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care ProductsEnvironmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care Products

8) MEA (Monethanolamine)• Used to replace ammonia• Direct eye contact may cause severe eye irritations or

burns• May be absorbed through the skin in harmful amounts• Inhalations may irritate the respiratory tract and cause

central nervous systems effects such as dizziness or headaches

2) WHY THE NEED FOR “2) WHY THE NEED FOR “GREENGREEN” FLOOR CARE” FLOOR CARE

Environmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care ProductsEnvironmental & Human Health Concerns of Floor Care Products

9) Solvents• A small number of floor finishes may use• Can be present in high enough concentrations to cause

it to be flammable

3) PICKING SAFER FLOOR FINISHES & STRIPPERS3) PICKING SAFER FLOOR FINISHES & STRIPPERS Pick ones that work well and have the least amount of hazardous Pick ones that work well and have the least amount of hazardous

ingredientsingredients

• Do not contain carcinogens or reproductive toxins• Free of zinc or other metals• Do not contain ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, or

ammonium salts• Do not contain dibutyl phthalate or alkylphenol

ethoxylates/NPE’s• Do not contain 2-Butoxy Ethanol (EGBE) or Ethylene

Glycol Ethyl Ether (EGEE) or Ethylene Glycol Methyl Ether (EGME)

• VOC concentration no more than 7% by weight for finishes and strippers with no more than 7% VOC’s when diluted

3) PICKING SAFER FLOOR FINISHES & STRIPPERS3) PICKING SAFER FLOOR FINISHES & STRIPPERS Pick ones that work well and have the least amount of hazardous Pick ones that work well and have the least amount of hazardous

ingredientsingredients

• Total phosphorus concentration of 0.5% by weight or less• pH no higher than 11.5• Flash point above 150 F• Products in recyclable or refillable containers• Select both the floor finish and a compatible stripper to meet

these criteria

4) Comparison of ECP & Green Seal Floor Care 4) Comparison of ECP & Green Seal Floor Care Products- MAIN CriteriaProducts- MAIN Criteria

5) Enviro-Solutions and ‘Certified Green’ Floor Care5) Enviro-Solutions and ‘Certified Green’ Floor Care

• We are in the process of getting various products certified by both Green Seal and Environmental Choice

• In the meanwhile, Enviro-Solutions has 3 products ‘recommended’ by Green Seal- ES80 High Gloss Floor Finish, ES96 High Traffic Floor Finish, and ES85 Scrub Free Stripper

• We have the most products of any company on the ‘Recommended List’ and are one of only a couple with a system of finishes and stripper

• We do have these and other products on lists of certain States and Provinces

5) Enviro-Solutions and ‘Certified Green’ Floor Care5) Enviro-Solutions and ‘Certified Green’ Floor Care

• In addition, we have 5 products Certified by both Green Seal and ECP, thereby ensuring the most stringent Criteria has been met (including ES84C Neutral Floor Cleaner); 14 products Certified by ECP ; and various Approved by certain States, Provinces and Cities leading to be ‘GreenGreen and Clean’

• In addition, our Floor Finishes and ES95 (formerly ES RESTORE) are UL Certified for Slip Resistance

• We are committed to continue to lead the ‘GreenGreen Market’ with PROVENPROVEN products that:

5) Enviro-Solutions and ‘Certified Green’ Floor Care5) Enviro-Solutions and ‘Certified Green’ Floor Care

Work as wellWork as well or better than traditional ones Are priced as competitivepriced as competitive to the major traditional brands Are safer for peoplesafer for people…users as well as occupants and

visitors to the buildings Are safer for the environmentsafer for the environment

6) IMPLEMENTING “6) IMPLEMENTING “GREENGREEN””

ConclusionsConclusions

• Going ““GreenGreen”” has proven over & over that there are many benefits

• Improved health & safety of the users of the products and the occupants & visitors to the building is the most important.

• The benefits to the environment, the positive effect on overall long term cost, the potential increase in productivity, are other important benefits. And there are more

Q’s & A’sQ’s & A’s

Thank you for your Time and Consideration!Thank you for your Time and Consideration!

Please be sure to Visit our Web site’s “Resource Center” for other“Green” Please be sure to Visit our Web site’s “Resource Center” for other“Green” “Presentations & Reports” as well as “Other helpful Sites”!“Presentations & Reports” as well as “Other helpful Sites”!