Green Seal™ Introduces Standards For Specialty Cleaning Products

With these important new standards, virtually all cleaning products can now
be Green Seal-certified

Washington, D.C., August 16, 2011 – Green Seal, Inc. (www.GreenSeal.org), the nation’s oldest independent, non-profit environmental certification organization and the original “green seal of approval,” has released standards for specialty cleaners used in the industrial, institutional, and consumer markets.

These specialty cleaning product standards, for Institutional and Industrial Cleaners (GS-53) and Household Cleaners (GS-52), cover products such as dish soaps, graffiti removers, automotive cleansers, deck and outdoor cleaners, odor removers, polishes and waxes, among others. The standards also provide guidance on what requirements to look for in specifying disinfectants and sanitizers.

In addition to addressing environmental sustainability and the health and safety of cleaning professionals and building occupants, the standards also provide criteria for functional product performance.

With the launch, Green Seal now offers standards for most types of cleaning products. Green Seal standards for cleaning products have been used for over a decade to help shoppers and purchasers identity environmentally preferable options. Since 2000 Green Seal-certified cleaning products have been used in settings ranging from Yankee Stadium to schools nationwide.

“Institutional purchasers, as well as consumers, are continuing to seek cleaning products that are safer for workers, building inhabitants, and families,” says Dr. Arthur Weissman, President & CEO of Green Seal. “With the launch of GS-52 and GS-53, virtually all cleaners used in these settings can be Green Seal-certified, which will make the job of finding verified green products much easier.”

Standards can be downloaded and applications for certification can be made on-line at http://www.greenseal.org. Companies applying for certification for multiple products may be eligible for discounts and should contact Green Seal directly. The evaluation process includes review of data; assessment of labeling, marketing, and promotional materials; and an on-site audit of manufacturing facilities. Annual monitoring is also conducted for those products awarded the Green Seal to ensure continued compliance.

ABOUT GREEN SEAL INC. Green Seal, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C., has been identifying products and services that protect the environment and human health since 1989. The Green Seal mark appears on over 3600 environmentally responsible products and services, and Green Seal is accredited by the American National Standards Institute. For more information and a list of all Green Seal-certified products and services, visit http://www.GreenSeal.org.