Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.71
Liaison Matthew Harmin
Submission Date May 14, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Goucher College
OP-13: Cleaning Products Purchasing

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 William Lederer
Special Assistant to the President; Chair of Goucher Environmental Sustainability Advisory Council
President's Office
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Does the institution have an institution-wide stated preference to purchase third party certified cleaning and janitorial products?:
Yes

A copy of the green cleaning product purchasing policy, directive, or guidelines:
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The green cleaning product purchasing policy, directive, or guidelines:

In 2008, Goucher’s Facilities Management Services (FMS) switched to using Green Seal-certified cleaning and paper products when available.

Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that uses science-based standards to set environmental standards for products. The organization uses a life-cycle approach to ensure that all significant environmental impacts are considered when developing products, from raw materials extraction through manufacturing to use and disposal. Green Seal’s standard, along with other green cleaning standards, has attempted to minimize the impact of cleaning products on indoor air and the associated health risks to building occupants.

Goucher’s Green Seal-certified cleaning products are also portion controlled to reduce excess waste.


A brief description of steps the institution has taken to ensure that the purchasing policy, directives, or guidelines are followed:

Purchases are reviewed by FMS, which oversees housekeeping.


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (expenditures on cleaning and janitorial products)?:
Yes

Expenditures on Green Seal and/or UL Environment (EcoLogo) certified cleaning and janitorial products:
45,000 US/Canadian $

Total expenditures on cleaning and janitorial products:
45,000 US/Canadian $

Has the institution's main cleaning or housekeeping department(s) and/or contractor(s) adopted a Green Seal or ISSA certified low-impact, ecological (“green”) cleaning program?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s low-impact, ecological cleaning program:

Goucher has adopted a policy that all cleaning products must be Green Seal certified. Paper goods must be made of recyclable material where applicable.


A copy of the sections of the cleaning contract(s) that reference certified green products:
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The sections of the cleaning contract(s) that reference certified green products:
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The website URL where information about the institution’s green cleaning initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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