Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)
OP-13: Cleaning and Janitorial Purchasing

It was impossible to retrieve all the financial information relating to the purchase of household products, since each centre has its own cleaning contract with a different firm, and each firm purchases its own products. However, three out of four contracts stipulate that the cleaning and disinfecting products to be used by the contractor be: free of volatile organic compounds; Eco Logo or Green Seal certified; fully biodegradable; formulated for use with cold water; non-corrosive to the skin in accordance with OECD 404; not subject to transportation of dangerous goods regulations; Canadian Environmental Protection Act compliant; and do NOT contain the following components: Butyl, Phosphate, Organic solvents (including butoxyethanol), Carcinogens as defined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Paradichlorobenzene (for urinal blocks), Ethanol amine (acceptable by authorization only), Ethylene glycol (acceptable on authorization only). Furthermore, two out of four contracts specify that hand paper should be brown (kraft), made from 100% recycled and unbleached fibers. Toilet paper should also be made from 100% recycled fibers and unbleached with chlorine.