In this difficult period of environmental change, organisations across every industry globally have a responsibility to make steps towards becoming as eco-friendly as possible.

This, of course, includes educational institutions. With the amount of lighting, heating, electricity, transportation and such needed to keep schools, colleges and universities operating consistently, it’s no surprise that the education sector was previously estimated to be responsible for around 8.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

With this in mind, it’s crucial that schools and universities reduce their environmental impact wherever possible. One simple, yet very effective way to do this is to adopt the practice of green cleaning for schools and universities.

What is green cleaning?

Green cleaning is the practice of exclusively using cleaning products and methods that can be considered sustainable and eco-friendly.

Even now, when so many of us are environmentally conscious, a shocking number of cleaning products on the market are still incredibly harmful to the planet.

There are a range of reasons why a product might be considered bad for the environment, whether it be that the products contain non-biodegradable or toxic chemicals, the product is packaged in a wasteful way or even that the use of the product contributes to pollution.

The latter of the three is perhaps the most concerning in the current climate. Some products contain pollutants that could prove harmful to habitats, wildlife and even to humans if not used or disposed of correctly.

By adopting a greener approach to cleaning and using alternative products, green cleaning for schools and universities can help facilities rest assured that they are working to lessen the impact that such chemicals have on the environment.

Green cleaning products for schools

For a cleaning product to be considered truly environmentally friendly, it should be biodegradable (both the chemical ingredients and the packaging), ethically and sustainably produced and contain no pollutants or toxic chemicals.

It’s worth keeping in mind that, whilst there is now no shortage of products on the market that really are environmentally friendly, some companies have responded to the surge in demand for green cleaning products for schools by making aesthetic changes that simply allow them to look eco-friendly. This has become known to some as ‘greenwashing’.

While switching out plastic bottles for cardboard or biodegradable packaging is certainly a plus, it’s the contents within that often have the worst effect on the environment. With that said, make sure you check what the product contains, even if the packaging appears eco-friendly. Green cleaning chemicals will be less harmful to the environment.

Ingredients to avoid include microbeads, phosphates and lye, as well as any product contained within an aerosol can.

You should ensure that the tools that your in-house cleaning team are using are suitably eco-friendly items, too. For example, you should avoid single-use cloths, plastic-based brushes and dusters and any product which uses synthetic microfibres, such as extendable ‘fluffy dusters’.

Using natural alternatives

One way of immediately reducing the environmental impact of cleaning within schools and universities is to incorporate natural alternatives into your cleaning inventory, using green cleaning chemicals solutions instead of traditional ones.

For example, many glass cleaners are sold in plastic bottles and contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Why use a product like this when your in-house cleaning team could clean just as effectively using the natural alternative, a solution of water and vinegar applied with a clean, reusable cloth?

Baking soda, lemon juice, unscented soap – all natural resources and all useful when it comes to creating environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions.

It’s always worth looking into the natural solutions that can be created using household ingredients before ordering new mass-produced cleaning products, as these are almost always more environmentally friendly.

Is green cleaning for schools more expensive?

It’s no secret that the education sector is feeling the pinch as much as any other industry.

With that in mind, it’s understandable that schools and universities may look to save money wherever possible, including on cleaning costs.

However, green cleaning doesn’t need to be particularly costly. The natural alternatives listed above are some of the most affordable products on the market.

In addition, cost-effective school cleaning is all about the efficiency of the cleaning team, something which we pride ourselves on at Samsic UK.

Green cleaning for schools with Samsic UK

Samsic UK is committed to lessening the negative impact of cleaning processes on the environment by using chemical-free cleaning agents and reducing our use of single-use plastics by 97%.

We’re also looking to reduce water consumption through utilising innovative technology-enabled equipment.

We’ve put together the Samsic Planet 2030 pledge, a project based around our long-term commitment to developing eco-friendly services, reducing our carbon footprint, supporting biodiversity and promoting the circular economy.

We’ll achieve these goals through dedication and innovation. By developing talents, empowering our human resources and providing a responsible and innovative service using environmentally-friendly solutions, we’ll work to become a company with environmental impact at the centre of its global mission.

Contract cleaning is just one of the many high-quality facilities management services offered by Samsic UK.

Like all our services, Samsic’s contract cleaning services are entirely tailored to the individual needs of the client. If your educational organisation is looking to prioritise a green approach to cleaning, we can work alongside you to make this transition.

We offer a range of services that can streamline operations across the board, including Facilities management, contract cleaning, security teams and contract receptionists.

For more information on any of our education cleaning services, contact Samsic UK today.