Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 13th March 2025 Issue no. 1153
Your industry news - first
The original and best - for over 20 years!
We strongly recommend viewing Cleanzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
Do 'environmentally preferable', 'eco-friendly', 'sustainability' and 'green', mean the same thing?
US-based green cleaning and sustainability specialist The Ashkin Group, recently conducted a LinkedIn poll exploring common environmental terminology. The poll asked whether four terms - 'environmentally preferable', 'eco-friendly', 'sustainability' and 'green', mean the same thing.
Nearly 100 industry professionals responded to the survey, which received over 1,400 impressions.
The results revealed significant disagreement:
* 50% said these terms do not mean the same thing
* 35% indicated the terms are similar but distinct
* 11% believed they mostly mean the same thing
* 4% considered them identical
"Many people use 'eco-friendly' and 'green' interchangeably, but these are not the same," warns Steve Ashkin, The Ashkin Group's president, who goes on to explain that:
'Eco-friendly products'
* May minimise health and environmental impacts
* But can contain both natural and synthetic ingredients
* Usually lack 'green' certification
'Green' and 'environmentally preferable' products, on the other hand'
* Are 'green' certified
* Usually contain only natural, renewable ingredients
* Are specifically designed to reduce environmental impacts
* Support sustainability goals
* Have proven their effectiveness at protecting health and the environment
However, according to Steve, the key difference in these terms is when discussing sustainability, which has a much broader scope:
While 'green' cleaning products contribute to sustainability by using renewable ingredients, use natural resources more efficiently, have minimal and recycled packaging, and are usually highly concentrated to reduce transport needs and emissions, sustainability encompasses more.
Sustainability's focus is on business operations'
* Improving operational efficiencies
* Reducing energy and water use, helping reduce costs
* Minimising waste
* Mitigating risks and helping businesses recover faster from disasters
* Valuing employees and supporingt local communities.
As for the correct answer to the poll, Steve concludes that the second choice - the terms are similar but distinct - is the most accurate answer.
"These terms may all be similar and used interchangeably, but they have their own meanings,' he argues. 'Understanding these distinctions is crucial for understanding 'green' cleaning and its close cousin, sustainability."
20th February 2025