- Size of Sanitary Supply and Building Services Contracting Industries
Having worked in the commercial and industrial cleaning world for most of my career, I forget sometimes how large a group this really is. In a few weeks the cleaning industry will gather in Orlando for one of the largest Tradeshow and Educational events within this business segment. The ISSA/Interclean Show (http://issa.com/?id=north_america_2010&utm_source=hpb&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=NA%2B2010) held in conjunction with the Building Services Contractors Association International (BSCAI) Convention is expected to register 14,000+ attendees who come together for educational sessions and the most comprehensive look at what’s innovative and new in the cleaning world. Granted, this show attracts from outside the U.S. but the numbers give an indication that we are a LARGE group!
- Impact on Environment through Products Produced and Consumed
Stephen Ashkin, recognized leader and author on the subject of green cleaning, provides these statistics in an article located on FMLink website from March, 2009. These products are produced, used and disposed of by the commercial and industrial cleaning market of the U.S. on a yearly basis.
- 6.2 billion pounds of chemicals
- 4.5 billion pounds of janitorial paper products
- 1 billion pounds of janitorial tools, supplies, and equipment which fill approximately 40,000 garbage truck loads that go into landfills.
These numbers make a great case for a business segment the size of the cleaning industry to recognize the significance of their impact on Mother Earth. Less chemical, more sustainable paper products and alternatives to the more “disposable” equipment, tools and supplies are readily available and preferable to the old standards. The Cleaning Industry is becoming more environmentally responsible, but, there is clearly more work to be done.
To read the entire Ashkin article on FMLink, follow this link:
http://www.fmlink.com/ProfResources/Sustainability/Articles/article.cgi?Ashkin%20Group:200903-25.ht