Green Cleaning Policy

1. Purpose

CNF Janitors cleans to protect people's health, and we want the way we clean to protect the environment too. This policy sets out how we choose, use and dispose of cleaning products, paper, liners and equipment so that our work has the least practical impact on the health of building occupants, our workers and the environment, while still meeting every client's cleaning and disinfection standards.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all products and equipment CNF Janitors buys or supplies, and to all employees, supervisors and subcontractors working at CNF sites, in every province where we work. Where a client supplies its own products or has its own green cleaning program, we follow the client's program and this policy together.

3. Our commitments

Certified products first

• Where a third-party certified product is available and suitable for the task, CNF chooses it. We look for UL ECOLOGO, Green Seal (for example GS-37 for general purpose, washroom and glass cleaners, and GS-40 for floor care) or U.S. EPA Safer Choice certification.
• Hand soaps, paper towel, toilet tissue and liners are chosen with recycled content and third-party certification where suitable options exist, such as ECOLOGO-certified Cascades and Tork paper products.

Disinfection that is still effective

• Where a client or a public health requirement calls for disinfection, CNF uses disinfectants with a Health Canada Drug Identification Number (DIN), applied only where and when it is needed, at the label dilution and contact time. We clean first and disinfect high-touch surfaces, rather than disinfecting everything.

Concentrates and correct dilution

• We use concentrated products with dilution control systems or measured dosing wherever possible, which cuts packaging, transport and waste, and prevents over-strength solutions that harm surfaces, people and drains.

Healthier indoor air

• We avoid aerosols where an alternative exists, prefer low-VOC and fragrance-free or low-fragrance products, and honour scent-free requests from clients and occupants.

Tools and equipment

• We use microfibre cloths and mops, which clean effectively with less water and chemical and are laundered and reused. Vacuums used in occupied buildings have high-efficiency or HEPA filtration where available. Equipment is maintained so it runs efficiently and lasts.

Waste, recycling and water

• We follow each building's recycling and organics program, keep streams separate, and report contamination or missing bins to the client. Liners are right-sized and changed when soiled or full rather than on every visit where the client agrees, to reduce plastic use.
• Unused or expired chemicals are never poured down drains or put in garbage; they are returned to the office for proper disposal as the SDS directs. Empty containers are rinsed and recycled where accepted.
• We use only the water a task needs and turn off lights and equipment in areas when cleaning is complete, where the client allows.

4. Buying and supplier selection

CNF buys from suppliers who offer certified and environmentally preferable products and can provide current Safety Data Sheets and certification details. When choosing between products of similar performance and cost, we choose the certified or lower-impact option. New products are reviewed against this policy and the Health and Safety Policy before they are added to the CNF supplies list.

5. Training and responsibilities

• Every worker is trained on the products at their sites, correct dilution, microfibre use, recycling at the site, and safe disposal, as part of orientation and WHMIS training.
• Supervisors check that products are used and stored correctly and that only approved products are on site.
• The office keeps the approved product list, Safety Data Sheets and certification details, and reviews them when supplies are ordered.

6. Records and reporting

CNF keeps a record of the products used at each site, their certifications and Safety Data Sheets, and can provide this to clients and facility managers on request, including for building certification programs such as LEED or BOMA BEST.

7. Review

This policy is reviewed at least once a year, and when products, suppliers or client requirements change, so that CNF keeps improving the environmental performance of its cleaning.

Questions or product details

Facility managers and clients can ask for our approved product list, Safety Data Sheets and certification details for any site, or a signed copy of this policy: support@cnfjanitors.ca or (548) 394-3737.

See also our health and safety commitment.

Issued by the President of FalFam Facility Solutions Inc., operating as CNF Janitors.