The LEED v5.0 Rating System specifies Green Seal’s standards for cleaners and degreasers, floor care products, sanitary paper, hand care and hand sanitizers, paints, trash bags, and commercial cleaning services. Specifically:

• Using Green Seal-certified products for at least 75% of a building’s cleaning products and materials earns:
  • 1 point in the Green Cleaning Credit (O&M)

• Using a Green Seal-certified cleaning service earns:
  • 1 point in the Green Cleaning Credit (O&M)

• Green Seal-certified paint:
  • Contributes toward 1 point for the Materials & Resources: Building Product Selection & Procurement Credit (BD&C and ID&C)
  • Contributes 1 product toward the Material & Resources: Low-Emitting Materials Credit (BD&C)

Green Seal is specified in five product and service categories in the Green Cleaning Credit – more than any other third-party standard. Using Green Seal-certified green cleaning products and a Green Seal-certified cleaning service together qualifies projects for 5% of the 40 points buildings need to earn the minimum level LEED® certification.

The updated USGBC rating system is the most recent among hundreds of standards and policies that use Green Seal as shorthand for proven-safer products. That’s because sustainability leaders recognize that our science-based standards demand leadership at every stage of the product lifecycle. Together with the manufacturers in our community, we will continue to ensure the Green Seal certification mark helps buyers cut through the chaos to find products that meet truly comprehensive health and sustainability standards — from beginning to end.

Tell us the story behind Force of Nature.

We created Force of Nature to make cleaning healthy and safe for people and our planet. We learned about a technology called electrolyzed water that was being used in the industrial space, where an antibacterial called hypochlorous acid is made from salt, water, and electricity. Hypochlorous acid is so safe and effective that it is used in wound healing and eye care products, but it had never been developed into a consumer product because it has a short shelf life. We thought that if we could create a countertop appliance that created hypochlorous acid fresh, it would be perfect for the cleaning category because traditional cleaning products are so unhealthy. We were able to design Force of Nature, our first appliance, to create a multi-purpose cleaner and EPA registered disinfectant that kills 99.9% of germs. People loved being able to clean around their kids and pet without having to worry about dangerous fumes and residues, and without single-use plastic bottles.

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

Our Force of Nature appliance solves two major sustainability problems with traditional cleaners. First, our system replaces single-use plastic bottles with a little capsule of salt, water, and vinegar, so our customers can reduce their plastic waste by 98%. Our carbon footprint is actually ten times smaller than that of a typical cleaning product. In addition, Force of Nature eliminates the problem of toxic chemicals like quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) going into our water systems. Quats are ubiquitous in disinfectants and have been found in water and wastewater, and they’ve been shown to be toxic to aquatic life. There are also concerns about their persistence in the environment leading to antibiotic resistant bacteria. We are really proud to have developed a multi-surface cleaner and disinfectant that is safe for people and our environment.

What kind of health or sustainability features and information are your customers looking for today?

We have two types of customers. Families who use Force of Nature to keep their homes clean are looking for safe ingredients because they clean around their children and pets so frequently. That means they want to avoid ingredients like bleach, quats, phthalates, dyes, and fragrances. They don’t have time for rinsing and wiping off toxic residues. Families are also looking for easy ways to be more sustainable that don’t cost a lot. We have business customers who are looking for non-toxic ingredients because they’re concerned about the health and safety of their employees and customers. About 30% of US adults have asthma or allergies, and the CDC recommends not using cleaners with bleach, quats, or fragrances around this population. Businesses are also looking to reduce their carbon footprints and want to do that while lowering their operating costs.

Why do you think consumers are responding to refillable cleaning systems right now?

Refillable cleaning systems like Force of Nature dramatically reduce plastic waste, are much cheaper to ship, and can save a ton of space. Our system saves people up to 80% per ounce versus traditional cleaning products, which is pretty unique in the cleaning category. Typically, the “greener” products cost more than traditional cleaners, but we knew that we had to provide cost-savings if we were going to make Force of Nature accessible to everyone. Force of Nature reduces waste by 98%, and from a space-savings standpoint, it reduces storage space by 93% versus typical bottled cleaners. We give people the gift of extra cabinet space!

Why do you partner with Green Seal?

Green Seal brings us credibility that our products are highly effective and safe for people and our planet. We’re offering a totally new approach to cleaning – no one has ever made an EPA registered disinfectant on their countertop with salt, water, and vinegar before! We knew that a Green Seal partnership would reassure our customers that our product really delivers what we say it does, in terms of cleaning efficacy and environmental impact. We chose Green Seal as our first partner because they have so much credibility with consumers.

How has Green Seal certification impacted your business?

Green Seal certification has helped us to overcome the skepticism that comes from being an unknown brand with an unknown technology. It can be hard to believe that you can transform salt, water, and vinegar into a cleaner as effective as bleach – one that kills staph, MRSA, norovirus, etc. Being able to show customers our Green Seal certification has allowed us to convert at-home customers and business customers that we might not have been able to convert otherwise.

What’s next for Force of Nature?

There are lots of unmet needs in the cleaning category, and so much to clean! It’s a category that a lot of people dislike because of the toxic chemicals, the drudgery of the cleaning experience, and the expense. We recently tackled laundry detergent by launching laundry detergent sheets that allow people to eliminate all those heavy plastic jugs. We’ve got new products coming for our business customers who want to be more sustainable but need to do it while reducing costs. We’ve got a lot more innovations in the works to make cleaning healthier and safer for people and our planet!

Tell us the story behind Be.blum. 

Our journey began with a simple yet powerful question: How can we make everyday cleaning safer, smarter, and more sustainable? Founded by Erika Jaramillo, a biologist with extensive experience in cleaning and disinfection, Be.blum was created to redefine home cleaning with science-backed, eco-conscious solutions. Erika saw firsthand how traditional cleaning products relied on harsh chemicals, excessive plastic waste, and unnecessary water consumption, all contributing to pollution and environmental damage. Determined to challenge the industry, she set out to revolutionize cleaning habits with products that are powerful, plastic-free, and planet-friendly. 

Be.blum’s effervescent cleaning tablets eliminate the need for single-use plastic bottles and bulky liquid formulas. Packaged in compostable sugarcane bagasse sachets, they dissolve in water to create high-performance cleaning solutions that are safe for homes, families, and the environment. Unlike traditional brands, we don’t just reduce plastic, we eliminate it from the start. But sustainability is more than just packaging. Based in Colombia’s Valle del Cauca, a region rich in sugarcane cultivation, Be.blum embraces a circular economy approach, repurposing agricultural waste into biodegradable sachets instead of letting it go to landfills. Our mission extends beyond products, we actively support water conservation efforts and sustainable production practices, ensuring that our impact is as clean as the homes we help maintain. 

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint? 

Our biggest sustainability breakthrough is our effervescent cleaning tablets, designed to eliminate plastic waste and conserve water, reshaping the way people clean their homes. Traditional liquid cleaning products are made up of 90% water, leading to unnecessary plastic packaging, excess weight in transportation, and a larger carbon footprint. We saw an opportunity to disrupt this outdated model. 

Be.blum’s tablets contain only the active ingredients needed to clean effectively, without the added water. Consumers simply dissolve them in their reusable bottle, transforming tap water into a powerful, non-toxic cleaner. This not only eliminates single-use plastic bottles but also reduces transportation emissions, as our lightweight, compact format requires far less energy to ship compared to bulky liquid cleaners. 

Beyond reducing waste, our mission is to redefine cleaning habits, proving that sustainability can be effortless and practical. Our tablets help consumers make a simple yet impactful switch — one that reduces plastic pollution, minimizes water waste, and lowers their carbon footprint, all while delivering the same cleaning power they expect. 

What kind of health or sustainability features and information are your customers looking for today? 

Today’s consumers, especially eco-conscious families and young mothers, are looking for cleaning solutions that are safe, effective, and truly sustainable. They want products that protect their homes and their loved ones while minimizing their impact on the planet. Some of the key features they seek include: 

• Non-Toxic & Family-Safe Ingredients: Customers are moving away from harsh chemicals and looking for formulas that are free from parabens, phosphates, phthalates, and artificial fragrances, especially for homes with children and pets. 
• Plastic-Free Packaging: Many consumers now understand that recycling isn’t enough, and they actively seek products that eliminate plastic entirely. They are drawn to refillable solutions like Be.blum’s effervescent tablets that remove the need for single-use plastic bottles. 
• Water Conservation: With growing awareness of water scarcity, customers appreciate products that don’t waste or transport unnecessary water, like our concentrated tablets that maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impact. 
• Carbon Footprint Reduction: People are paying closer attention to how products are made and transported. Lightweight, compact cleaning tablets that reduce emissions during shipping are an attractive alternative to traditional liquid cleaners. 
• Compostable & Biodegradable Packaging: More consumers are looking for truly zero-waste options, preferring packaging that doesn’t contribute to landfills. 

Consumers today are more informed and intentional than ever before. They expect brands to go beyond greenwashing and provide real, transparent sustainability solutions. That’s why Be.blum is committed to offering products that meet these demands, without compromising on performance or convenience 

Why do you think consumers are responding to refillable cleaning systems right now? 

Consumers are increasingly turning to refillable cleaning systems as they seek solutions that align with both their sustainability values and practical needs. Environmental awareness is at an all-time high, and many people now recognize that single-use plastic is a major issue. While eco-consciousness plays a key role, the shift toward refillables isn’t just about being green, t’s also about convenience, efficiency, and smart spending. 

Refillable systems offer a cost-benefit advantage, as consumers no longer have to repeatedly purchase full-sized plastic bottles, reducing waste while optimizing their budgets. They also appeal to those embracing minimalist lifestyles, offering sleek, space-saving alternatives that eliminate clutter under the sink. Additionally, aesthetics matter, many consumers are drawn to reusable bottles that look modern and clean, seamlessly fitting into their home design. The demand for refillables is growing because they offer a smarter, more responsible way to clean, making sustainability an effortless and stylish choice. 

Why do you partner with Green Seal? 

We partner with Green Seal because we believe in backing up our sustainability efforts with real, verifiable standards. As a brand committed to reducing environmental impact, it’s essential for us to not just claim sustainability, but prove it. Green Seal’s rigorous certification process ensures that our products meet high standards for safety, performance, and environmental responsibility, giving us the confidence that we are truly making a difference. 

For us, this partnership is more than a certification, it’s a way to hold ourselves accountable, continuously improve, and give consumers the reassurance that Be.blum is doing things right. Sustainability is at the core of everything we do, and Green Seal helps us validate that commitment with transparency and integrity. 

How has Green Seal certification impacted your business? 

Green Seal certification has had a significant impact on our business, reinforcing our credibility and positioning Be.blum as a truly sustainable brand. In a market where consumers are increasingly skeptical of greenwashing, this certification provides third-party validation that our products meet high environmental and performance standards, giving customers confidence in their choice. 

The certification has also helped us stand out on platforms like Amazon and in the U.S. retail market, where recognized eco-labels influence purchasing decisions. Additionally, Be.blum is proud to be the first brand manufactured in Colombia to achieve Green Seal certification, setting a new benchmark for sustainability in the region. This not only elevates our brand but also drives positive change in the industry, inspiring more companies to adopt environmentally responsible practices. 

What’s next for Be.blum? 

Be.blum is just getting started! We are preparing to launch three new products under our brand: laundry detergent tablets, dishwasher tablets, and foaming hand soap tablets, all designed to offer powerful cleaning while reducing plastic waste and conserving water. These will soon be available through e-commerce platforms, making sustainable cleaning even more accessible to consumers. 

Beyond these launches, we are continuously researching and developing new innovations in home care and personal hygiene, expanding our mission to transform everyday routines into more sustainable habits. As we grow, we aim to certify future products with Green Seal, ensuring that each innovation aligns with the highest environmental and performance standards. Our commitment remains clear: to revolutionize cleaning habits, minimize water waste, and set a new standard for sustainability in the industry. 

Anything else you’d like to share? 

Bringing eco-friendly products and new formats to market isn’t always easy, changing habits takes time. However, we firmly believe that this is the path forward, and it’s our responsibility as brands to lead the way. Transforming everyday routines into sustainable practices is a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to make a real impact. 

We see innovation as a commitment, not a trend. Companies have the power to drive change by developing products that help preserve natural resources and minimize environmental harm. The first step starts with us; by offering smarter, more responsible solutions, we empower consumers to make choices that truly matter. Together, we can redefine industries and build a cleaner, more sustainable future. 

Tell us the story behind PortionPac.

Our founder, Marvin Klein, witnessed an incredible amount of waste in the cleaning industry during the 1950s. Cleaning products of the time were mostly water, yet they required vast resources to produce, ship, and dispose of correctly. Millions of steel pails and large drums were transported worldwide, only to be emptied and discarded after a single use. Adding to the issue, few people knew how to properly or safely dilute bulk cleaning solutions.

In 1964, Marvin founded PortionPac with a few key principles:

• Pre-measure products to ensure proper use and reduce waste.
• Use concentrated formulas to minimize shipping unnecessary water.
• Create safer, effective products to protect people and the environment.
• Prioritize education because knowing how to clean is just as important as what you use.

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

There isn’t just one – sustainability is woven into the fabric of our company. Every decision, innovation, and idea is driven by our desire to preserve the built environment without negatively impacting people or the planet.

Tell us about your Less is More initiative and why you’re leaning into this message.

There are so many benefits to less that are not immediately apparent, especially when the conventional wisdom is to simply use more. We know the value of less, and have built our company on proven practices that focus on reducing the costs of cleaning. And not just chemicals. For example, less water leads to less packaging leads to less shipping and storage space which costs less and produces less waste. Additionally, less travel time for workers can be a huge hidden benefit. Empty cleaning solution containers that require trips back to a supply closet to refill mean time wasted that could be spent cleaning. PortionPac instead allows kitting workers with portable concentrates that can be accurately mixed at any water source. That productivity quickly adds up to more savings. Finally, less hazardous formulas mean more protection for workers and building occupants.

Why do you think purchasers are responding to pre-measured cleaning products right now?

Pre-measured products simplify operations, reduce waste, and improve safety. When facing pressure to reduce costs across business operations, purchasers are realizing it just makes sense. Especially when they are increasingly having to confront challenges in the form of labor shortages, high turnover, and fewer training resources. A pre-measured program makes educating new staff easier, and cleaning more efficient with fewer trips to the supply closets. Plus, pre-measured cleaners help control costs by preventing overuse and supporting sustainability initiatives by reducing packaging waste and shipping less water.

Why do you partner with Green Seal?

Our company was founded with a mission to create safer, more effective cleaning solutions. Before Green Seal, our customers relied on our product quality and safety because they knew us, trusted our integrity, and noticed a genuine desire to do the right thing. We became partners with Green Seal because they also were doing the good things we strove for; health and safety without sacrificing performance. Green Seal is a third-party, independent organization paving the way for new, safer technologies. That is the bar we strive to meet, and even exceed, with everything we do. Through the Green Seal process, we have been able to develop state-of-the-art cleaners with incredible cleaning power and safer ingredients.

What’s next for PortionPac?

The work of developing and promoting better cleaning products and processes is always ongoing. PortionPac will continue to collaborate with janitors and our partners to innovate and educate both in and outside of the markets we serve. This mission has driven us for 61 years — our customers do essential work, and we strive to provide solutions that empower their success.

What does sustainability mean to CleanGo GreenGo? 

At CleanGo GreenGo, sustainability means using products or processes that don’t harm or deteriorate our environment or our health. It also means opting for greener solutions over toxic alternatives to help solve our day-to-day challenges and create longevity and better health. 

Why do you partner with Green Seal? 

We believe in what the Green Seal mark stands for. We like that the Green Seal certification gives people reassurance that the product is truly green and not just greenwashed. 

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint? 

We are proud that we were able to achieve an effective all-purpose cleaner that utilizes greener and cleaner ingredients as opposed to our toxic competitors. 

What kind of health or sustainability features and information are your customers looking for today? 

I think our customers understand that toxic and caustic products endanger our families, pets, and environment. Being conscious of this helps them choose products like ours. 

What’s next for CleanGo GreenGo? 

We are always working on new products and trying to conquer new cleaning challenges in several diverse marketplaces. 

Anything else you’d like to share? 

We recently swapped out highly toxic products currently being used in the petroleum industry to produce oil and gas as well as clean equipment and tanks with our Green Seal-certified products.

The directive is in line with President Biden’s Federal Sustainability Plan, which orders federal agencies to “prioritize the purchase of sustainable products and services including products without added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS),” according to the joint announcement by U.S. EPA and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

This new requirement protects custodial workers, federal employees, and building occupants in 300,000-plus federal buildings across the country, leveraging the $650 billion annual purchasing power of the federal government for goods and services. It also highlights Green Seal’s commitment to taking a leadership position on addressing PFAS, a toxic class of chemicals that persists in the environment for hundreds of years and causes serious health and developmental impacts.

Green Seal’s standards have long prohibited long-chain PFAS formally classified as hazardous. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that short-chain PFAS have the same harmful health and environmental effects as the legacy PFAS they are replacing. Green Seal updated its standards for cleaning and personal care products in 2022 to prohibit all approximately 12,000 chemicals in this class.

Green Seal’s broad definition of PFAS also aligns with emerging state regulations on PFAS, including California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington, helping brands stay ahead of the curve on ingredient bans.

“Everyone deserves protection from the harmful effects of forever chemicals, including the workers who use cleaning products, federal employees, and those who visit government buildings every day,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in an EPA press release. “EPA has well recognized and established tools to help our partners in the federal government identify cleaning products that use safer ingredients and do not contain intentionally added PFAS to keep people safe and healthy.”

“As the largest single buyer of goods and services in the world, the federal government can play a big role in helping reduce PFAS through its purchasing,” GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said in the press release. “Changing the requirements in our contracts is a way to answer President Biden’s call for the federal government to lead by example in buying sustainable products and services.”

For detailed information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s federal purchasing update, visit https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-takes-action-cut-pfas-us-government-custodial-contracts.

Green Seal’s standards have long prohibited long-chain PFAS formally classified as hazardous. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that short-chain PFAS known as “safer substitutes” have the same harmful health and environmental effects as the legacy PFAS they are replacing. Green Seal’s newly expanded prohibition on all PFAS in certified cleaning and personal care products promotes safer options for consumers and recognizes industry leaders who are taking important steps to protect human health and reduce environmental pollution.  

Green Seal is taking a product-category approach to developing PFAS restrictions as part of a multi-year phased initiative to ensure that certified products in all categories have leadership restrictions on PFAS. A product-category approach is critical to ensure our policy effectively addresses manufacturing and use considerations that vary by product category, including exposure pathways, functional performance, and regrettable substitutes. 

What are PFAS? 

PFAS are a large group of synthetically produced chemicals that have a history of use dating back to the 1940s. This class includes over 12,000 chemicals identified by the U.S. EPA CompTox PFAS Master List database — an evolving list that aggregates PFAS based on environmental occurrence, manufacturing process data, and testing programs from agencies across the globe. Today, PFAS are found in food packaging, coatings, personal care and cosmetics, paints, textiles, cookware, and even some cleaning products. 

PFAS have carbon-fluorine bonds that make them very stable and effective at repelling oil, water, and heat. Unfortunately, the same unique chemical structure that makes PFAS so effective is also what gives them the moniker “forever chemicals.”  

PFAS are persistent in the environment, with evidence that some chemicals are so resistant to degradation that they could persist for hundreds of years. They are now found in drinking water and bioaccumulate in both soil and humans, with some chemicals taking more than eight years to reach their half-life — or reduce their concentration by 50 percent in the human body. 

PFAS are associated with numerous adverse health effects, including impacts on the endocrine and reproductive systems; increased risks of prostate, testicular, and kidney cancer; and decreased immune responses — including our body’s ability to develop beneficial antibodies in response to vaccines. 

Providing Transparency  

It can be challenging for consumers and even manufacturers to be sure that products do not use PFAS. For example, PFAS are often used in raw materials – and those proprietary formulas are often not fully disclosed to the final manufacturer. Eliminating all PFAS from the supply chain for consumer and professional care products is a critical step in protecting human health and ending the environmental contamination caused by releases of these chemicals.  

To increase supply chain transparency and encourage the use of safer alternatives, Green Seal added criteria to prohibit PFAS in standards for the following product categories: 

• General Purpose Cleaners (GS-8, GS-37) 
• Laundry Care Products (GS-48, GS-51) 
• Specialty Cleaners (GS-52, GS-53) 
• Personal and Hand Care Products (GS-41, GS-44, GS-50) 

Green Seal focused first on eliminating PFAS in formulas for certified cleaning and personal care products because PFAS is non-essential for the performance for these types of products. Manufacturers have one year to document that their certified products comply with the updated PFAS criteria. Green Seal will now turn its focus to establishing PFAS requirements for other product category standards.   

Green Seal implements standard development based on best international practices using a stakeholder-based approach and opportunities for public comment. We appreciate the time and expertise provided by our stakeholders in this process, including the San Francisco Department of the Environment, Ecolab, the Household and Commercial Products Association, and other subject matter experts and manufacturers.  

 
Visit Green Seal’s Standard Projects page to access the final PFAS requirements and standard development documentation.

What does sustainability mean to 3M?

At 3M, sustainability is tied to shared global needs. We believe a sustainable future is one in which ecosystems thrive, communities are safe and healthy, and opportunities are equitable and accessible for all people. The challenges we must solve for a sustainable future don’t always follow clear rules or methods — but we see them clearly.

Collectively, our strategies and goals chart 3M’s path forward. Our sustainability strategy is a systemic approach, seeking to drive innovation and holistic impact against shared global needs. We set impactful and measurable goals, demonstrating our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) progress.

Why do you partner with Green Seal?

We partner with Green Seal because it’s a name our customers know and trust — just like 3M. When our customers see a Green Seal certified product, they know it delivers an environmental benefit that has been thoroughly investigated and proven.

What kind of sustainability features and information are your customers looking for today?

First and foremost, it’s important to acknowledge that our customers are looking for sustainability in their products as a deciding factor in their purchasing. Specific to our markets, customers are looking for products that contain recycled content as well as ways to reduce water and chemical usage.

What product or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

At 3M, it’s simple: we are a science-based company, and we use science to improve lives. As society’s challenges continue to evolve, so does our focus. We are relentlessly innovating and adapting our technologies to help solve the problems of today and tomorrow while driving sustainable growth for our company.

Our customers depend on 3M’s products to advance, enhance, and improve their companies, homes, and lives — and we have a responsibility to live up to those expectations. Every item we sell must meet quality standards and must be safe for its intended use.

One of our core technology platforms is the sustainable design of our products, processes, and packaging. We demonstrate this through our goal that every new product that we offer must have a Sustainability Value Commitment (SVC). By embedding sustainability in this way, we can support 3M’s growth and advance our commitment to improving our business, our planet, and every life.

What’s next for 3M?

We will continue applying our scientific expertise to improve the lives of our employees, our customers, and our communities. We see the need for businesses to become regenerative to help restore the environment where we live, work, and play.

Our efforts to meet our goals will continue to leverage the success of our Sustainability Value Commitment and build on our Strategic Sustainability Framework — empowering science for Circular, Science for Climate, and Science for Community.

What does sustainability mean to Multiplex

We believe in the statement, “Earth has enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” So, we ensure our action in any area will not affect the outcomes of other areas. In other words, sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We at Multiplex believe that there are three pillars of sustainability, namely: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability. Sustainability refers to being responsible for future generations.

As an India-based company, why do you partner with Green Seal?

We are in a global village today. LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization) opened a huge space for every sector in the global market. Hence it is important to have global recognition for a product which is new to many parts of the world.

Understanding that Green Seal certification is the highest benchmark of ecolabelling a product can achieve, we obviously opted for it. We are happy that our products have been thoroughly evaluated and met the standards of Green Seal. We at Multiplex feel extremely proud to have partnered with Green Seal.

A global customer may connect to the certifications to be confident about product quality. Green Seal certification gives us a competitive advantage over others in the marketplace.

Has the pandemic created any challenges or opportunities for Multiplex?

The pandemic has created a challenge for the whole world. It has had a huge impact not only on health and wellbeing, but also on our societies, economies, and politics worldwide.

With the outbreak of the pandemic, people have started focusing more on cleanliness and hygiene. Hence, this pandemic created an opportunity for us to serve our nation with innovative, bio-organic cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products. We developed these products by exploring nature’s own technique of cleansing and sanitizing.

Our parent company, Multiplex Bio-tech Pvt. Ltd., developed Multiplex Shuddi, a bio-organic product and one-stop solution for cleaning homes, offices, vehicles, public areas, water bodies, swimming pools, and more. Manufactured in both powder and liquid form, Shuddi is a microbial consortium containing proprietary metabolites of naturally occurring beneficial microbes that are extremely efficient in digesting both organic waste (food waste, dead plant, animal waste, manures) and hydrocarbons (oils, grease and certain herbicides and pesticides) by secreting enzymes.

What product, innovation or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

Among the range of innovative bio-organic products developed by our R&D team, we are very proud of Shuddi Multipurpose Liquid. This innovative product is a bio-product with a blend of enzymes, organic acids, and natural cleansers produced during the natural fermentation process. This product can be used for cleaning floors, toilets, and animal sheds. Regular use of Shuddi Multipurpose Liquid eliminates bad odor, repels insect vectors like mosquitos and flies, removes dirt and stains, kills harmful germs, and keeps the applied area clean and hygienic for a longer period. It also keeps livestock living areas hygienic and healthy.

From a sustainability point of view, we are proud to say that the water used to clean the floor with Shuddi can be used for your plants. Indiscriminate use of harsh chemicals for cleaning has led to pollution of groundwater and water bodies. This motivates us to develop bio-organic products in the hygiene sector in order to reduce the impact and adverse effects of these harsh cleaning chemicals.

Anything else you’d like to share?

As part of the global market, we wish to explore and engage our R&D to research, innovate, and invent need-based products that benefit people across the world.

What does sustainability mean to MomRemedy?

At MomRemedy, our mission is to change the way families clean by offering an eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaner and stain remover that is powerful yet safe to use around your family and the environment. Though there are a variety of natural cleaners on the market, what sets MomRemedy apart is the use of natural and plant derived ingredients. Several of the MomRemedy products are reusable, like the MomRemedy Glass Refill Bottle and the MomRemedy Zero Waste Reusable Wipes in a Glass Jar, along with our environmentally friendly packaging that is 100% recyclable. MomRemedy eliminates the need for multiple cleaning products throughout the home, making it a truly powerful and effective eco-friendly cleaner that solves life’s everyday messes.

What are eco-conscious consumers looking for today from cleaning product brands?

Consumers are becoming more aware of the products they use in and around their home. The education is out there on how to read and understand labels. They are doing their research and choosing the brands and products that are truly safe. Above all, consumers want to know that what they are buying does what it says and does it safely. At MomRemedy, we clearly indicate what ingredients we use and have done independent testing to solidify our claims of being non-toxic and an effective cleaner and stain remover.

Why do you partner with Green Seal?

Green Seal is a nonprofit dedicated to spreading sustainability in products, which aligns with MomRemedy’s vision to have safe and effective cleaning products available to homes everywhere. Partnering with Green Seal has allowed us to be 100% confident that our products are eco-friendly, effective, and non-toxic. We are incredibly proud to share the honor of Green Seal certification with our community.

We use Green Seal to educate our customers and potential customers about the impact the products we choose can have in our surroundings and environment. Many people are not aware of the impact of using cleaning products, which are making their way into our soil, food, and bodies. Consumers trust Green Seal and can trust MomRemedy to make better informed purchasing decisions.

What product, innovation, or accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

At MomRemedy, we made the decision not to use any preservatives in our products. Many cleaning products contain preservatives to help with shelf life, which can contain formaldehyde-releasing agents that are inhaled in the air or absorbed into the skin.

Making the decision not to include these preservatives in our cleaning products was an easy one. Additionally, we offer a larger refill size of our cleaner and a sustainable refillable glass bottle to cut down on plastic waste.

What’s next for MomRemedy?

Right now, we are focused on getting national distribution on grocery shelves across the country. You can find our products in over 300 stores, and that number is growing weekly. In the coming months and years, we will continue to stay focused on our mission, which is making safe and effective cleaning products available to every household.

Anything else you’d like to share?

We are proud to share that MomRemedy was just awarded a 2022 Clean House Award by Better Home and Gardens as the Best Do-Anything All-Purpose Cleaner and Stain Remover!

What does sustainability mean to The Honest Company?

​​The Honest Company was built around the ethical values of transparency, trust, sustainability, and a deep sense of purpose with a mission to inspire everyone to love living consciously. We know that everything our consumers put on, in, and around their body matters. That’s why we hold ourselves to The Honest Standard of safety and transparency and do everything we can to support wellness for our consumers. This standard is our guiding principle, the way in which we apply our values to innovation and development, and it’s the thoughtful and uncompromising approach we take with every product we make. With people and planet in mind, we prioritize continuous improvement by striving to use clean ingredients and sustainable packaging. Our in-house labs, toxicologists, and partners work tirelessly to develop effective products that meet rigorous standards of safety. Additionally, we strive to use recyclable materials, such as compostable tree-free paper and 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard, to support our consumers in their effort to reduce, reuse, and refill.

The Honest Company recently created a Conscious Cleaning Collection of products. Why did evolving your line of cleaning products feel like a good fit for the brand and for The Honest Company customer?

At Honest, we believe part of being an ethical lifestyle brand is creating effective products consumers love to use (and re-use). We strive to create formulas with responsibly sourced ingredients and packaging. Our sustainability mission starts with the practices that we implement within our own lab and in our formulas. We believe that it’s not enough to ask consumers to practice sustainability without committing to that mission as well – which is why we created our Conscious Cleaning line, featuring clean formulas and reusable packaging that is designed with the environment in mind.

Our Conscious Cleaning Essentials produce a powerful clean with naturally derived ingredients and without harsh chemicals. Our refillable cleaning essentials are designed to help reduce plastic waste without compromising on effectiveness. Reusable bottles mean less bottles heading to the landfill. Plus, by shipping the bottles empty, our kits are about 5.5 pounds lighter, which means less energy is used to transport them. That little change makes a big difference across thousands of kits.

Why do you partner with Green Seal?

Green Seal is a new partnership that is a natural fit for our brand. They are a leader in helping businesses and consumers make healthier, greener choices with confidence, which closely aligns with our Honest mission to inspire everyone to love living consciously. Our partnership with Green Seal creates synergies to bring products to life that truly push the sustainability envelope!

How do you use Green Seal in your marketing?

Green Seal’s standards define sustainability leadership in the marketplace and reward industry innovations. After we certified our Clean Conscious Essentials with Green Seal, we included the logo on our product pages and package graphics. Additionally, we have partnered with the Green Seal team on product messaging that helps educate consumers on the most sustainable practices — like using cold water instead of hot water to make our cleaning solutions.

What’s next for The Honest Company?

We strive for continuous improvement, and we are constantly evaluating new package materials and questioning the status quo. Check out our website, Honest.com, to learn more!

What inspired the launch of Podsy?

The Podsy Founding Families answered many important questions during development of Podsy Cleaning Systems. They all circled back to what is best for consumers’ wellness, pets, planet, pocketbook, and ultimately our families. The message is simple. You should not have to sacrifice quality when looking for an eco-value cleaning solution.

What does sustainability mean to Podsy?

At Podsy sustainability has two core principles: The health and wellness of consumers and their families along with products that enable reduction of waste and carbon neutrality. Our non-toxic formulas are child and pet safe, with 100% all-natural formulations coming soon. Podsy bottles are designed to be refilled and reused for years. This helps keep bottles and packaging out of landfills when compared to single-use bottles. They also use less shelf space and weigh much less than Ready-To-Use bottles. It’s better for you and our planet.

Why do you partner with Green Seal?

It was important to hold ourselves to a higher standard. Partnering with Green Seal allowed us to quickly understand where we can improve and where we will have success. Verification of 3rd party performance testing is also very important.

Why do you think consumers are responding to refillable cleaning systems right now? 

Refillable, and specifically pod-based refillable cleaning systems are coming of age for several reasons. After more than a decade of success within the laundry and dishwasher space, trust has grown. Changes in environment are clearer to many who may previously have been reluctant to embrace new products. Adoption is happening faster as value plays an impactful role. Refills are cheaper than buying bottles many times over. It’s an exciting time and consumers are driving the demand.

What value does third-party certification bring to a cleaning product?

To us, it’s important to signal that we have aligned ourselves with successful trusted experts specializing in household cleaners. We do more than just say we are sustainable. Our certifications validate successful results from ongoing testing. They allow us to continuously improve our product lines while measuring with the highest standards in leading our industry.

What accomplishment are you most proud of from a sustainability standpoint?

We’re proud of developing a cleaning system that eliminates Ready-To-Use (single-use) bottles at scale while increasing value for consumers and the efficacy of cleaners.

What’s next for Podsy?

Product development is ongoing and we are even more excited about our 2022 product lines. The Podsy Pure line of cleaners with all-natural ingredients and enhanced packaging across all product lines will further highlight our focus on sustainability.

The Benefits of Microbial Products

Formulating with microbes is an exciting application of green chemistry. These naturally existing ingredients can allow product formulas to reduce or eliminate hazardous solvents and surfactants and make it easier for producers to formulate with biobased rather than petroleum-based ingredients.

In certain cases, these products are likely to be healthier, to degrade at a faster rate and under more natural conditions, and to be less harmful for aquatic life. Microbial-based cleaning products are sometimes referred to as “probiotic cleaners” because their active ingredients are non-pathogenic, commercially cultured bacterial strains, similar to what is in your yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut.

Assessing Health and Safety

When Green Seal first issued criteria for microbial-based cleaning products in 2011, we took a precautionary approach by designing heavy restrictions until more information was known about the safety and environmental impacts of this newer product type. In the decade since then, these products have proliferated across the North American and global markets.

Now, extensive literature reviews and stakeholder outreach have demonstrated a sufficient record of safe use, with no scientific evidence that microbial-based cleaning products present a higher level of risk to human health or the environment than chemical-based cleaning products. Adding to our understanding of their safety profile, these types of products are being studied as safer options in healthcare settings.

Expanding Options for Safer Cleaning Products

Recognizing the green chemistry benefits and safety profiles of microbial-based cleaning products, Green Seal has adjusted our requirements for these products.

A key update is that we are now allowing certified microbial-based cleaning products to be sold in spray packaging.  Because Green Seal takes a precautionary approach to newer chemistries and technologies, we have incorporated health-protective requirements that are intended to address the risk of inhaling microorganisms during product application.  Microbial-based products in spray packaging must either:

• Be formulated only with non-pathogenic microorganisms that are listed on the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) Qualified Presumption of Safety list, or
• Undergo inhalation exposure testing via a test chamber and demonstrate a low level of airborne microorganisms after product application.

We have also updated our labeling requirements to be more practical and allow for more flexibility in how companies disclose microbial ingredients on the product label.

Visit our Standard Projects page to see the final requirements, red-lined tracked changes, and all development documentation.

About This Initiative

Green Seal implements standard development based on best international practices using a stakeholder-based approach. We appreciate the time and expertise provided by our stakeholders in this process, including the American Cleaning Institute (ACI), EcoQuality Solutions, Genesis Biosciences, the Household and Commercial Products Association, and other subject matter experts and manufacturers.

As always, Green Seal will study the value and benefits of these criteria to product formulators and product users. We are excited to explore opportunities to further raise the bar for these products by lowering thresholds, providing greater transparency around microbial strains in products, and enforcing stronger quality control.

Products certified to Green Seal standards must abide by strict limits to VOCs to protect human health. This post provides a quick overview of VOCs, how to choose healthier, greener products, and other tips for reducing your exposure to VOCs.

What Role Do VOCs Play in Products?

Sometimes called oil-based or petroleum-based solvents, many VOCs are included in paints and cleaning products to dissolve or dilute the other ingredients. Some VOCs function as flame retardants that are added to mattresses and building materials, which, as you can guess from their category name, are formulated to slow the spread of fire. Many fragrances are also VOCs, which are intentionally volatile and off-gas at a certain rate so that the scent lingers in the air.

How VOCs Collect Indoors

VOCs have high vapor pressures, which means they evaporate easily – or off-gas – when they come into contact with air molecules. Paint, for example, begins to off-gas when it is applied to a surface, and, depending on its chemical formula, may continue to off-gas for months as the paint completes the curing process.

Studies show that indoor concentrations of VOCs are often up to seven times higher than those outside – commonly a result of applying paints and personal care products, as well as daily home combustion events, such as cooking and heating with gas appliances. VOCs get stuck inside when a room has poor ventilation, as VOCs are added to our space faster than they can escape through a window or HVAC system. Additionally, heavier types of VOCs, called semi-VOCs (SVOCs), are emitted from products and then settle onto surfaces and are absorbed by dust. Inhaling and ingesting this dust is harmful to health, especially for children.

How VOC’s Affect Your Health

Acute inhalation exposure to VOCs can cause coughing, decreased lung function, low energy levels, headaches, and impaired mental focus. Chronic exposure to hazardous VOCs is associated with neurological disorders, including dementia and tremors. The World Health Organization estimates 3.8 million deaths occur each year due to indoor air pollution, including VOCs. The worst offenders include:

• Formaldehyde
• Terpenes, toluene
• Glycol ethers
• Acetaldehyde
• Phenol
• Methylene chloride
• BTEX benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX)
• Flame retardants – PBDEs

Green Seal strictly limits these and other VOCs in certified products.

How VOCs Affect the Environment

VOCs interact with nitrous oxides in the atmosphere to form ozone — a greenhouse gas that can cause temperature increases when found in lower layers of the atmosphere. Because of this, VOCs also indirectly contribute to the formation of smog and particulate matter.

Cleaning products, paints and coatings, and several other product types are required to have low VOC content if they are sold in California. The Golden State also leads the nation on VOC restrictions in products in part because it’s a critical public health issue for the region: California’s geography and climate leads to greater air pollution than the rest of the nation, especially in urban areas where 95% of its population resides. The U.S. federal government also sets restrictions as a way of enforcing the Clean Air Act.

VOCs in Cleaning Products

VOCs are most often found in cleaning products in the form of solvents and fragrances. Green Seal sets limits on the VOC content of cleaning products that are based on, but even more restrictive than, California’s regulatory limits. Green Seal is more restrictive because our calculations of a product’s total VOCs include fragrances, whereas California’s regulations currently exclude them. This means that many widely available household cleaning products cannot yet meet our standards because they have high concentrations of fragrances, such as when essential oils make up more than 1% of the product.

VOCs in Paints and Coatings

State purchasing laws and the global green building community have greatly increased the demand for low-emitting paint products to address indoor air quality.

What is VOC in paint? In general, low- or zero-VOC paints tend to be water-based and have significantly lower odor than oil/solvent-based paints. Flat (or matte) paints with fewer than 50 grams of VOCs per liter are generally considered to be low-VOC, while a zero-VOC paint is one with fewer than 5 grams per liter. Nonflat paints (such as satin and semi-gloss) are considered low-VOC if they have fewer than 100 grams of VOCs per liter. It’s important to note that the VOC content on the paint label does not include the VOCs added in the paint colorant at the point of sale, which can significantly increase VOC levels.

Green Seal sets limits on VOCs in two ways: content and emissions. We restrict VOC content in the product formula, and we also require an emissions evaluation to verify that the product does not off-gas hazardous chemicals during a specified period after the initial application, providing an indicator of safer air quality for building occupants.

Green Seal certification also restricts the VOC content of colorants added at the point-of-sale. Any colorants used with Green Seal-certified paints cannot cause the final product to exceed the category VOC limit by more than 50 grams.

How to Reduce Your Exposure to VOCs

To protect your health, open windows, turn on a fan, or cover your nose and mouth with a mask or other fabric when applying cleaning products, fragranced products, paints, and coatings. Whenever possible:

• Choose fragrance-free products.
• Choose Green Seal-certified paint, cleaning, and personal care products.
• Use low-emitting paints and low- or zero-VOC content paints that comply with California Air Resource Board limits.
• Avoid aerosol products.

By choosing safer paints and cleaning products and taking simple precautions when applying them, you can protect yourself and those around you from the negative health effects of VOCs.

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Since 1847, when chlorine was first used as a disinfectant, there have been few alternatives to the effective but often dangerous substances known as chemical disinfectants. Today, there is a technology that combines salt, water, vinegar, and electricity to create an EPA-registered, general purpose, hospital-grade cleaner and disinfectant proven more effective than chlorine bleach.

Dubbed by The Los Angeles Times as “miracle liquid,” those of us in the world of advanced science call it electrolyzed water. It is effective, harmless to skin at both the dermal and subdermal levels, and easy and inexpensive to produce. Nobody is suggesting prolonged exposure, but if it gets in your eyes, no harm will come to them. In fact, products based on this same electrolyzed water are the basis of commercially available eyelid cleaning products. If ingested at small amounts, the most harmful effect is an imbalance of good and bad microbes in the intestine, which can cause discomfort for two or three days. The solution also can be generated on-site, eliminating delivery, storage, and disposal issues.

The Science Behind Electrolyzed Water

The process of making electrolyzed water is elegant in its simplicity. Tap water is placed into a flask containing an electrolytic cell composed of an anode that delivers a positive electrical charge and a cathode that delivers a negative electrical charge. Then, a carefully formulated solution of saline and vinegar is added to the water. When the device is operating, a measured amount of electricity passes through the anode and cathode. Negatively charged chloride ions are attracted to the anode and electrochemically convert into hypochlorous acid — a powerful and reliable disinfectant. The positively charged sodium ions are attracted to the cathode and convert into sodium hydroxide, a powerful grease cutter and cleaning compound.

This approach, based on simple but advanced electrochemical technology, is catching on in homes, schools, day cares, and professional cleaning companies throughout the U.S. and beyond. Commercial users of electrolyzed water note significant cost savings and fewer absences due to illness and injury from toxic chemicals exposure.

The Toxins Use Reduction Institute at the University of Massachusetts has standard, industry accepted protocols to measure the cleaning capability of a variety of chemicals used in homes and by professional cleaning organizations. It found that this technology can clean and disinfect on par with mainstream chemicals that are both toxic and more expensive than electrolyzed water.

While there has not been a major paradigm shift in cleaning and disinfecting chemistry since 1847, to quote a famous folk singer, “The times they are a changing.”