A Least Harmful Model
The act of cleaning must leave no harmful chemical residual in the air or on any surface after the cleaning activity.
The “Least Harmful” Cleaning Pyramid
While the idea of toxic-free harm-free chemical cleaning makes sense, the reality is that effective cleaning will require a mix of products, equipment and materials that are not likely to be wholly toxic-free, chemical-free. The movement from today’s more harmful cleaning systems to a Least Harmful model will evolve in a series of small steps, as an entire industry begins to adjust. Even as the science is helping us move beyond traditional chemicals toward green, less toxic chemicals and finally toward toxic-free products, it is unlikely that the cleaning industry will replace its capital equipment, practices and materials overnight.
Like the movement from traditional chemicals to green chemicals, it will take time to achieve a tipping point for chemical-free cleaning. So, should traditional, green and natural cleaning products be included as part of tomorrow’s cleaning strategy? Absolutely — I don’t see how we could otherwise operate in today’s business culture. What is a concern is the balance of risk that comes with the hierarchy of toxicity inherent on the chemical mix adopted. With the introduction of more toxic-free, chemical-free cleaning strategies and technologies, we are a step closer to improving health, safety, the ecosystem and our budgets. How---because we can now integrate all product alternatives in a cleaning strategy through a four-level pyramid of most safe to least safe cleaning products, equipment and materials.
Like the movement from traditional chemicals to green chemicals, it will take time to achieve a tipping point for chemical-free cleaning. So, should traditional, green and natural cleaning products be included as part of tomorrow’s cleaning strategy? Absolutely — I don’t see how we could otherwise operate in today’s business culture. What is a concern is the balance of risk that comes with the hierarchy of toxicity inherent on the chemical mix adopted. With the introduction of more toxic-free, chemical-free cleaning strategies and technologies, we are a step closer to improving health, safety, the ecosystem and our budgets. How---because we can now integrate all product alternatives in a cleaning strategy through a four-level pyramid of most safe to least safe cleaning products, equipment and materials.