Month: February 2021

Des Plaines, Ill. – GSF USA, a global cleaning services company, has earned Green Seal certification for its expert use of responsible cleaning practices that are among the healthiest and most sustainable in the nation. The company, which services 25 million–square–feet a day, will immediately begin servicing the Chicago-area Aptakisic-Tripp School District with its Green Seal-certified Ecologique program and soon plans to expand the service to additional school districts and commercial office locations.  

 To earn certification, GSF met Green Seal’s stringent Cleaning Services Standard (GS-42) requirements for cleaning equipment and procedures, chemicals, employee training, product labeling, and communication. Green Seal conducts rigorous on-site inspections to verify each requirement before awarding a prestigious certification mark. 

 A Commitment to Sustainability 

 GSF-USA’s Green Seal-certified Ecologique cleaning program includes: 

Sustainable cleaning chemicals

GSF cleans and disinfects with safe and sustainable electrochemically activated solutions (ECAS) made with just salt, water, and electricity. 

High-tech equipment

GSF uses the most advanced equipment possible, including robotic technologies, to minimize water and energy consumption while prolonging the lifespan of flooring assets.

Environmentally sourced consumables

GSF uses products such as microfiber towels, soap and paper products that align with the most progressive environmental standards. 

Documented training & procedures

Every employee completes a minimum of 24 hours of training to ensure they’re well-versed in cleaning best practices.  

Leadership development through GSF University

GSF offers leadership training that teaches cleaning professionals how to increase efficiency, cleaning quality and sustainability.   

 “In today’s environment, cleaning well has never mattered more. Cleaning service providers who meet Green Seal’s rigorous health and environmental criteria are uniquely qualified to provide exceptional cleaning and disinfection while also protecting indoor air quality and respiratory health for the building occupants.  This is more critical in schools than anywhere else” said Doug Gatlin, CEO of Green Seal. “GSF didn’t just commit to green cleaning – they sought out rigorous third-party certification to verify that they are leaving no stone unturned in their mission to protect the health of their customers.” 

 “The Ecologique program offers the highest standard of cleaning for customers while minimizing environmental impact,” said Troy Bargmann, president, GSF USA. “We’re honored to receive this prestigious certification and look forward to instilling greater confidence among customers, facility occupants and visitors through our sustainable cleaning program.”  

ABOUT GSF USA

Founded in 1963, Group Services France (GSF) is an international cleaning solutions company providing commercial cleaning and support services for a wide variety of facilities spanning the globe. Based in France, GSF has international branches in England, Spain, Canada, Monaco and the United States. GSF established U.S. operations in 1987. The U.S Corporate Headquarters and home office for the Indiana business is in Indianapolis, Ind. The home office for the Ohio business is in Cincinnati, Ohio and the home office for the Illinois business is in Des Plaines, Ill. Learn more at gsf-usa.com. 

ABOUT GREEN SEAL, INC. 

Green Seal® is a global nonprofit organization with a mission to transform the economy for a healthier, greener world. Since 1989, Green Seal has applied rigorous standards for health, environmental sustainability and product performance to its certification programs to empower better purchasing decisions. Green Seal has certified thousands of products, services and spaces from hundreds of leading companies including 3M, Ecolab, Georgia Pacific, Hilton, Westin, Marriott and Staples, and is specified by countless schools, government agencies, businesses and institutions. Green Seal-certified cleaning providers service more than 1 billion square feet of commercial building space across the USA. Visit greenseal.org or connect with Green Seal on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 

  

Challenge

Medinah School District in Roselle, Ill. serves more than 600 students across its primary, intermediate and middle schools. Given that the district operates with the motto “Every Student. Every Day.”, it’s no surprise that it sought a thoughtful approach to maintaining its schools in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Teachers, students, parents and administrators had reservations about returning to in-person learning during the 2020-2021 academic year and wanted to be certain that the district was prioritizing the wellbeing of everyone who learns and works in these buildings, as well as the community at large.

“Our main objective at Medinah School District is to provide an environment that is healthy for students and conducive to high-quality learning,” said Marco Rajcevich, Director of Operations, Medinah School District. “By rethinking the way we clean, and introducing safer solutions, we can face today’s challenges.”

Solution

In August 2020, GSF USA, a global cleaning services provider, installed an on-site generation (OSG) system from PathoSans® at each of the district’s schools. The PathoSans systems use three simple ingredients – water, salt and electricity – to produce two electrochemically activated (ECA) solutions: PathoClean®, a cleaner/degreaser, and PathoCide®, a sanitizer/disinfectant.

The systems support GSF’s promise of cleaning for health and safety through the use of non-irritating cleaning and disinfecting solutions. The district also knows that cleaning solutions are always available because they are generated daily in the schools’ custodial closets.  On-site and on-demand generation of cleaner and disinfectant eliminates reliance on shipments of conventional cleaning chemicals from suppliers.

“At GSF, we take pride in recruiting, training and retaining employees who are champions for cleanliness at our customers’ sites. We supply employees with the necessary tools to do their job well,” said Grant Mackall, Operational Asset Manager, GSF. “The PathoSans system fits in nicely with our goals and the districts’ because employees always have the cleaning solutions they need to maintain the buildings.”

Results

Through the use of PathoSans’ systems, GSF USA and the district realize the following benefits:

Eradicate pathogens of concern.

PathoSans solutions have demonstrated efficacy against human coronavirus and other viruses more resilient to disinfection. PathoCide has been proven by an independent GLP laboratory to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 60 seconds on a pre-cleaned surface and in 10 minutes in a one-step process when produced by an on-site generator and used as directed. In addition to inactivating viruses, the solutions are also effective at killing a wide variety of bacteria and fungi. According to Mackall, “it’s easy to find cleaning chemicals that kill pathogens of concern. The challenge is finding chemicals safe enough to use every day. With PathoSans, we have effective and safe solutions.”

While the PathoSans solutions look like water, they are well-suited to tackle today’s viral, bacterial and fungal threats. PathoClean enables surface cleaning and biofilm removal ahead of disinfection to ensure workers can effectively kill or inactivate pathogens. Regular, long-term use of PathoClean helps restore hard surface finishes without leaving residues that can impact appearance and attract dirt.

Reassure students, parents and staff of the schools’ cleanliness.

The pandemic has resulted in fear regarding the cleanliness of public facilities. The district’s cleaning processes go a long way in reassuring faculty, students and parents that the district’s buildings are thoroughly cleaned with effective and non-irritating solutions. Adds Rajcevich, “with the help of GSF and PathoSans, I feel confident about having students return safely to Medinah School District.”

Enable opportunities for in-person learning.

The district’s buildings are being cleaned more frequently, making the use of environmentally responsible products crucial. Conventional chemicals can be toxic and corrosive and pose environmental and health hazards. With no added fragrances and three ingredients, PathoClean and PathoCide help preserve good indoor air quality and won’t aggravate conditions like allergies and asthma, creating a better learning environment for students and faculty.

Empower cleaning teams.

Custodial teams want to know that their work contributes to the overall success of the district. By using products that eliminate pathogens without compromising safety, employees feel empowered to do their best work so students can focus on learning. Luis Tovar, Branch Manager at GSF says: “Because of our partnership with PathoSans, I have what I need to do my job well. This is a safe environment where I feel confident working.”

“The PathoSans system has helped us create healthier learning environments across Medinah School District,” added Mackall. “We are using the best products available. Because they are responsible, effective and always available, PathoClean and PathoCide meet the needs of many and provide comfort for all.”