As cleaning professionals, we need to come together to create buildings that are sanitary and safe for workers and guests. The products used for cleaning must also be safe and environmentally responsible, based on the most up-to-date information available. Formulations that will help maintain our natural resources for us...and for our children. This new generation of maintenance products also must deliver peak performance, each and every time, allowing you to maximize your labor costs.

For all of these needs, NCL has the solution...

the e-solution™ Environmentally Responsible Cleaning Product System.

e-solution™ is a coordinated system for housekeeping, restroom sanitation, industrial  maintenance, and many other cleaning tasks. Through cutting-edge research and development, these products offer exceptional quality at concentrations that promote source reduction.

EARTH SENSE® Blending Center System

Long before “green” became important to the sanitary maintenance industry, NCL used super concentrate technology to develop the EARTH SENSE® Blending Center System, the first Dispensing Center System to offer true super concentrate products that were butyl-free, phosphate-free. At that time, EARTH SENSE represented the most advanced combination of performance and “eco-efficiency” available.

In response to the increased need improving our water supply and to promote aquatic life, phosphates were removed from all NCL formulas in 2001.

EARTH SENSE® Floor Care System

Introduction of the EARTH SENSE Floor Care System in 2003 brought a new level of performance with environmentally preferred formulations. These products are produced with no heavy metals, no dyes or added fragrance, no butyl or glycol ether solvents, no caustics, no Nonylphenol Ethoxylates or phosphates. Together, they deliver an outstanding “wet-look” initial gloss, with long-term beauty and ease of maintenance while preserving our eco-system.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF INGREDIENTS THAT CAN BE ENVIRONMENTALLY TROUBLESOME?

Surfactants - The active cleaning agent in most detergent formulations, surfactants change the chemical and physical relationship between water and the surface to be cleaned. Surfactants loosen and suspend soil and enhance the wetting property of water. Environmentally improved surfactants biodegrade to less toxic and less persistent chemicals. Linear alcohol ethoxylates, mandated for use in European countries, biodegrade to linear alcohols and carboxylic acids, compounds typically with lower environmental concerns as opposed to nonylphenol ethoxylates . Various linear alcohol ethoxylates made primarily from renewable resources are found in all NCL e-solution formulations.

Builders - Added to formulations to change the properties of water (especially hardness and pH) and bolster a surfactant’s performance. Inorganic phosphates (like sodium tripolyphosphate) were once commonly used as water softening agents. However, the result of their biodegradation can cause a decrease in the amount of oxygen dissolved in fresh water. Low oxygen levels diminish a water body’s ability to support many forms of aquatic life. Substitution of organic chemicals (with positive environmental profiles, as found in NCL e-solution formulations) as builders is a better environmental choice.

Fragrances - Used primarily to mask the odors of other ingredients or improve a product’s scent, fragrances do not affect the cleaning performance of sanitary maintenance products. However, some fragrances can cause harmful side effects in chemically sensitive individuals (e.g., allergic reactions). No added fragrances are used in as NCL e-solution products.

Solvents - Added to formulations to dissolve organic soils and prevent ingredient separation and deterioration in liquid products, solvents may have a range of potential health and environmental effects. Volatile solvents contribute to an unhealthful increase in organic compounds in the atmosphere (VOC’s). An environmentally informed choice in solvent seeks to minimize volatility as well as potential health and environmental concerns. NCL e-solution products use either all-natural solvents (such as d’Limonene, extracted from oranges) or are free of solvents and contain no VOC’s. Dyes - A diverse chemical category, dyes vary widely in their potential environmental and human health effects. NCL uses no added dyes in its e-solution™ formulations.

EXECUTIVE ORDER #13148

Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management

PART 1—PREAMBLE

Section 101. Federal Environmental Leadership. The head of each Federal agency is responsible for ensuring that all necessary actions are taken to integrate environmental accountability into agency day-to-day decision making and long-term planning processes, across all agency missions, activities, and functions. Consequently, environmental management considerations must be a fundamental and integral component of Federal Government policies, operations, planning, and management. The head of each Federal agency is responsible for meeting the goals and requirements of this order.

According to this executive order (Part 2, Goals, Sections 204 Release Reduction and 205 Use Reduction), there is a mandate to achieve a 40% objective in Release Reduction and a 50% objective in Use Reduction at government buildings facilities by December 31, 2006.Purchasing environmentally responsible cleaning products are an important step in promoting clean, healthy buildings.

GREEN SEAL CERTIFIED PRODUCTS

Green Seal is an independent, non-profit organization that strives to achieve a healthier and cleaner environment by identifying and promoting products and services that cause less toxic pollution and waste, conserve resources and habitats, and minimize global warming and ozone depletion. Green Seal has no financial interest in the products that it certifies or recommends nor in any manufacturer or company. Green Seal’s evaluations are based on state-of-the-art science and information using internationally recognized methods and procedures. Thus, Green Seal provides credible, objective, and unbiased information whose only purpose is to direct the purchaser to environmentally responsible products and services. A rigorous set of criteria for cleaning performance, minimized environmental impact and worker safety is required for certification under the Green Seal GS-37 Standard for Industrial / Institutional General Purpose Cleaners. These include:

Product-Specific Performance Requirements

Each product as used when diluted with water from the cold tap at no more than 50 ºF, shall clean common soils and surfaces in its category effectively, as measured by a standard test method.

Product-Specific Health and Environmental Requirements

Toxic Compound - The undiluted product shall not be toxic to humans.

Carcinogens and Reproductive Toxins - The undiluted product shall not contain any ingredients that are carcinogens or that are known to cause reproductive toxicity.

Skin and Eye Irritation - The undiluted product shall not be corrosive to the skin or eyes.

Skin Sensitization - The undiluted product shall not be a skin sensitizer.

Combustibility - The undiluted product shall not be combustible.

Photochemical Smog, Tropospheric Ozone Production, and Indoor Air Quality - The product as used shall not contain substances that contribute significantly to the production of photochemical smog, tropospheric ozone, or poor indoor-air quality. The volatile organic content of the product as used shall not exceed 1% by weight for general-purpose and bathroom cleaners, 3% by weight for glass cleaners.

Toxicity to Aquatic Life - The product as used shall not be toxic to aquatic life. A compound is considered not toxic to aquatic life if it meets one or more of the following criteria: Acute LC50 for algae, daphnia, or fish <100 mg/L.

Aquatic Biodegradability - Each of the organic ingredients shall exhibit ready biodegradability in accordance with the OECD definition except for a FIFRA-registered ingredient in a bathroom cleaner.

Eutrophication - The product as used shall not contain more than 0.5% by weight of total phosphorus.

Packaging - The primary package shall be recyclable. Alternatively, manufacturers may provide for returning and refilling of their packages.

Concentrates - The product must be a concentrate, except for FIFRA-registered bathroom cleaners.

Fragrances - Manufacturers shall identify any fragrances on their material safety data sheets MSDSs). Any ingredient added to a product as a fragrance must follow the Code of Practice of the International Fragrance Association.

Prohibited Ingredients - The product shall not contain the following ingredients: Alkylphenol ethoxylates, Dibutyl phthalate, Heavy metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, mercury, nickel or selenium; Ozone-depleting compounds.

The following NCL e-solution Environmentally Responsible Cleaning Products are Green Seal Certified:

What is the U.S. Green Building Council?

What is LEED?

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S. Green Building Council representing all segments of the building industry developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution.

LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.

LEED was created to:

• define “green building” by establishing a common standard of measurement
• promote integrated, whole-building design practices
• recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
• stimulate green competition
• raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
• transform the building market

The LEED Green Building Rating System for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) is a set of performance standards for the sustainable operation of existing buildings. The LEED-EB criteria cover building operations and systems upgrades in existing buildings where the majority of interior or exterior surfaces remain unchanged.

The LEED Rating System for Existing Buildings addresses:

1) Whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues including chemical use

2) Ongoing indoor air quality

3) Energy Efficiency

4) Water efficiency

5) Recycling programs and facilities

6) Exterior maintenance programs

7) Systems upgrades to meet green building energy, water, IAQ, and lighting performance standards

Please click on any of these links for more information

Green Seal, Inc. www.greenseal.org U.S. Green Building Council www.usgbc.org Green Hotels Association www.greenhotels.com

e-solution™ Click here for more information about our environmentally responsible e-solution™ line of products.

Earth Sense Floor Care Click here to see information about our complete line of floor care products.