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Greener cleaning allows us to use products that are safer for people and the planet and highly effective at preventing the spread of germs.
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Environmental services (EVS) teams have been pivotal in finding ways to switch to greener cleaning methods throughout Providence.
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By choosing products that are third-party certified, such as Green Seal or UL ECOLOGO, we can collectively reduce pollution and minimize exposure to harmful chemicals.
Greener cleaning: A healthier way to care
At Providence, we know that safer cleaning protects patients, caregivers and our planet.
Like all hospital systems, we clean — a lot.
Everything that a patient touches must be recycled, sterilized, disinfected, cleaned and/or thrown away, says Frank Papp, senior sustainability manager at Providence Swedish Puget Sound. This is highly scientific and structured work that involves expert knowledge in proper tool and chemical selection for different types of pathogens, viruses and germs on different types of surfaces.
Behind the scenes, EVS — Environmental Services caregivers who have special training handling medical waste, trash, recycling and equipment — work diligently to ensure a safe and sanitary hospital environment for everyone who enters our doors.
Why greener cleaning is important in hospitals
Clean hospitals stop the spread of germs and viruses. But many strong chemicals in cleaning products and disinfectants can increase health risks for some people. Greener cleaning involves selecting products and tools that don’t contain, or contain fewer, harmful chemicals yet still provide an effective level of cleaning, sanitation, or disinfection.
“In hospitals, we’re not only caring for sick people,” Papp says. “We want to protect the staff, too. We want to create safe, healthy environments for our staff, patients and visitors now and in the future.”
Greener cleaning also means taking care to keep harmful chemicals out of our water and waste streams.
“We need to ensure that the chemicals we’re using aren’t destroying the environment and creating more harm in the future, causing more people to need health care,” Papp says.
7 ways health care systems can implement greener cleaning
At Providence, we strive toward best practices to implement greener cleaning across our health care system, which include:
- Use products with the Green Seal or UL ECOLOGO logo: When possible, we use products that have been certified by a third party. Practice Greenhealth provides more detailed information on green cleaning products.
- Clean before disinfecting: A disinfectant’s job is to kill germs, not remove dirt. We spend extra time cleaning high-touch areas, such as IV poles, bed rails, light switches and monitors, before disinfecting.
- Avoid harmful chemicals: When possible, we replace products that contain heavy metals (some of which can be toxic at high levels), asthmagens (which can cause asthma) and VOCs (volatile organic compounds, which can emit harmful gases into the air) with safer alternatives.
- Use safer tools: When possible, we use high-filtration vacuums, automatic scrubbers that use water instead of chemicals, and microfiber cloths and mops.
- Incorporate UV (ultraviolet light) disinfection: For high-risk rooms that require a second round of sanitation, we utilize UV disinfection to reduce chemical use.
- Train staff and update procedures: Our EVS teams receive special training specific to sustainability and safety. We develop standard operating procedures and set annual goals.
- Engage patients and staff: We have systems in place that allow caregivers, patients and their families to share input on cleanliness and safety.
You can learn more about how to implement greener cleaning in Practice Greenhealth’s Ten-Step Guide to Green Cleaning Implementation.
Greener cleaning at Providence
EVS in all locations is encouraged to review consumable products for ones that may be safer and more environmentally sound.
“The EVS team in Puget Sound, for example, has been all in — they’re just amazing, especially with how they’ve looked at their consumable products, like paper products,” Papp says. “They really leaned into it, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
When possible, EVS began replacing traditional cleaning products and rapidly renewable items, such as toilet paper, paper towels and tissues, with less wasteful, greener cleaning products and recycled paper products that were third-party certified.
“We switched over all of our can liners to ones with recycled content,” Papp says.
Another product that went under review: hand sanitizers and soap dispensers. Many of the dispensers used four D batteries. EVS switched to ones that use a single button battery instead, greatly reducing the battery waste that had to be sent out for recycling.
Another example is that many locations throughout Providence now use ionized water and automatic scrubbers. This allows EVS to clean hard surfaces using only water, reducing the need for products that contain harmful ingredients.
Proper training goes a long way as well. EVS is trained in optimal chemical selection for each of the different levels of cleaning protocols that different rooms require.
“Staff are highly trained in touchpoints, chemical selection and the PPE [personal protective equipment] they need when they’re cleaning,” Papp says.
For example, cleaning and disinfecting are very different, Papp says, and there aren’t many green disinfectants. The EVS team looks for opportunities to use a single product for disinfection, with the aim that caregivers and patients are not exposed to multiple chemicals at one time.
Across Providence, many ministries have replaced harsh disinfectants such as glutaraldehyde and ethylene oxide with safer and effective alternatives, like hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid.
Providence also uses EPA Safer Choice-certified medical instrument cleaners.
In multiple Providence regions, we’ve partnered with other local hospital systems to form a laundry co-op which helps increase the ability to use launderable cleaning items.
“We use microfiber rags, pads and dusters, which can be sent to the laundry co-op for laundering,” Papp says. “EVS is really driving that by looking at the things we use while cleaning and seeing how we can safely use reusable items.”
The laundry co-op is also driving sustainability initiatives within its own facility by reducing water, energy and natural gas use, where possible.
“EVS systemwide really drives this work— I am continually impressed by all they’re doing and how passionate they are, making sure that we have healthy environments for now and for the future,” Papp says.
How you can incorporate greener cleaning at home and at work
All of us can help create healthier environments by supporting efforts to reduce pollution and exposure to harmful chemicals through greener cleaning methods.
“Just be aware of your environment,” Papp says. “Buy cleaning chemicals for your home that contain fewer harmful chemicals, are better for the environment and have received third-party certification. Be aware of what goes in your trash can, and where your waste is going.”
“At Providence, we’re doing good work around environmental stewardship because it’s the right thing to do,” he says. “Not because we're mandated, not because we're forced by regulation. Living in the western United States, we’re surrounded by nature, by beauty everywhere, and we want to protect that. We only have one Earth. We must take care of it.”
Contributing caregiver
Frank Papp is the senior sustainability program manager at Providence Swedish Puget Sound.
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This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
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