Green Cleaning Firm Launches New Web Site

With the new site, The Ashkin Group LLC is striving to illustrate how green cleaning can be beneficial in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare and education. The site, launched in April 2008, is a project spearheaded by Ashkin technology director Eric Hauck.

“It has a lot more functionality for users,” explains Hauck. “We wanted to present green cleaning in a much more easy to understand format.”

President of The Ashkin Group, LLC., Stephen Ashkin, has been a leader in the effort to green the cleaning and maintenance industry for more than 15 years. He is a writer, speaker, and advocate for safer and healthier cleaning methods.

Among the materials available on the site is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about green cleaning. “We included the FAQ section because we wanted [the Web site] to be designed for those just now being introduced to green cleaning as well as those who are pros,” says Ashkin. “This is our second Web site and with each one we try to get more inclusive, more helpful, and more informative.”

The site is located at www.ashkingroup.com/homenew.html

About Stephen Ashkin and The Ashkin Group
Stephen P. Ashkin is president of The Ashkin Group, a consulting firm specializing in Greening the Cleaning process and executive director of the Green Cleaning Network, both based in Bloomington, IN.

Safer Detergents To Be Recognized by EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment (DfE) Program has announced the Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI). Through SDSI, the DfE Program will recognize environmental leaders who voluntarily commit to the use of safer surfactants. These surfactants are defined by the program as those that break down quickly to non-polluting compounds and help protect aquatic life.

DfE will recognize businesses engaged in the production or use of surfactants, as well as those involved in the purchase or distribution of products containing surfactants. Others, including non-profit organizations, may qualify through actively encouraging the use of safer surfactants.

A fact sheet on the initiative and an application for recognition are available for download on DfE's web site at www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/formulat/sdsi.htm.

Applications must be submitted no later than May 30, 2008. Awards will be presented in late 2008 in Washington, DC.

Whatever your role, the awards can help to identify detergents that can be used to help to protect our natural environment.

Interested parties can contact David DiFiore at EPA by sending an e-mail to: difiore.david@epa.gov