“Going green” is far more than a catchphrase or trend. The benefits of reducing your business’ negative environmental impact go beyond being a good steward of the earth. Businesses that have adopted more sustainable practices tend to provide safer, healthier environments for their employees and customers alike -- something especially important for restaurants. As a result, these companies often see a reputational boost, which translates to a stronger bottom line. The question many restaurants find themselves asking is how to cultivate greener practices in their workplace. Fortunately, the solutions aren’t as out of reach as you might think. Here’s how to implement greener practices in your commercial restaurant cleaning protocols to ensure your food and people remain safe.

How to Be Greener Cleaning Your Restaurant

Invest in Green Cleaning Equipment and Products

The first step to achieving greener cleaning practices is to invest in equipment and products designed with sustainability in mind. Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Green Seal (and other entities) have standards for cleaning agents that make it easy to identify products that are non-toxic, non-hazardous, readily biodegradable, designed for cold water use, and so on. Likewise, the cleaning equipment you use in your restaurant should be efficient and meet relevant standards (such as those set by the Carpet and Rug Institute) to minimize dust and retain safe indoor air quality -- CRI-approved HEPA vacuum cleaners are one such example. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a business’ cleaning practices can only be deemed green commercial cleaning if at least 90% of cleaning chemicals purchased annually meet either a Green Seal or EPA standard.

Dispose of Food in Sustainable Ways

Food waste runs rampant in restaurants of all sizes and types. Finding ways to reduce this waste is key for cultivating a greener facility. Moreover, the way you dispose of your restaurant’s waste can have major repercussions on the environment. Focusing on green waste removal requires that you use Green Seal paper products (i.e., paper towels, toilet paper, seat covers, etc.), which meet or exceed recycling requirements set by the USGBC. Your trash liners should also live up to EPA standards. Choosing these more eco-friendly waste removal products will decrease your restaurant’s carbon footprint while continuing to keep your facility safe and sanitary.

Train Restaurant Staff in Green Cleaning Methods

No amount of green equipment, chemicals, or paper products will make your restaurant truly sustainable if your employees don’t know how to properly use all of it. While certain products are straightforward in their operation, others require some amount of training. You or a qualified professional should provide this training, depending on the specific product or protocol. Regardless, a well-trained workforce is essential for keeping your restaurant sustainable and safe overall.

Hire Cleaning Professionals Dedicated to Green Practices

If you run a larger restaurant, you might lack the in-house resources necessary to ensure proper green cleaning practices. In this case, it’s worth it to outsource these duties to a reliable commercial cleaning company that delivers green janitorial services, green cleaning products, and more. The Budd Group is a proud member of the USGBC, providing our dedication to managing facilities in an environmentally responsible manner. Our well-trained cleaning staff can help you reduce your restaurant’s impact on the environment through our family of green programs, which exceed LEED standards and meet CIMS-GB standards.

We also provide environmentally-friendly solutions for customers who are currently pursuing LEED certification to help them reach compliance.

Whether you’re seeking professionals to train your restaurant janitorial services and bolster your current protocols -- or you need to outsource your green cleaning needs entirely, The Budd Group has your back. To learn more about our services and values, give us a call today at 800-221-8158!