Greening the Supply Chain Series: Upstream and Downstream it All Comes out in the Wash: Greening Laundry Chemicals

Overview

Session Description

Mark Petruzzi, Sr. VP of Outreach & Strategic Relations at Green Seal will discuss the environmental and health impacts of laundry chemicals and how the new Green Seal standard (GS-51) addresses those impacts. He will give a brief overview of Green Seal's stakeholder-based standard-development process and the requirements for certification, including audits of laundry facilities. He will inform attendees about the life cycle considerations of laundry chemicals, including the importance of efficacy. And he will track the increase in specification and use of green cleaning products seen among institutions during Green Seal's 24 years in the industry. This includes recent references to GS-51 by Practice Greenhealth and the state of Massachusetts. Attendees will come away with a much clearer understanding of the effectiveness of sustainable laundry care products and the importance of their use in protecting people and the planet.

Learning Objectives

Realize how laundry chemicals impact human health and the environment.
Learn how Green Seal defines green laundry chemicals under their GS-51 standard.
Understand how chemical manufacturers can offer greener laundry products.
Recognize the market leadership opportunities in using a green laundry service.

Presenter

Mark Petruzzi, Sr. VP of Outreach & Strategic Relations, Green Seal

Mark leads Green Seal's engagement with purchasers, industry groups, trade associations and other external organizations that share Green Seal's goal of a more sustainable marketplace. Over the last 18 years, he has conducted research on the life cycle impacts of products and services, developed criteria to address key impacts, and evaluated products and services for compliance with Green Seal's standards in a wide range of product and service categories. Previously he directed Green Seal's Certification Program. He holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and a M.S. in civil and environmental engineering from The George Washington University.