A clean facility should not come at the cost of people or the environment. That is why more businesses are turning to green cleaning practices and certified products. Green cleaning certifications help show that certain products, services, and cleaning programs meet set health and environmental standards. They can also help businesses make better choices about the products they use and the cleaning companies they hire. In this guide, we’ll explain what green cleaning certifications are, why they matter, and how to get certified.
What Are Green Cleaning Certifications?
Green Cleaning Certification vs. Green Cleaning Products
Green cleaning certification evaluates whether a cleaning company, service program, or facility follows established environmental and operational standards. Green-certified products, on the other hand, are individual cleaning solutions that meet specific criteria related to ingredients, environmental impact, safety, or performance. Using certified products can support a green cleaning program, but it does not automatically mean the entire cleaning operation is certified. A complete green cleaning strategy may also address employee training, equipment, chemical handling, purchasing practices, waste reduction, and quality control. Understanding this distinction helps facility managers evaluate both the products being used and the overall cleaning practices behind them.
Who Provides Green Cleaning Certifications?
Green cleaning certifications are provided by independent organizations, industry associations, and government agencies that establish environmental and performance standards. These organizations create specific criteria that products, cleaning companies, or facility programs must meet before receiving certification or recognition. Examples include ISSA, Green Seal, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other environmental certification bodies. Each program focuses on different areas, such as cleaning operations, product ingredients, employee training, sustainable purchasing, or building management. Facility managers should review what each certification actually covers before using it as part of their vendor selection or sustainability planning process.
Green Cleaning Certifications and Standards You Should Know
ISSA CIMS–Green Building (CIMS-GB)
ISSA’s Cleaning Industry Management Standard, or CIMS, is designed to evaluate how professional cleaning organizations manage and deliver their services. The CIMS-Green Building designation adds requirements related to environmentally responsible cleaning practices and sustainable facility operations. It examines areas such as management systems, service delivery, health and safety, environmental stewardship, employee training, and quality control. This certification can help cleaning companies demonstrate that green cleaning is built into their operating procedures rather than treated as a temporary initiative. TC Services has earned CIMS-Green Building certification with Honors, reflecting its commitment to documented cleaning standards, environmental responsibility, and consistent service practices.
Green Seal Certification
Green Seal is an independent nonprofit organization that develops sustainability standards for products, services, and cleaning programs. Its standards consider factors such as environmental impact, human health, product performance, purchasing practices, and operational procedures. Green Seal also provides standards for commercial and institutional cleaning services, helping organizations build more structured green cleaning programs. In addition, individual cleaning products may carry Green Seal certification when they meet applicable environmental and performance requirements. Choosing Green Seal-certified products and following Green Seal-aligned practices can help facility managers support broader sustainability goals while maintaining effective cleaning standards.
EPA Safer Choice and Other Green Standards
The EPA Safer Choice program helps businesses and consumers identify cleaning products formulated with ingredients that meet the agency’s health and environmental criteria. Products carrying the Safer Choice label must also meet requirements related to performance, packaging, and ingredient transparency. The program is especially useful for organizations that want to make more informed purchasing decisions when selecting cleaning chemicals. Other environmental standards, such as UL ECOLOGO, may also be used to evaluate cleaning products based on sustainability and environmental performance. Using products recognized by reputable third-party programs can strengthen a facility’s green cleaning strategy and provide greater confidence in environmental claims.
Why Do Green Cleaning Certifications Matter?
Create Healthier Indoor Environments
Green cleaning certifications encourage the use of cleaning practices and products designed to reduce unnecessary exposure to harsh chemicals and indoor pollutants. Commercial facilities rely on cleaning products every day, so the products and procedures used can influence overall indoor environmental quality. Green cleaning programs may include low-impact cleaning products, HEPA-filtered equipment, microfiber systems, and controlled chemical dilution practices. These approaches can help reduce excessive chemical use while still supporting effective cleaning and sanitation. For offices, schools, healthcare environments, and other busy facilities, responsible cleaning practices can contribute to cleaner and more comfortable indoor spaces.
Support Sustainability and ESG Goals
Green cleaning can support broader sustainability and ESG initiatives by improving how facilities purchase supplies, manage resources, and perform routine maintenance. Organizations may use environmentally preferable products, reduce unnecessary waste, conserve water, and select equipment designed for greater efficiency. Documented green cleaning practices can also help businesses demonstrate that sustainability goals are being applied to everyday operations. Some green cleaning standards may complement larger green building initiatives, although they do not replace separate building certification requirements. By incorporating sustainable cleaning into facility management, organizations can make environmental responsibility part of their ongoing operational strategy.
Build Trust and Demonstrate Accountability
Third-party green cleaning certifications can provide greater credibility than general claims about being environmentally friendly. Certification typically requires organizations or products to meet defined standards and provide evidence that those requirements are being followed. This can make it easier for facility managers to compare cleaning providers, products, and service programs using objective criteria. Certified practices can also give employees, customers, tenants, and other stakeholders greater confidence in an organization’s environmental commitments. For commercial cleaning companies, certification demonstrates that sustainability is supported by documented systems, training, and operational procedures.
How to Get Green Cleaning Certified
Step 1: Choose the Right Green Cleaning Certification
The first step is identifying which green cleaning certification best matches your organization’s goals and operations. A cleaning service provider may need a different certification than a product manufacturer or an in-house facility management team. Compare each program’s eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, costs, training expectations, and renewal requirements before making a decision. It is also important to consider which certifications are most relevant to your clients, industry, or sustainability objectives. Choosing the right standard from the beginning can make it easier to build a focused compliance plan and avoid unnecessary changes later.
Step 2: Build and Document a Green Cleaning Program
Once a certification has been selected, review your existing cleaning program against its requirements and identify any gaps. This may involve evaluating cleaning products, equipment, employee training, purchasing policies, safety procedures, and waste management practices. Organizations should establish written procedures that explain how green cleaning standards will be followed consistently across facilities and cleaning teams. Documentation may include cleaning schedules, approved product lists, equipment maintenance records, employee training records, and quality-control procedures. Creating a structured program helps ensure that environmentally responsible cleaning becomes part of everyday operations rather than an informal or inconsistent practice.
Step 3: Complete Certification and Maintain Compliance
After the required policies and procedures are in place, organizations can begin the formal certification process. Depending on the program, this may include submitting documentation, completing assessments, undergoing third-party audits, or addressing any deficiencies identified during the review. Certification requirements should be carefully followed to ensure that the organization can demonstrate compliance with the applicable standard. Once certification is achieved, regular reviews, employee training, recordkeeping, and operational monitoring are typically needed to maintain it. Treating certification as an ongoing responsibility helps organizations preserve consistent green cleaning practices and remain prepared for future renewals or assessments.
How Green Cleaning Supports Long-Term Facility Management
Maintain Consistent Green Cleaning Standards
A successful green cleaning program depends on consistent procedures across every part of the facility. Written cleaning standards help employees understand which products to use, how chemicals should be handled, and how specific areas should be maintained. Standardized processes can also reduce variation between cleaning teams, shifts, or facility locations. Facility managers should regularly confirm that approved products, equipment, and procedures continue to meet established green cleaning requirements. Maintaining consistent standards makes it easier to support environmental goals while preserving reliable cleaning quality over time.
Train Cleaning Teams on Sustainable Practices
Employee training is essential because even environmentally preferable products must be used correctly to deliver effective results. Cleaning teams should understand proper chemical dilution, product labeling, equipment operation, waste handling, and safety procedures. Training can also cover practices such as microfiber use, cross-contamination prevention, water conservation, and responsible chemical storage. Employees should receive refresher training when procedures, products, equipment, or certification requirements change. Ongoing education helps cleaning teams apply sustainable practices consistently and supports stronger compliance with documented green cleaning standards.
Review and Improve Your Green Cleaning Program Over Time
Green cleaning programs should be reviewed regularly to make sure they continue to meet the needs of the facility. Changes in building occupancy, cleaning technology, product availability, sustainability goals, or certification standards may require procedures to be updated. Facility managers can evaluate factors such as product usage, equipment performance, employee training, cleaning quality, waste generation, and operational efficiency. Working with experienced commercial janitorial services can also help businesses identify areas where their cleaning program may need improvement. TC Services helps facilities maintain practical green cleaning practices that support long-term cleanliness, consistency, and sustainability goals.
Clean up your routine and green up your facility with TC Services.
Green cleaning certifications help businesses establish cleaning practices that support environmental responsibility, healthier indoor spaces, and consistent facility standards. Choosing recognized certifications and certified products can also help organizations make more informed decisions about their cleaning programs. Maintaining these standards requires proper products, documented procedures, employee training, and regular evaluation. TC Services provides professional green cleaning solutions designed to help businesses maintain clean facilities while supporting their sustainability goals. Contact TC Services today to learn how our green cleaning services can support your facility.
