Chicago, IL - What we can expect in the near future - and in some cases it is occurring already - is for cleaning contractors to be asked to verify to new and current customers how they are operating their own businesses in a more sustainable manner.

Already, very large customers will have some program in place requiring all vendors to meet specific environmental and sustainable guidelines. Aware this is right around the corner, this month's Business of the Business from Tornado Industries focuses on just how cleaning contractors can become more sustainable and environmentally responsible.

Here are 10 ways to become a sustainable cleaning contractor:   

1. Select green-certified cleaning products and implement a green cleaning program for your office; include green-certified hand soap, liners, paper products, high-filtration vacuum cleaners, matting, etc.

2. Implement fair and equitable employment practices (sustainability involves products, the planet, and people)

3. Encourage carpooling of staff to work locations and from location to location

4. Wherever possible, route facilities to be cleaned by time and area; e.g., from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., customers in a specific geographic area are serviced

5. Leave cleaning equipment stored in facilities cleaned; this can help reduce the need to truck equipment from location to location

6. Take steps to use water more efficiently in your own office; install low-flow/no-flow toilets, faucets, and urinals in all restrooms

7. Select fuel efficient cars such as hybirds and even electric cars

8. Turn off all office lights and power equipment at the end of the day

9. Replace older cleaning equipment with new cleaning equipment; newer machines are designed to use less energy, water, and have less impact on the environment

10. Develop some sort of monitoring system to keep track of your sustainabity initiatives...we can't manage what we can't measure

"Many businesses discover they save money by becoming more sustainable," adds Michael Schaffer, President and CEO of Tornado Industries. "This makes sustainability a winning proposition all around."