COVER STORY

By Nur Atifi of course, energy efficiency. While it is one of the considerations in conserving the environment, many tend to overlook the maintenance aspect of the building, namely cleaning. Frost & Sullivan believes green cleaning is becoming an integral part of the Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) market. In fact, the IFM market itself is evolving into Green IFM (GIFM). It is also said the component of green cleaning, in addition to the material & equipment (M&E) and environmental services, is an important service provision by IFM and GIFM providers. Many of us may begin to wonder on how green cleaning can differ from the traditional cleaning. According to Frost & Sullivan, green cleaning includes hard cleaning, carpet cleaning, dry foam cleaning, external wall cleaning, machinery cleaning, window cleaning, and waste disposal, among others. For one, green cleaning does not only encompass all janitorial activities, it takes into consideration the processes as well. This includes all products used, trainings, procedures and initiatives designed to protect the health of occupants without harming the environment. Among the primary concern in traditional cleaning is the use of harmful chemicals in its cleaning activities. Green cleaning chemicals are now certified by independent and voluntary organisations, where environmentallyfriendly ingredients in cleaning products are preferred as opposed to others that perform similar functions. More often than not, these green cleaning solutions do the job just as well. Nonetheless, there are those taking this upon their shoulders to advocate green cleaning as the way to go. In this respect, Harta Maintenance Sdn Bhd (Harta) offers the market its credential for being a pioneer in both traditional and green cleaning services in Malaysia. Unlike its western counterparts, the green cleaning industry in Malaysia does not have a long legacy. Back in the early 1980s, there were little to no competition for Harta in the sector, as cleaning was seen as a sweep-and-mop job at that time. The mindset of most Malaysians used to be different when it comes to cleaning, however the perception is slowly changing now. It will make a great difference as to where the buildings maintenance is concern if cleaning and hygiene services would be the first thing on the building owners mind. It was only done when needed, opines Datuk Radzali Hassan, Group Managing Director of Harta, who is a strong advocate in green cleaning. Though the green movement became popular over the last decade, the idea behind the concept has long been discussed by various industries. By 1985, Harta partnered with producers of environmentally-friendly products from the United States and United Kingdom. Radzali clarifies: At that time, they were not called green products. They are labelled as biodegradable products. Hartas shift to using such products resonates well with the US Environmental Protection Agencys definition of green cleaning, which involves the use of cleaning methods and products with environmentally-friendly ingredients, designed to preserve human health and environmental quality. Radzali says: As our workers were multiplying, the priority was to ensure the safety of our workforce. We have to make sure the right products, such as chemicals and materials, are used. We cant afford to have our workers face with hazardous products. Back in those days, people can be ignorant and nave about the usage of cleaning products. When you use the wrong cleaning chemicals, the workers are affected, in addition to the long-term effect to the environment.
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Sweeping under the carpet is not their style. Going head on, the green cleaning players champion the cause amidst all issues and drawbacks.

Clean Up, Green Up

he words Green and Sustainability are no strangers in todays business environment. Many upcoming business developments are now based on these concepts, where conserving the environment may come part and parcel with ones value proposition. In fact, the Malaysian government is fostering a wide range of small to medium businesses in the country to delve into the development of green technology, through its Economic Transformation Programme. Moreover, the government is encouraging the adoption of green technologies, as decreed under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA). Moving the spotlight towards the Business Services NKEA, the green concept will in turn inspire myriad of sectors falling under this particular segment, including property sectors, and water and waste sector. As Malaysia is finalising its roadmap for green technology, the anticipated key focus areas around the environmental and building technologies markets are centred on green buildings (design, materials, construction, and maintenance), new waste treatment options and management, efficient water treatment and supply, and water minimisation equipment in buildings, reveals global growth consulting firm, Frost & Sullivan.

Datuk Radzali: It will make a great difference as to where the buildings maintenance is concern if cleaning and hygiene services would be the first thing on the building owners mind. Greener Pastures

Frost & Sullivan says should green cleaning be adopted 100-percent in all green buildings, it has a potential to contribute up to 30-percent of the index scores.
2011, the concept of green cleaning to be spreading like wildfire in the past decade. Green cleaning products for the consumer market quadrupled in sales from US$17.7 million in 2003 to US$64.5 million in 2008. By 2013, anticipated sales of green cleaners will grow to US$623 million and account for 30-percent of the household cleaners market, compared with just 3-percent in 2008 (Ebenkamp 2009). Other market data and projections are more ambitious, it says. Based on the upward growth of the adoption of green solutions worldwide, we are confident the values will continue in its upward trajectory. Commenting on the green trends, Mandy Au, a project officer under the GBI, says: As a holistic approach, there is obviously a need for Green Cleaning for the build industry. The concept is not something new in Malaysia only, but throughout the world. (However), it will take time for awareness to grow.

Establishments such as hospitals need more than just air quality to ensure the safety of its occupants.

As suggested by Frost & Sullivan, the construction of green buildings is picking up throughout Malaysia. Many organisations are beginning to realise the impact a building can have towards the environment. According to the GreenBuildingIndex Sdn Bhd, which oversees the countrys green rating tool for buildings and towns (Green Building Index or GBI), a green building focuses on increasing the efficiency of resources used, be it energy, water or materials. It also reduces the impact it has on human health and the environment throughout its lifecycle. This means the facility must be intended to be a green building right from the start; from design, construction, operation, maintenance to its removal. The first element that comes to mind in making a building greener or sustainable is,

Green for Clean

The concept of green cleaning is not something new globally; many independent green cleaning companies are now competing directly with IFM companies. Through their offering of green solutions, services from these independent providers may vary from quality, and extensiveness of green elements, opines Frost & Sullivan. While there isnt a true market indication for the green cleaning industry, the magnitude of the need for green cleaning products can provide an inkling to the potential this industry has. The US-based Air Quality Sciences Inc notes in its Green Cleaning for Health updated report in

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COVER STORY
saving up to 90% of water used. This technology eliminates or uses minimal chemicals to do cleaning and kill bacteria, shares Radzali. However, the common perception of many is if you were to clean without any chemicals, it is therefore not as clean. Dr. S Chackrapani Pillay of the Malaysian Environment Cleaning Sciences Sdn Bhd (MECSc) believes this misconception must change. Many tend to believe without the use of chemicals, it will not be clean. In fact, lets say if the detergent used to clean does not foam, it is immediately written off as not effective, shares Dr. Chackrapani. This is simply not true. I believe it should be quality over quantity. If you use good chemicals, which are not harmful to the environment and the people around it, the results are the same (if not better). In unison Radzali adds: Of course, there will be processes requiring chemicals. We try our best to use products that are better for the environment, like our EcoForce products. You dont need to use a lot, but it still provides efficiency in the usage. cleaning in their policies, as well as its enforcement. The government should be leading the way, due to the fact they are among the first users and advocates of the green building concept in Malaysia. Awareness by green building owners and government end-users exist, but the uptake of green cleaning is somewhat lethargic. Formal guidelines are blurred, if any, or there is no one standard format definition on green cleaning, and therefore, end-users may have their own perception of green, shares Leong. We are sure this is something the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry (KeTTHA), and other regulatory bodies can look into as green cleaning is definitely the next step forward in the cleaning industry a trend moving in line with Malaysias own aspirations of becoming a green economy. for green cleaning are specifically outlined and covered under the existing building category. Under the Non-Residential Existing Building (NREB) and Industrial Existing Building (IEB) rating tools, Au brings to attention some of the key requirements related to green cleaning in the GBI, and they include: SM2 on Building Exterior Management stipulates the use of environmentally non-polluting methods and chemicals for cleaning of building exterior including maintenance equipment, chemicals, paint and sealants. SM3 on Integrated Pest Management, Erosion Control & Landscape Management relates to employing environmentally sensitive management to preserve the sites natural components; minimise harmful chemical use etc. MR4 on Sustainable Purchasing Policy covers green cleaning product purchases. Green Cleaning is also covered (directly or indirectly) for both New and Existing buildings under the relevant criteria such as Indoor Air Pollutants (EQ4), Mould Prevention (EQ5), Indoor Air Quality before and during occupancy (EQ14) and Advanced Air Filtration (IN1), she adds. Despite the many criteria highlighted by the GBI in relations to green cleaning, Leong opines there must be a more apparent regulation from the green building rating organisation, thus making green cleaning compulsory. Both Radzali and Dr. Chackrapani feel more can be done. There is no requirement specifically highlighting green cleaning in the GBI. Green cleaning is just generally highlighted in the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) requirement for the rating tool, which mostly concentrates on the quality of the air, says Radzali. Leong adds: There must be a more apparent regulation from GBI that make green cleaning compulsory. Green

Dr. Chackrapani strongly believes government agencies need to highlight green cleaning in their policies, as well as its enforcement.
Thus, Harta moved away from petroleum by-product and used products that are holistically safe. It was an educational process for us as well at that time. There was no formal indication or institution that could provide us with information about green, he adds. But slowly there were institutions established in the UK and US, such as the British Institute of Cleaning Science and ISSA (The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association), to provide guidelines.

The Green Standard

Cleaning Awareness

Innovation in Cleaning

With that, Harta is now championing the green cleaning industry in Malaysia, through its constant research and development efforts to fulfil its green cleaning business model. Complementing its eco-label chemicals, Harta is also replacing the many traditional cleaning technologies and equipment. Take cleaning a carpet, for example. The task was a tedious and heavily water reliant but with innovation, Harta is moving in the right direction. Shares Radzali: We are now moving towards using dry method system, whereby no water is used to clean the carpet, instead environmentally-safe chemical are used. Another innovative cleaning method is through steam vapour virtually no use of chemical. We are now using steam technology for general cleaning that gives
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Like many specialised industries, there are various issues and challenges to address from all fronts. This is common, especially when there is no specific standard or regulations set for green cleaning providers to follow. In line with Aus views of the industrys awareness, Frost & Sullivan concurs on the lack of such consciousness, as well as clarity about green cleaning services and its benefits. Awareness in general public and consumers are somewhat low, but we believe it is higher in urban areas. Companies such as Amway and Cosway (direct selling companies) provide green cleaning products, but the reach to the general public is low due to its business model, shares Melvin Leong, Research Manager, Asia Pacific, Environmental & Building Technologies, Frost & Sullivan. Dr. Chackrapani strongly believes government agencies Green Buildings Market: Percentage of Carbon Emitted by Sector, Asia-Pacific, 2011 need to highlight green

Frost & Sullivan also reveals the lack of clear certification avenues for green cleaning products in Malaysia, with the closest being SIRIM. It adds there should be other entities for green products certification. Hartas Radzali reiterates there is also no green cleaning standards set by governing bodies, which feature an all-encompassing policy for the industry. Nonetheless, independent bodies such as the GBI are placing green cleaning standards in its requirements for green buildings. Despite the claims made about the lack of policies in the GBI by industry quarters, Au stresses it is not true: requirements

Leong: There must be a more apparent regulation from GBI that make green cleaning compulsory
cleaning is not getting enough attention when compared to energy efficiency and water usage minimisation in a building. As mentioned, should green cleaning be adopted 100-percent in all green buildings, it has a potential to contribute up to 30-percent of the index scores.

Hygiene Matters Too

GBI framework breakdown

Source: GBI

While GBIs policies are seen to focus on the air quality when it comes to green cleaning, the head of Harta, however, is trying to push the industry to pursue the hygienicallyclean standard, where such service is not just limited to using environmentallyfriendly products. Though Radzali agrees the overall atmosphere can affect the whole environment in a building, he share establishments such as hospitals need more than just air quality to ensure the safety of its occupants. Due to the nature of a hospital being a melting pot of bacteria and germs, green cleaning services are most welcome to minimise the spread of these harmful microbes from one section to another without the use of harmful chemicals. In government hospitals, we need to use only chemicals approved by the Ministry of Health, otherwise we will be fined heavily, shares Dr. Chackrapani. Thus, green cleaning is a blessing in disguise for the healthcare sector. According to Leong, this is in line with Frost & Sullivans growth observation of
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