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Back to School with Green and Healthy Products

By ASBO International posted 07-29-2015 08:42

  

Maintaining a healthy learning environment is an important part of making sure that every child can learn. But all too often, conventional products—from computers to paints to cleaning supplies—expose school occupants to toxic chemicals that can pollute the indoor air. Children and staff who can't concentrate, miss school, or are uncomfortable in class because of unhealthy school environments will not succeed. Fortunately, reducing toxic chemicals in school cleaning supplies and other products will reduce air pollutants inside schools and will benefit all occupants, especially those with asthma or environmental sensitivities. 

That’s why ASBO International and the Coalition for Healthier Schools (CHS) are promoting green and healthy products in schools. ASBO International and CHS have released two toolkits to help school district leaders procure healthy, green products for maintaining clean and healthy school environments. 

  1. Green Cleaning for Healthy Schools Toolkit – This toolkit contains PowerPoint presentations on green cleaning for new custodial staff and general audiences; tips and factsheets for parents, teachers, and vendors; a green cleaning checklist; a Cleaning for Healthy Schools poster from the National Association of School Nurses; guidance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; model state/district green cleaning policies; cost reports; and more. 

  2. Healthy Products for Healthy Schools Toolkit – This toolkit offers information about safe disinfectants for schools; how to avoid falling for false environmental marketing claims when procuring products (Greenwashing); and other healthy-product articles and resources from the Work Group on Green Cleaning and Chemical Policy Reform in Schools and ASBO International.


Here are just a few ways school districts can use greener products to support healthier school environments. 

  • Select nontoxic (low-emission) school supplies, such as nontoxic markers and pens, and notebooks and binders made without PVC plastics.

  • Select EPEAT-rated electronics to minimize toxic chemicals, reduce the disposal costs of outdated electronics, and save on energy. (EPEAT is a certification system for greener electronics.)

  • Don’t allow cleaning or disinfecting products brought from home to be used in classrooms.

  • Ensure schools are using money-saving, third-party-certified green cleaning products. (Reliable certifiers are Green Seal [US] and UL-E [EcoLogo].) If schools are already using green products, the products can be diluted with water for wiping up sticky spills in classrooms.  

  • If schools plan to do any interior painting in the coming year, ensure they use low-emission, third-party-certified interior wall or ceiling paints. These paints will help reduce indoor air pollutants.  


For more tips on green cleaning, healthy products, and CHS, visit www.cleaningforhealthyschools.org.

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