The largest annual cleaning tradeshow in North America is taking place next week and the EcoLogo team will be hitting the road to show exhibitors how to put the “green” into clean.

From September 8-11, ISSA/INTERCLEAN® North America will be taking over the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada. The theme is “Business not as Usual” and we would have to agree.

New at this year’s show is a Green Connection Pavillion where eco-labeling programs such as EcoLogo and the Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA) as well as environmentally preferable cleaning product manufacturers will be sharing their sustainable ideas and services.

The EcoLogo Program is especially excited to be making its August 2008 EcoMarkets Janitorial & Sanitation Products Study available at this year’s show. The results from this study help Jan/San purchasing professionals to better understand what drives purchasing decisions and what purchasers expect from environmentally preferable cleaning products, creating the opportunity for greater market share.

For more about the EcoMarkets Janitorial & Sanitation Products Study, contact ecomarkets@terrachoice.com and check back for news from the show.

We have some exciting news to share…

TerraChoice Environmental Marketing and the Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA) have announced that CFPA is joining forces with the EcoLogo Program, demonstrating how eco-labels can work toward a common goal.

“The harmonization of these two certifications will mean easier decision-making for purchasing professionals and greater sustainability in the working environment,” says Scott McDougall, President and CEO of TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, which manages the EcoLogo Program.

The EcoLogo Program is expanding its presence in the United States and, with its new partnership with CFPA, will be providing businesses with regional expertise in the Chicago area along with its existing office in Philadelphia.

What does this partnership mean for EcoLogo and CFPA clients? It represents additional benefits for environmental leaders, including discounted audit/verification and licensing fees for clients who seek both certifications as well as a single audit for both certifications. Both EcoLogo and CFPA currently have standards for bath, tissue and copy papers.

Archie Beaton, Executive Director of CFPA, adds, “This new relationship between CFPA and EcoLogo will result in cost savings to those operating in the pulp, paper, packaging and printing markets while providing added value for companies looking to promote their environmental performance under the sustainable manufacturing initiative.”

Residents in Laval, Quebec, and its surrounding area got a pleasant surprise recently when they received the latest copy of their Yellow Pages™ directory. The directory includes the new ecoFinder section, which aims to bring together green buyers and sellers.

Yellow Pages Group (YPG) launched this pilot project in response to the growing trend in responsible consumption and to a recent survey demonstrating a high level of interest among Quebec residents for this type of reference tool. The purpose of the new ecoFinder section is to promote businesses that offer environmentally-preferable products or services or who have leading environmental operational practices.

Annie Marsolais, Director of Corporate Communications for YPG expresses the mission of the ecoFinder section: “we want to provide consumers with the most accurate resource to make informed purchasing decisions that contribute to environmental sustainability.”

TerraChoice helped develop the screening criteria used by YPG to identify companies that qualified for the ecoFinder section. The criteria included existing third-party certifications such as EcoLogo and Energy Star®.

Of the 40 categories identified for the ecoFinder section, here is a sampling of what you can expect to find: Ecotourism, Landscaping Products & Services, and Clothing, Footwear & Fashion Accessories. Businesses that were selected within these categories offer the following: sustainable hostelling practices, organic farming methods, greener products, and more.

If you’re a Canadian resident living in York or Ottawa, Ontario; Burnaby, New Westminster or Vancouver, British-Columbia; or Montreal, Quebec, keep your eye out for the ecoFinder section in your local Yellow Pages™ directory over the next few months.

And as the people at YPG like to remind us, don’t forget to recycle your old Yellow Pages™ directory.

Clean Edge and Co-op America recently released a report that suggests solar power could reach one-tenth of the U.S. energy supply by the year 2025, as posted on GreenBiz.com.

The Utility Solar Assessment (USA) Study finds that in order to truly increase solar power usage in the U.S., utilities will be required to play a more active role. Utilities are asked to take advantage of solar power, especially during peak periods when grid congestion is high, and to develop new business models to adapt to these new market realities. 

The report identifies solar companies and regulators and policy makers as other key stakeholders in delivering solar energy. Solar energy companies are tasked with streamlining processes such as installation and making technology more user-friendly. Regulators and policy makers are told they must make significant, long-term investments as well as production tax credits for solar and other renewable energies.

Here at TerraChoice, our science team is reviewing the EcoLogo criteria for renewable, low-impact electricity, which includes solar, wind, water, biomass and biogas-fueled systems. We’re also looking into geothermal as well as tidal and ocean energies as additions to this list. 

GreenBiz.com also remarks on how solar power is quickly becoming a cost-effective alternative to fossil fuel-based energy sources. That certainly peaked our interest. Download the USA Study from SolarCatalyst.org and stay tuned for more EcoLogo renewable, low-impact electricity news and for information on how to participate in this category’s review process.