The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) has launched the Charter for Sustainable Cleaning, a voluntary initiative to promote and demonstrate continual improvement in the cleaning products industry’s sustainability profile.

The Charter was unveiled during the ACI’s 2014 Annual Meeting & Industry Convention.

The Charter, which is designed to go beyond basic legal requirements, provides a framework for driving the industry toward common sustainability goals. It requires companies to have systems in place for continual assessment, review, and improvement of sustainability performance, including raw material selection, resource use, and occupational health and safety, at every important stage of the product lifecycle.

“By participating in the Charter, companies will have a means of demonstrating their commitment to continuous improvement in key aspects of sustainability relative to the cleaning product supply chain,” said Ernie Rosenberg, ACI President & CEO.

The Charter – available at www.cleaninginstitute.org/charter – exists as a guideline for best practices in sustainability and consists of three required components:

1. Charter companies must formally commit to the ACI Principles for Sustainability.
2. Charter companies must participate in ACI’s Sustainability Metrics Program.
3. Charter companies must work toward implementing a set of Essential Sustainability Procedures and Activities (SPAs), which apply to the design, raw material use, manufacture, consumer use and disposal of products and packaging, to become members of the Charter.

“ACI’s Charter for Sustainable Cleaning creates a credible industry-wide initiative for continual assessment, review and improvement of sustainability performance at major stages of the product lifecycle,” said Brian Sansoni, ACI Vice President of Sustainability Initiatives.

The ACI Charter is based in part on the A.I.S.E. Charter for Sustainable Cleaning, a voluntary initiative of the European soaps, detergents and maintenance products industry developed by ACI’s sister trade association, A.I.S.E.

"In developing the ACI Charter over the past two years, we wanted to make sure it addressed the needs of both cleaning product manufacturers and chemical suppliers, which make up the bulk of ACI’s membership," added Sansoni.

"Leaders throughout the cleaning product supply chain recognize that operating sustainably needs to be a part of the company’s DNA. More and more companies are seeing sustainability-related questions and issues raised by their stakeholders, including their customers and employees, retailers, consumers, investors, policymakers and other interest groups.

"We hope that ACI’s Charter for Sustainable Cleaning can help drive sustainability performance improvements across the cleaning products industry."

ACI member companies seeking more information about the Charter for Sustainable Cleaning can contact Melissa Bernardo, ACI Manager for Sustainability Programs, at sustainability@cleaninginstitute.org.

The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $30 billion U.S. cleaning products market. ACI members include the formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and oleochemical producers. ACI (www.cleaninginstitute.org) and its members are dedicated to improving health and the quality of life through sustainable cleaning products and practices.

American Cleaning Institute (ACI)

American Cleaning Institute (ACI)

The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI) represents formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and oleochemical producers. ACI (www.cleaninginstitute.org) and its members are dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of consumers through sustainable cleaning products and practices.

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