Kitchen Cleaning: So Fresh, So Green
Eco-friendly cleaning products and techniques are cheaper, more effective and more widely available than ever.
By Kate Leahy, Senior Associate Editor -- Restaurants & Institutions, August 1, 2009
|
| More kitchens seek green cleaners |
Only a couple of years ago, well-meaning chefs who tried to make the switch to greener cleaning products ran into several obstacles. An all-natural hand soap came at a steep cost. A floor cleaner was available through only one obscure vendor. And an effective, eco-friendly degreaser? Next to impossible to find. The results: spotty—in both meanings of the word.
John des Rosiers first tried out earth-friendly cleaning products a few years ago while working as executive chef at Bank Lane Bistro in Lake Forest, Ill. After a few frustrating efforts, a lot of extra elbow grease and several complaints from staff, he abandoned the trial and returned to conventional products.
“My approach to sustainability is driven by common sense,” he says. “It only works if it works for us and for our guests.”
Now he's telling a different story. At Inovasi, des Rosier's four-month-old restaurant in neighboring Lake Bluff, 95% of the kitchen cleaning is done with one cleaner: a more sustainable, citrus-based light degreaser. A mix of natural soap and water cleans the floors. He still buys a conventional degreaser for the carbon buildup that forms on the back of the range, but uses it only once a week and in limited quantities (a few quarts last a month). But as far as using greener cleaners goes, “It's not a tough fit anymore,” des Rosiers says.
He's not alone. Thanks to improvements in product availability and performance, more chefs are finding that green products are a viable, even preferable, addition to their cleaning arsenals.
Market Watch
The improvement in green cleaning products is partially a result of the increase in demand, which has been notable, particularly in the household cleaning market.
According to Chicago-based researcher Mintel, the market for eco-friendly household cleaning products ballooned to $64.5 million in 2008 from $17.7 million in 2003. Mintel expects that despite the recession, demand for greener cleaners will remain strong for years to come, with the products' market growing to $623 million and accounting for about 30% of the total household cleaning market by 2013.
One reason for the products' appeal is their immediately realized effect. Unlike other sustainability-oriented initiatives, such as reducing energy consumption, using cleaners that have more-natural components and fewer added chemicals directly affects the user's home or work environment.
The booming interest in household cleaners hasn't gone unnoticed by manufacturers and distributors. Suppliers of conventional professional cleaning products are coming out with green lines, and green-cleaning start-ups are bringing their wares to market, making products a lot easier to find.
Unlike in the past, “Broadline companies now carry a wide range of products,” notes Joshua Linton, executive chef of ajasteak at the Dana Hotel in Chicago. He has opted to use greener cleaning supplies since the restaurant opened a year ago. A greater variety of green cleaners also means that the products, although still higher-priced on average than conventional cleaners, aren't as cost-prohibitive as they once were. At Inovasi, des Rosiers says the 10% to 15% more he pays for a greener degreaser is worth it.
Sourcing Solutions
Still, finding effective (and truly green) products isn't easy. When tidbit bistro opened in Seattle in 2007, co-owner John van Deinse started to use a green sanitizer. But he wasn't sure how green the product really was. He also wasn't entirely satisfied with the green floor cleaner he was using. “There's a lot of ambiguity,” says van Deinse. He partnered with Boston-based Green Restaurant Association for guidance and found an effective, biodegradable floor cleaner made with enzymes that break down dirt and grease. “For me, just looking at the brighter color of the floor makes it worth it,” he says.
Other efforts operators can undertake include getting vendors and suppliers involved. “There are a lot of good products out there, but it doesn't make sense for us to buy one product from one source, one product from another source,” says Jesus Ochoa, executive steward at the InterContinental hotel in San Francisco. “We try to maximize what our suppliers can do for us.”
For the hotel to meet its goal of becoming LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) -certified, it needs to use green cleaners throughout the property. With Ochoa's encouragement, a local company that handles the property's janitorial services tests out new green products weekly. Meanwhile, the hotel's chemical supplier is bringing Ochoa more green cleaning items to help the property meet LEED standards.
Good Housekeeping
Traditional household cleaning techniques can supplement an operator's arsenal of purchased cleaners. At ajasteak, Linton makes a fizzy combination of baking soda and vinegar to clean drains and carpet stains. He also keeps a spray bottle of distilled vinegar and water on hand for a quick clean-up of a countertop. Cooks at A16 in San Francisco use a similar solution of vinegar and water to clean the marble counter used for stretching pizza dough.
“Clean is clean,” Linton says. “Kitchens that are maintained properly will always need to be kept clean. What has changed is that we are more conscientious in how we achieve that professional level of cleanliness.”
Contact writer at kate.leahy@reedbusiness.com
|
What's Green?
It's not enough for a product to call itself all-natural. Here, a few things to look for on the label.
-
pH Balance Green cleaners tend to have moderate pH levels. Look for levels between 4 and 11.5. (Bleach is greater than 13.)
-
Enzymes These natural protein-based molecules break down grease and dirt; their effectiveness improves with long-term use. Because they're natural, they are also biodegradable.
-
VOCs Volatile organic compounds, carbon-based chemicals found in products from cleaners to paint, can cause health problems. Look for labels that say low or no VOCs.
-
Refillable Containers How a product is packaged can be just as important as its contents. Ask vendors if they offer refillable green cleaning products.
No related content found.
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
