How Commercial Cleaning on the Gold Coast Can Help You Achieve B Corp Certification

If you plan to start working towards B Corp certification, you aim to demonstrate a high commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

Every facet of your business, from supply chains to daily operations, must reflect the values of sustainability, transparency, and community engagement. Did you know that your cleaning company can also play a significant role in helping you meet these goals? Partnering with a cleaning company that understands B Corp requirements can be a valuable step towards certification. 

Employee Wellbeing and Labor Practices

One of the core pillars of B Corp certification is the treatment of employees, including your own and those of the companies you work with. Partnering with a cleaning service that values fair labor practices, such as paying fair wages, providing benefits, and fostering an inclusive work culture, directly contributes to the social impact portion of the B Corp assessment.

Your cleaning company can also ensure their employees are well-trained and empowered to use sustainable, safe cleaning techniques. This commitment to both employee wellbeing and environmental responsibility reflects well on your business, as B Corp evaluates not just your direct workforce but also your supply chain.

Health and Safety in the Workplace

Workplace safety and hygiene have become more critical than ever. B Corp certification considers how businesses maintain a safe, healthy environment for their workers. A cleaning company that follows strict hygiene protocols, such as infection control procedures, and prioritizes indoor air quality can help you meet these high standards.

Using non-toxic, low-VOC products and regularly cleaning and disinfecting your space can significantly improve indoor air quality. This boosts employee health and productivity, another factor that B Corp certification measures in its assessment of workplace conditions.

Community and Environmental Engagement

Being a B Corp means demonstrating a tangible commitment to the community and environment. Partnering with a cleaning service that actively engages in community efforts—such as your cleaning company's partnership with the Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force project—strengthens your own environmental and social impact profile.

A cleaning partner that integrates community outreach and environmental projects can help you amplify your community engagement, a crucial part of B Corp certification. This not only positively impacts your business but also makes a lasting difference in your local community.

Transparency and Accountability

Transparency is a cornerstone of B Corp certification. Your cleaning company can help you meet this criterion by providing clear documentation of its sustainable practices, labor standards, and environmental impact. Detailed reporting on cleaning processes, materials used, and the steps it takes to reduce waste and conserve energy can be valuable for your certification process.

Moreover, collaborating with a cleaning partner who shares your values can create an open dialogue about continuous improvement. This fosters a sense of accountability on both sides, ensuring that your business is always working toward the highest ethical and operational standards.

Why It Matters

B Corp certification isn't just a badge; it's a commitment to using business as a force for good. Achieving this certification requires aligning every aspect of your company with values of social and environmental responsibility. A cleaning company that shares your passion for sustainability, community, and transparency can help you get there faster.

Your cleaning partner is essential in your B Corp certification journey by integrating eco-friendly practices, reducing resource consumption, and upholding high labour standards. Together, you can create a healthier, more sustainable workplace and positively impact the planet.

Are you looking to partner with a cleaning company that can help you achieve B Corp certification? Let's discuss how our sustainable cleaning services align with your values and help you meet your certification goals. Contact us today to learn more!

How to keep your team healthy and productive during flu season.

Flu season is here, and workplaces and businesses should have an environmental cleaning program to ensure their teams can continue coming to work. In 2019, absenteeism cost the Australian economy an estimated $35 billion in wages and lost productivity, with $90.4 million attributed to the virus spreading between workers.

---

Research indicates that influenza activity in 2023 peaked in June and July, similar to the 2022 and 2019 seasons, much earlier than the 2016-2018 seasons, which peaked in August and September. As it's now June 2024, we are still unsure when the flu season will peak, as studies suggest that the flu season in the last few years has been longer. 

During winter, people spend more time indoors, in closer contact with others, which increases the risk of spreading germs. Additionally, the influenza virus remains airborne longer in cold, less humid air.

As your indoor environmental manager, we provide office cleaning and hygiene services and have identified two strategies to prevent the spread of viruses and boost your team's immune system, allowing them to feel safe at work and stay productive.

Here's a simple guide on how to keep your staff healthy and productive, giving your business a competitive advantage. Communication with your team and making necessary tools available to them is the key to all of our operations.

Good hygiene:

Germs left on a surface from an infected person's hand can be spread to others who touch the same surface. These people become infected when they touch their mouth, nose, eyes or food without washing their hands. Keeping high-touch surfaces clean is essential for maintaining a healthy environment.

Hand sanitiser:

Provide alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing 80% ethanol or 75% isopropanol as active ingredients.

Regularly disinfect highly touched areas

Make a list of all high-traffic areas. Certified cleaning products should be used to clean hard surfaces. These products should have Eco-labels that restrict highly hazardous substances, such as GECA, Global GreenTag, or Green Seal (USA). Using these products will stop the spread of viruses and improve indoor air quality.

Hand washing:

Supply hand hygiene resources to enable your team to effectively wash and sanitize their hands. Display posters in the bathrooms and kitchens.

Boosting your team's immune system:

Choose foods and supplements to boost your team's immune system. Five micronutrients - vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc - play roles in maintaining immune function and are found in specific supplements.

Provide fruits with micronutrients:

Citrus fruits such as mandarins and oranges for Vitamin C, sunflower seeds and almonds for Vitamin E, and bananas for vitamin B6 will help to boost their immune systems and show your team that you care about their well-being.

Vitamin C effervescent tablets:

Consider providing these tablets for your staff in the kitchen or at a specific station for their use.

Implementing these strategies may be time-consuming, but with some effort, they can be achieved. Workplace well-being and productivity cannot be achieved through good intentions alone, so it's crucial to ask your commercial cleaning suppliers for help in implementing these strategies. Here at EC.Workplaces, we are managers of the indoor built environment and understand the science of creating a healthy and productive workplace. If you need help with these strategies, please contact us, and we can provide you with more free resources to elevate your business.