2008 Archives
Oct 29, 2008
Better Late than Never...
The Wall Street Journal recently reported (click here for article) “Cleaning Companies Go Green”...and they weren’t just talking about the usual Greenwash nonsense. My guess is that even the public is fed up with pictures of green trees and blue water. The article zeroed in on key benefits of the “new” environmental products and formulations: using fewer products, reduced shipping impact, using maximum concentrates, using them accurately, conserving water, protecting air quality, etc.
Sep 04, 2008
A Critical Message for You
Below is a link to an important paper written by Dr. Michael A. Berry* that contains key concepts for the success of your department and your management. The subject is the state of cleaning 38 years after the first Earth Day.
Sep 02, 2008
Our Favorite Time of Year...
Wherever we go, from hospitals, prisons, factories or schools, the spotlight is focused on our industry and the job we do in protecting health. You and I know about the dedication and effectiveness of the frontline people: the Janitors, Housekeepers and Food Service Workers…but we don’t tell them often enough how much we appreciate their hard and lonely work.
Aug 05, 2008
Can we talk...
The challenges and opportunities facing our industry today are too numerous to list. The economy is causing reductions in budgets, environmental programs require extensive changes and new laws demand healthier cleaning. At the same time, the cost of products, energy and operations are skyrocketing. Not simple problems for any of us to resolve.
Jun 03, 2008
Our industry is going through a lot of changes and...most are for the good
But one area that is getting lost in the process is the recognition that Janitorial workers deserve. Automation has not changed most of the way the work is done. We still clean toilets, empty waste containers and mop floors. Hard work. Manual work. Independent work…and, too often, under appreciated work.
Apr 10, 2008
Do we need Earth Day anymore?
Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22 this year and many of you will be congratulating your staff for the progress they have made in conserving energy, using less detergent, less water, and more. But many of us have switched over to celebrating Earth Day not just one day a year—but everyday.
Feb 26, 2008
"It's that Time Again to March on Washington"
SFSPac Joins School Nutrition Association in Lobbying Congress
Next week 30 members of our SFSPac Food Service Team will make their annual march to Washington, DC to join a thousand Food Service Directors lobbying Congress for new legislation and financial support. This annual event is called the Legislative Action Conference (LAC) and is a wonderful experience of democracy in action. SNA Executive Director, Barbara Belmont and her staff have done an outstanding job organizing this conference to maximize the legislative experience for all attendees.
Feb 12, 2008
The "New Connection" to the Connection
We have been publishing the Connection for many decades and we appreciate your support. The goal of the Newsletter is to help you make PortionPac more valuable for your department or if you don’t use PortionPac, to pass on knowledge to help your programs and our industry to be more effective.
Jan 23, 2008
Enough Already! Stop With the Green Trees and Blue Lakes
One of the saddest parts of the marketplace is some companies are trying to make their products look “environmentally responsible” by showing pictures of green trees, blue waterfalls, etc. You have seen this nonsense and the world has even coined a phrase to describe the practice. It is called Greenwashing, Maybe the term originates from Tom Sawyer when he tricked his friends into Whitewashing his fence, but you know what I mean.
Jan 16, 2008
You Probably Call It Common Sense
PortionPac has been around since 1964 and through the years we’ve received our share of commendations. But this past year has been “something else”. Awards and recognition for our products, programs and systems are coming faster than any of us can absorb them. Since we are not doing anything different, it is obvious what is going on. What we advocated for years now seems to be making sense to all facets of our society. Today it is called “Sustainability”, but over the years, you and I probably just called it “common sense”.
Jan 03, 2008
Whiskey Is for Drinking, But Water is for Fighting Over
So says sustainable business leader Hunter Lovins in a recorded conversation we had last year. And how true it is. Today, I think we all have gotten the message on the need for conservation of our natural resources. Water shortages are concerns from Florida to California. But, are we as professionals doing all we can? Using myself as an example, the answer is no. We can all do a lot more, both as individuals, department managers and businesses.