Each year we celebrate Earth Day, reflecting on its beauty and marveling at its continued evolution. This year’s theme is Our Power, Our Planet™. A reminder that environmental progress doesn’t depend entirely on policies.  Instead, it’s built on the daily choices of the communities we serve.

Earth Day is a reminder to serve the world around us and protect our environment. In the commercial cleaning industry, there’s often a wide gap between what’s claimed and what’s true.

Green Cleaning

When you walk into a supply store or visit a cleaning supply website, you’ll find products that have green labels, sustainable logos and words like “eco-friendly, natural, and sustainable.” These labels are meant to reassure that these products are safe for the environment, but what do they actually mean?

Greenwashing is the act of making a product, policy, or activity appear to be more environmentally friendly than it really is. For example, a cleaning bottle might say recyclable, however the formula inside may contain hazardous ingredients. Or a product might carry a vague self-declared certification.

A Different Approach

So how do you cut through the noise?

Real sustainability in cleaning isn’t simply a label but instead it’s about what the product does.

Doing More with Less

Consider a product that cleans more efficiently per ounce, that means you’ll use less of it. A concentrated formula that delivers on its ratio means fewer containers, less water and less plastic. Which in turn results in fewer truck deliveries, and less chemical going down the drain.

Packaging designed from the ground up to be lighter and made more efficient helps reduce waste before a drop is ever dispensed.

This is performance-driven sustainability, or an operational approach that links environmental, social, and economic goals directly to measurable, verified outcomes rather than vague commitments. Environmental benefit shouldn’t be declared by a label, but instead should be the natural consequence of a product that genuinely works better.

Understanding Chemistry

Another form of greenwashing relates to listed ingredients. Conventional cleaning products have historically relied on chemicals like butyl solvents. These chemicals are great for cleaning but come with a cost to human health and the environment. Many reformulations simply swap one problematic ingredient for another less hazardous one.

Progress can be found in removing hazardous ingredients not because of regulations but because safer, more effective chemistry exists. That means designing formulas that are biodegradable and meet independent third-party standards like Green Seal certification.

 Packaging

The cleaning industry ships tons of products daily and can generate enormous amounts of plastic waste each year. In 2018 it was reported that over 14.5 million tons of plastic tonnage was wasted that included bags, sacks and wraps; other packaging; polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and jars; high-density polyethylene (HDPE) natural bottles; and other containers.

Creating flexible packages that dramatically reduce plastic use, leveraging refillable systems, using closed-loop dispensing that eliminates single-use containers can all help reduce environmental impact. Lighter, flexible packaging also means lighter shipping and less fuel burned moving products from facility to facility.

What Our Power, Our Planet Actually Looks Like

This Earth Day message is about taking responsibility to create change. Change happens through the accumulated decisions of real people.

Whether it’s a facility manager, procurement team, sustainability officer or the custodial workers who clean daily, choosing the products, systems and training implemented has real power to affect change.

Choosing products based on verified performance and independently certified sources rather than packaging aesthetics is an exercise of power. Demanding transparency about the chemistry used, packaging, and environmental impact from suppliers is an exercise of power.

Greenwashing works when purchasers don’t ask the hard questions.

Questions Worth Asking Your Cleaning Product Supplier

What independent certifications does this product carry, and who issued them?

How does the dilution rate compare to industry benchmarks?

What hazardous ingredients have been removed from the formula, and what have replaced them?

What does the full packaging lifecycle look like from manufacturing to disposal?

Does the dilution control system prevent overuse, or is it largely manual?

Learn more about Buckeye’s sustainability commitment here: Buckeye's Sustainability Commitment

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is here again, and it’s the perfect time to recognize the vital work Infection Preventionists (IPs) do every day. Since 1986, IIPW has raised global awareness of the importance of infection prevention in protecting patients, healthcare workers, and communities.

This year’s theme, “Stand UPPP” (Unite, Prevent, Protect, Prevail), emphasizes collective action in the fight against infection. Symmetry is proud to support IPs by developing innovative tools that make hand hygiene easier, more efficient, and effective at reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Unite

We unite with IPs by raising awareness and making hand hygiene more accessible across facilities. Symmetry’s Touch-Free Dispensers and Green Certified Hand Wash with SMT™ (Skin Moisturizing Technology) support skin health, helping staff, patients, and visitors practice consistent hand hygiene.

SMT is formulated specifically for healthcare professionals. This hand wash is fragrance-free, Green Seal® Certified, and enriched with moisturizing technology that combats dryness caused by frequent handwashing. In a clinical study, Symmetry Green Certified Hand Wash with SMT improved skin hydration by 32.5%, and 86.2% of participants showed an improvement in hand dryness through dermal evaluations.

Paired with our touch-free dispensers, SMT helps facilities strengthen the fight against infections while supporting hand hygiene.

Prevent & Protect

To prevent diseases and help protect IPs and patients, Symmetry provides hand hygiene solutions with Point of Care tools such as:

50 ml Tray Table/W.O.W Clip

50 ml Suction Cup

550 ml Suction Cup

550 ml Wire Bracket

550 ml Anesthesia Cart Bracket

50 ml Lanyard

Prevail

Prevailing against infections involves more than innovative products, it requires behavior change. The Symmetry Behavior Modification System uses behavioral science and visual reminders like posters, placards, and on-dispenser messaging to inspire proper hand hygiene at critical moments.

By combining tools and motivation, Symmetry helps IPs sustain long-term success in infection prevention.

Continued Support

Supporting IPs goes beyond this week. We are committed to nurturing and creating a safer environment year-round by lowering HAIs and advancing infection prevention practices.

Thank you, Infection Preventionists, for all that you do. If you’d like to learn more about how Symmetry can support your facility’s infection prevention goals, contact your local Buckeye representative.

 

As the new school year begins, custodial teams face the challenge of cleaning every area of the building from classrooms and cafeterias to locker rooms and restrooms. With so much to cover, a structured, easy-to-follow training program can make all the difference.

One area that needs detailed cleaning and regular maintenance is the restroom.

Start with the Basics: 5 Daily Steps

To maintain a school building here’s a quick guide from the Buckeye’s Honors program on what to expect and or do around the school:

Develop a routine based on these five essential cleaning steps:

High Dusting – Remove dust from vents, ledges, and above surrounding areas.

Spot Cleaning – Wipe down walls, doors, and frequently touched surfaces.

Dust Mopping – Clear the floor of loose dirt and debris.

Emptying Trash – Dispose of waste and replace liners.

Damp Mopping – Finish with a thorough floor cleaning with products like Buckeye Green Light™.

These steps should be completed regularly, especially after peak times like lunch breaks or class transitions, to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

Step-by-Step Restroom Cleaning with the Buckeye Honors® Program

The school year is stressful enough, and having a program that suits you and your school is key. Here’s a sample of what our program outlines for critical areas such as restroom care:

Begin by preparing the space. Prop open the door and place a “Wet Floor” sign at the entrance.

Survey the restroom. Identify priority areas such as toilets and urinals, floor care, trash.

Toilet & Urinal Cleaning: Lower the water level with a bowl brush. Spray the entire toilet and urinal (inside and out) with Buckeye Gel Scrub™ and allow a 10-minute dwell time.

High Dusting: Clean vents, lights, and stall tops.

Mirrors & Glass: Use Buckeye Star Spray™ with a microfiber cloth or paper towel to avoid streaks.

Countertops: Disinfect and wipe down sink and counter areas thoroughly.

Floor Care: It’s essential to mop the floor from any spills and stains after completing all other steps.

Why Choose the Buckeye Honors® Program?

The Buckeye Honors® Program is designed to help your team maintain every part of your school, not just the restrooms. With resources for classrooms, locker rooms, cafeterias, and more, Honors ensures your entire facility is ready for the school year. The Buckeye Honors Program supports your team with a complete training program that includes:

Training Videos: Videos that cover everything from daily cleaning routines and floor care to food service cleaning, carpet care, and product safety.

Staff Progress and Testing: Assessing employees with online testing. Track performance, gain insights, and test results.

Facility Surveys: Customizable surveys to let staff rate cleanliness, upload photos, and report issues by area: classrooms, locker rooms, grounds, and more.

24/7 Program Access: Includes checklists, customizable PowerPoints, printable tests, and certificates in English and Spanish available 24/7.

Your staff will also learn which products and tools to use in each area of your school while learning all year long.

Want a downloadable checklist for your back-to-school cleaning?

Sign up to download this back-to-school classroom cleaning checklist. You can use this as a guide to help your custodial team stay on track throughout the year. Already on the list? Your checklist is already in your inbox!

Need more info? Feel free to reach out to your local buckeye rep for more information on the Honors Program that can help back-to-school this coming fall.

We can’t wait to see you at APIC 2025! The APIC Annual Conference & Expo is the premier event for infection preventionists, and Symmetry is proud to be a part of it. As hand hygiene remains one of the most effective ways to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), Symmetry continues to lead with innovative solutions that support healthy hand hygiene behaviors and better skin health.

Why APIC Matters?

The APIC Conference is where infection prevention professionals come together to share best practices, explore new technologies, and shape the future of infection control. It's also an important time to recognize the critical role of infection preventionists and provide them with the tools they need to succeed and help decrease the spread of diseases.

At APIC 2025, Symmetry is excited to showcase the latest in hand hygiene innovation, including:

Symmetry’s Green Certified Hand Wash SMT^™

A foaming hand wash formulated with Skin Moisturizing Technology that is designed for repeated use by healthcare clinicians.

Point of Care Tools

Symmetry’s Point of Care tools are designed to keep hand hygiene options available within reach at critical moments. This year at APIC, Symmetry is showcasing tools to help reduce cross-contamination by making compliance easy and accessible.

Behavior Modification System

Encouraging users is essential, and Symmetry provides tools that spread awareness through visual and audio cues that are designed to engage and encourage hand hygiene practices.

Improved Skin Health

Harsh soaps and frequent handwashing can lead to skin irritation, which often reduces compliance. This year at APIC, come see how our products improve your skin health even after repeated washing and drying of hands.

Creating a Culture of Compliance

True hand hygiene success happens when compliance becomes part of the culture. Symmetry provides the tools, education, and support to help facilities build sustainable programs that empower infection preventionists and protect patients.

Acceptance = Compliance = Lower HAIs

Improving hand hygiene compliance starts with providing products that clinicians want to use. Symmetry hand hygiene products are gentle, effective, and designed to increase compliance and help lower HAIs.

We can’t wait to see you at APIC this year. Visit us at Booth 726  

Want more information? Visit APIC or contact a Buckeye representative.

Summer break is just around the corner. Hallways are emptying, and staff are going on break, making this the best time to schedule deep cleaning and maintenance of the school.

Without the daily hustle and bustle of students and staff, facilities can clean, refresh key areas, and prepare for the upcoming school year. Whether you’re focusing on floor care, deep cleaning, or providing training for your team, now is the time to optimize your cleaning program.

Floor Care: A Step-by-Step Approach

The first thing people notice when they enter your school is the floor, and floors endure constant wear and tear throughout the school year. Summer offers the chance to restore them with proper maintenance, whether that means stripping and recoating hard floors, deep cleaning carpets, or refreshing entrance mats. To properly approach your floors, you should:

Plan Your Process: Prioritize longer projects such as refinishing floors into sections of the school throughout the summer and schedule cleaning in phases to maximize efficiency and drying time.

Use the Right Products: From floor strippers like Juggernaut^® and Green Seal-certified Penetrate^™ to cleaners like Buckeye Blue and Green Light^™, Buckeye offers the proper solutions to achieve lasting results.

Deep Clean Carpets and Mats: Remove dirt and build-up with effective cleaners like Gone™ H2O2  and Jet Stream^™ to ensure all flooring surfaces are in top condition before students return.

Sanitizing High-Touch Areas

A thorough summer cleaning includes disinfecting and deep cleaning of high-touch surfaces. High touch areas can range anywhere from desks, chairs, whiteboards, and restrooms, to cafeterias. Did you know that school cafeterias can be dirtier than a toilet seat? Each of these areas can accumulate germs and buildup over the course of the school year and require deep cleaning.

The best way to disinfect these areas is with powerful cleaning solutions designed to eliminate bacteria and viruses. Buckeye’s Eco Proportioning Program provides custodial teams with the tools and products needed for efficient and effective cleaning and disinfecting. Our Buckeye Eco Proportioning Systems Buckeye Eco Pro™, Buckeye Eco Element®, and Buckeye Eco Edge® are compact, flexible, and designed to fit seamlessly into custodial closets.

To complement these systems, Buckeye offers high-performance disinfectants and restroom cleaning solutions, including Buckeye Terminator™, formulated to eliminate bloodborne pathogens and bacteria, and Ever-Clean®, a Green Seal-certified solution ideal for maintaining restroom cleanliness.

Training through the Summer

With summer cleaning, floor resurfacing, and many other projects, comes the need for training staff to handle these projects and prepare for the fall. The best way to train your staff properly is to implement a program dedicated to preparing your team for success. Buckeye’s Honors^® Program gives your staff all the knowledge they need to succeed and help your school to shine throughout the summer and into fall. 

With the Honors® Program, Buckeye provides 24/7 access to an online training portal, including instructional videos, tests, reporting, customizable surveys, and progress tracking. No matter when new hires join your custodial staff, this program ensures seamless and effective training.

Next Steps

There is a lot to do in the summer months, however, with the right steps in place, all can be achieved, and your school will be ready for the new school year.

If you want to learn more about Buckeye’s programs and products reach out to a  Buckeye representative.

The Symmetry Touch-Free Dispenser is here! This dispenser enhances your facility’s hand hygiene practices by offering a convenient, Touch-Free solution that promotes cleanliness and reduces the spread of germs. Coupled with the industry’s gentlest and most preferred products, given their positive impact on overall skin health, this dispsenser puts you in the best position to improve hand hygiene compliance.

Why Are Touch-Free Dispensers Important?

Touch-Free dispensers play a vital role in providing best practices for hand hygiene by encouraging usage. For schools, healthcare facilities, and businesses, this upgrade can significantly improve the impact of health and safety for all environments.

Why Choose Symmetry’s Touch-Free Dispenser?

What makes Symmetry’s dispenser different and unique is the combination of practicality and innovative design that deliver an exceptional user experience:

Powered by six AA batteries, this dispenser is energy-efficient and cost-effective with an average battery lifespan of 19–22 months (about 13 refills).

Quiet operation ensures discreet usage, setting it apart from other Touch-Free dispensers, making them ideal for any setting.

Advanced sensors provide unmatched accuracy, preventing accidental dispensing, spills, and slip hazards.

LED indicators communicate eight different dispenser statuses, from battery life to product levels.

Key Features of the Symmetry Touch-Free Dispenser

Behavior Modification Placard Integration: Display educational reminders to promote hand hygiene compliance.

USB-C Compatibility: Future-proofed and powers the Symmetry Behavioral Beacon.

Two Lock Options: Hidden or keyed lock for enhanced security.

Removable Faceplate: Allows for maintenance at a glance with easy repair-in-place technology.

Visual Lighting Cues: LED indicators to remind people to practice hand hygiene.

Available Products

The Symmetry Touch-Free Dispenser is compatible with a variety of products designed to meet your facility’s needs:

Symmetry Foaming Hand Sanitizer Fragrance-Free 750 ml and 1000 ml

Symmetry Green Certified Foaming Hand Wash SMT^™ 1000ml

Symmetry Green Certified Foaming Hand Wash Unscented 1000ml

Symmetry Behavior Modification System

Symmetry utilizes behavioral science to capture attention in the moment and drive immediate hand hygiene action. Focusing on the how and why of proper hand hygiene, Symmetry utilizes tools such as the Symmetry Behavioral Beacon, MOTIV digital placards, standard placards, and Visual Lighting Cues (VLCs) that encourage action in real time, fostering a culture of cleanliness and safety.

The Touch-Free Dispenser is one of many products in the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program. Symmetry is designed to deliver hand hygiene best practices to your facility. Symmetry offers a complete program that goes beyond products. It includes innovative tools, awareness and education resources, hand sanitizers, hand washes and more- all working together to help your facility prioritize health and safety.

Want to Learn more?

If you’re interested in installing these dispensers in your facility reach out to your Buckeye representative.

Germs spread rapidly in public spaces, especially in schools where high-traffic areas and shared surfaces are unavoidable. Among these spaces, school cafeterias stand out as hotspots for germs. Studies show that some cafeteria surfaces, including those in colleges, can host bacterial counts up to 60,000 times higher than household toilet seats.

Frequent contact with shared surfaces like tables, trays, and door handles makes cafeterias particularly susceptible to germ transmission. These germs can easily lead to illness among students and staff. Younger children, especially those aged 1–12, are the most vulnerable to these illnesses, resulting in increased school absences that are often preventable with better hygiene practices.

The Role of NSF in Food Safety

To protect public health, especially in food preparation and dining areas, the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) has established rigorous standards for sanitation and food safety. Using NSF-certified products is essential for maintaining these standards and ensuring cafeterias remain safe and hygienic for everyone.

Symmetry’s Antimicrobial Solution

Symmetry has NSF certified products such as Antimicrobial Foaming Hand Wash with Benzalkonium Chloride. This product is an excellent tool to combat the spread of germs in school cafeterias. It is formulated to reduce the presence of pathogens and disease-causing bacteria, preventing contamination during food preparation and consumption.

Frequent handwashing is critical for minimizing the spread of germs, and Symmetry’s Antimicrobial Foaming Hand Wash makes it easy. Its easy-to-rinse, fragrance free and gentle foam, makes it easy for students and staff in cafeteria areas to adopt healthier hand hygiene habits.

The Impact of Hand Hygiene

Incorporating best practices for hand hygiene in the cafeteria and throughout the school lowers the risk of spreading pathogens in schools. By using Symmetry Antimicrobial Foaming Hand Wash in cafeteria food prep areas, schools can proactively reduce the risk of germ transmission.

 

A Cleaner Tomorrow

Creating a cleaner, healthier school starts with education and access. Teaching students the importance of handwashing and providing effective products like Symmetry’s Antimicrobial Foaming Hand Wash can significantly decrease the spread of illness.

To support these efforts, Symmetry provides innovative resources through the Symmetry Behavior Modification System (SBMS). SBMS is designed to inspire hand hygiene by raising awareness and encouraging action. For example, Symmetry offers Digital Placards to visually remind students and staff of the importance of hand hygiene.

Additionally, Symmetry offers Behavioral Beacons, these beacons use engaging light projections to prompt handwashing at critical moments, creating a fun and interactive way to build healthier habits.

Symmetry also supplies educational materials, such as customizable flyers and informative handouts, that schools can use to promote hand hygiene and awareness among students and staff alike.

By combining innovative tools and educational resources, Symmetry helps schools create an environment where proper hand hygiene becomes second nature, supporting a healthier tomorrow

Curious about how to make your school a healthier, safer place?

Check out the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program and learn more about our customizable program for schools.

April 22^nd is Earth Day and this year’s theme is “Invest in Our Planet.” As an environmentally conscious company, we’re proud to share the ways Buckeye has put sustainability first. Our commitment to sustainability has been foundational to our company and that commitment will continue in 2023 and beyond. 

Safer, Greener Products

Our products promote worker and environmental safety. We proactively eliminated hazardous ingredients like butyl, solvents, and alcohol bases and replaced them with our patented Liquescent® technology. This water-based technology strengthens the cleaning power of our products while making them safer for workers and the environment.

We also began manufacturing wood floor coatings for the Buckeye Reflections® Wood Floor Program. Both our oil and water-based wood floor coatings contain the lowest VOCs (volatile organic compounds) on the market.

Several Buckeye Eco®  and Symmetry Hand Hygiene products are Green Seal™ certified. Green Seal is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture, purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products and services. Our Green Seal certified products not only outperform other green products, they also outperform non-green, conventional chemistries.

Plastic Reduction

We package our products in environmentally friendly ways, ensuring plastic reduction where possible. Eco and Symmetry 1.25 L bags are manufactured with 83% less plastic than rigid containers.

More than 99% of trash can liners end up in landfills. That’s why Gateway® has focused on plastic reduction during the manufacturing process. In the trash liner industry, the best way to be green is to reduce the overall plastic sent to the landfill, also referred to as Source Reduction. Gateway Liners are stronger and thinner to reduce plastic usage while maintaining industry leading strength.

Sustainable Packaging 

Eco packaging is recyclable and made from recycled materials. The Eco outer box packaging is made from 41% recycled material and the Eco inner carton packaging is made from 35% post-consumer material. Because of this, over the past year, Buckeye has:

• Saved enough energy to power an average American home for 19 years
• Saved 125.4 cubic yards of landfill space
• Saved 266,000 gallons of water
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 38 tons of carbon equivalent

Buckeye continues to look forward, always searching for new ways to reduce our environmental impact and improve the lives of those who work with our products. Find out more about our sustainability initiatives by contacting your local sales representative.

With a commitment to developing products that are safer for workers and the environment, Buckeye established itself as “green” long before it became a marketing strategy. For Buckeye, sustainability means providing the most innovative, high performance and cost effective products, packaging, and programs that promote human health and safety.

Products

Green Seal™ Certified Products

Many Buckeye products are Green Seal certified. These products are safer for the worker and environment without compromising product performance. Our Green Seal certified products not only outperform other green products, they also outperform non-green conventional chemistries.

“Green Seal is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture, purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products and services.”

Liquescent Technology

To eliminate hazardous ingredients like butyl, solvents, and alcohol bases, Buckeye developed Liquescent technology. This water-based technology has allowed Buckeye to manufacture high-performance products while adhering to our principle of human health and safety.

R-Fit Liners

Gateway’s R-Fit liners are made with the highest quality resins to create lighter, stronger liners with less plastic. They are designed to fit specific trash can sizes, further reducing plastic waste. On average, Gateway customers reduced the amount of plastic reaching landfills by 39%.

Wood Floor Coatings

Reflections Wood Floor Coatings do not require crosslinkers, which contain polyfunctional aziridene. This crosslinker is used by other manufacturers to increase durability, but it has respiratory and nervous system health implications. In fact, many manufacturers that use polyfunctional aziridine warn consumers that it should be treated as a potential carcinogen.

Packaging

Eco and Symmetry 1.25 L bags are manufactured with 83% less plastic than rigid containers. Because our products work more efficiently and our packaging is recyclable and biodegradable, you use less product, and therefore less waste ends up in landfills.

Eco outer box packaging is also made with 41% recycled material, recyclable, and double wall corrugated. Eco inner carton packaging is made from 100% recycled paperboard and 35% post-consumer material.

Dilution Control Programs

Our dilution control systems eliminate direct contact with product and ensure our concentrated products are being used according to manufacturer specifications. Our products, packaging, and dilution control systems are also color and number coded to make them easier and safer for employees to use.

Training

Buckeye programs come with specialized training that focuses on worker and environmental safety. With standardized procedures that reduce product usage, labor, and overall cost, Buckeye is committed to enhancing product performance and safety.

Contact your representative to see how Buckeye programs can improve worker and environmental safety in your facility.