9. Will my operating costs go up or down with GreenEarth?
10. Do customers really care about eco-friendly dry cleaning?
11. What kind of sales increases can I expect with GreenEarth?
12. I've heard that GreenEarth doesn't clean as well as perc, is that true?
8. How does GreenEarth compare to other "green" alternatives
like CO2, 100% professional wet cleaning and hydrocarbon?
CO2 and 100% wet-cleaning are very good choices environmentally, but less than one-third of one percent of dry cleaners use them today. Equipment, production and finishing costs are much higher with these systems, and the processes are very different, making it hard for operators to generate a profit.
Hydrocarbon solvent has, until recently, been popular as an alternative because it is affordable and petroleum-based, so the industry is familiar with it. The concern about hydrocarbons today is that they're not as "green" as some people originally thought. While certainly a big improvement over perc, hydrocarbons are classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC), and are a likely contributor to smog formation. They're not approved as a SNAP material and would likely require clean up if spilled. Like perc, hydrocarbon is also listed by the EPA as a neurotoxin and skin and eye irritant for workers. On the plus side, most machines designed to use hydrocarbon solvent are also designed to use GreenEarth solution.
9. Will my operating costs go up or down with GreenEarth?
Down. GreenEarth is gentler, with a much softer fabric hand and fewer wrinkles, so finishing and special handling costs decrease as do expenses for damage claims. Operating expenses also go down in a number of ways. First, there is significantly less need to classify loads by color, which reduces the number of loads and the utility and supply costs to run them. Second, machines can be configured to use less energy (e.g. adding bleaching clay filtration), lowering your utility costs and your carbon footprint. Lastly, waste hauling costs are significantly lower and there is no need for environmental insurance.
10. Do customers really care about eco-friendly dry cleaning?
Consumers today are increasingly concerned about the environment and the business practices of companies with which they do business. Demand for "green" products and services has risen dramatically, in fact, 49% of consumers feel that it is "important for companies to not just be profitable, but to be mindful of their impact on the environment and society," according to a recent study done by the National Marketing Institute.
11. What kind of sales increases can I expect with GreenEarth?
Some Affiliates have reported initial increases in sales as high as 50 - 70%. While results like this are not the norm, Affiliates who routinely market their difference report increases in net sales in the 10-25% range.
12. I've heard that GreenEarth doesn't clean as well as perc, is that true?
No. GreenEarth solution has different chemical properties than perc, so it interacts differently with detergents, additives and fabrics. When GreenEarth was first introduced, the process was unfamiliar, detergents had not yet been developed to work with it, and cleaning results did vary. Water soluble stains were a particular problem. With proper training on how to process garments in GreenEarth, and the advent of second, third and even fourth generation detergent additives developed with the help of Procter & Gamble, cleaning results, including removal of water soluble stains, are excellent. A recent independent evaluation of alternative solvents by the IFI in 2007 rated GreenEarth as "excellent" in the categories of cleaning and ability to handle a variety of fabrics and trims.
13. Does GreenEarth give me an edge with landlords?
Yes. GreenEarth's non-toxic, non-hazardous rating means no environmental liability issues. This allows operators to renew leases at current locations and obtain leases at locations that previously wouldn't allow dry cleaners.
14. Will I still have to pay for waste disposal?
Each state is addressing this issue in their own way. Check with your state EPA for the most recent policy.
