Expert Insight: Jeff Neubauer, President of Kranz, Inc.

Ashkin Group:  What inspired you to get involved with Green Cleaning?

Neubauer:  I have been an environmentalist for many years.  My passion for environmental issues began in the youth group at Holy Communion Lutheran Church—our pastor embraced Earth Day when it was created by Senator Gaylord Nelson.  When I was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, I became the lead sponsor and floor leader of legislation to help prevent acid rain, to clean up landfills, and to ensure that our water remains clean.  The Green Cleaning movement has given me a way to unite my personal beliefs and my business.

Ashkin Group:  How did your company get involved in the Green Racine Initiative?

Neubauer:    Years ago green products weren’t cost-effective; now all that has changed.  The country has moved to a heightened environmental awareness in recent years; we saw our opportunity and took action on Green Cleaning.  As the oldest janitorial and paper supply company in the country, we embrace our obligation to lead the industry to provide products and processes that are safe for everyone.  Racine’s leaders were ready to accept the challenge of this community-wide initiative, the first of its kind.

Ashkin Group:  Can you describe how you united the community behind your effort?   

Neubauer: We first presented the concept to the Mayor of Racine and the Racine County Executive.  We then brought together business leaders, leaders in education, healthcare professionals, religious leaders and other community representatives to introduce the benefits of Green Cleaning to the community.  Everyone wholeheartedly endorsed the effort.  We currently have over 30 local organizations, including city and county government, public and private schools, businesses, hospitals, nursing homes, churches and other not-for-profit organizations that have signed a pledge to adopt practices that reduce the impact of their facilities on the environment and to improve the health and safety of the community.

Ashkin Group:  What changes have you made in your own company?

Neubauer:  We are re-orienting our entire company to focus on Green practices in every phase of our business.  We are leaving no stone unturned.  Currently, we are looking into the possibility of our building becoming LEED certified.  We also are working on reducing our carbon emissions, so we are closely evaluating our transportation methods.  We are working to eliminate waste in every possible way and will be enhancing our recycling programs to include as many products as possible.  The Green Racine Initiative will track how many trees are saved, the decrease in the amount of waste in landfills, and the reduction of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere as a result of our green initiative for all of the committed organizations, including ours.

Ashkin Group:  What advice would you give another group looking to set up a similar community-wide Green Initiative?

Neubauer:  Any community can do it.  This has turned out to be a cooperative effort among all of the organizations involved.  We share ideas and processes and have created a team to implement the program, provide training, and communicate with the various stakeholders.  Our intention is to create a model that others can follow.  A distributor must first sit down with city leaders and explain how Green Cleaning can be a good first step for reducing negative impacts on human health and the environment.  Obviously, it won’t resolve all the community’s environmental issues, but it is a very worthwhile, tangible, and achievable first step.  Undertaking an initiative like Green Racine requires the leadership of a distributor who understands not only third-party certified green products but also training and communication; the distributor must possess the skills and commitment to lead a community through the process of change.

Ashkin Group:  Is there anything else you would like to add?

Neubauer:  I’d like to share a Native American proverb that we have posted on KranzGreen.com: “We do not inherit the earth from our parents; we borrow it from our children.”  I truly believe that and will continue my efforts to do what I can to make our world a better place for our children.