Innovation

When the Ecoclean undertakes a project for any client, it does the needful and employs workers from around the local community. They not only provides the opportunities to the locals but also go a step further and also train them if they don't possess the required skills. This shows their commitment towards job creation and their contributions towards the economic growth and providing decent work.

The cleaning techniques employed by Ecoclean include a range of practices that ensure optimal cleaning of household items and community elements.

The portable toilet rentals that the company provides, helps to take care of open defecation at events and construction sites. They are bio-degradable toilets that are capable of being decomposed using bacteria or other living organisms and thereby avoid pollution.

The cleaning and maintenance practices that are followed by Eco-Clean are designed to reduce their ecological footprint. The cleaning practices and the cleaning procedures followed and the equipment used is designed to minimize the wastage of water and also reduce the waste products that are generated. They also have proper waste segregation mechanisms in place which helps in recycling the products.

Inspiration

Goa, although a state small in size, yet is diverse, vibrant and brimming with heritage and people. These bring in challenges related to daily sanitation, urban/rural waste management and civic sense of the population, both local and visitors. The dangers of a haphazard sanitation system could spill out into the open, causing even more damage to the exquisite environment in the state. Ecoclean India has recognized the scope of such challenges and mastered its services in facility management and daily housecleaning. Its flawless dispensation caters to sanitizing and managing waste at libraries, educational institutions, tourist locales and even at high-end resorts and lodging. Along with the increasing population, the subsequent sanitation process handling requires techniques that are robustly employed by Ecoclean as they tackle staggering amounts of waste on a daily basis.

Overall impact

Ecoclean’s social impact is felt in its recruitment and hiring procedures. Employing around 1600+ contract employees and 40-45 permanent staff, the opportunities provided to local talent is indeed tremendous. The company grants insurance and bike/car schemes to its employees as added benefits, impacting not only professional but personal lives.

Ecoclean's business practices like providing portable toilets at sites that don't have proper sanitation facilities, providing free cleaning services to churches and temples and using eco-friendly chemicals contribute towards reducing not only their's but also their client's eco-logical footprint.

Business benefit

“It’s the little things that count. We live by this philosophy at Ecoclean India” recalls Mrs. Sangita, who looks after the Human Resources Department at their corporate office in Panjim, Goa. Their environmental friendly practices have attracted huge client base in Goa – most of which are huge entities : 5-star hotels such as Goa Marriott, Park Regis, Hilton, Novotel, Hospitals, Colleges. Ecoclean prides itself in providing quality and reliable services in Large events - such as Sunburn, IFFI, Marathons, to name a few.

Social and environmental benefit

The garbage management service in some places in a Public Private Partnership Service Delivery (PPPSD) where the waste segregation mechanism is optimized right from stage one. It is known as Source segregation. Instead of segregating into Dry and Wet waste, Ecoclean has initiated segregation into 4 bins –

1. Glass and metals

2. Plastic

3. Biodegradable waste

4. Paper and Cardboard

This mechanism reduces the rework and also takes into consideration the ‘right to decent work’ of its ground staff. Also, The firm has begun to install incinerators as a step towards managing Menstrual waste.

“A lot needs to be done on this front and the current strategies in place are highly debatable” says an Ecoclean official on the current Menstrual Waste management techniques in India.

Ecoclean also emphasizes on Hiring from local communities at its ground staff level and has provided a source of living to thousands. They train and sensitize their staff through various programs and initiatives.

The Pressure washing techniques reduce water usage by ~75%. Using a high pressure forces less gallons per minute out of the faucet.

The Scotch Guarding techniques ensure that the fabric has a longer life thus reducing the cost of maintenance. Their carpet cleaning involves a process called interim cleaning that employs foam shampooing. This ensures efficient cleaning without over wetting that carpet, which in turn saves water. Minimal water is utilized as the cleaning is performed by the foam produced by the foam generator as it is massaged onto the piles by a rotating brush. The foam itself contains 5% moisture content, significantly reducing water consumption.In addition, this technique is efficient because of its quick drying which is hygienic and prevents the material from decaying.

While performing their day to activities they are inadvertently following Sustainable Development Goals set up by the United Nations such as SDG-6, SDG-8 and SDG-12

We experience their services first hand in our college and hostels which is what motivated us to pursue them in the first place. Margaret Mead summarized it perfectly by quoting "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has". The simple steps taken by the Ecoclean showed us how small steps lead to significant changes that can in turn help leave the world a better and cleaner place.

Sources:

1] http://ecocleanindia.com/about-us/

2] Minutes of meeting with Mrs. Sangita Netravelkar, Manager HR and Mrs. Roopa Shastry, Manager Marketing, Ecoclean India , on 1st December 2018

Interviews

Mrs. Sangita Netravelkar, Manager HR

Mrs. Roopa Shastry, Manager Marketing