Greenclean that shirt!

Always on the lookout for something new and cool in the world of green the folks at Revolution Cleaners has opened a “Green Cleaning” business here in Denver. I was surprised to find out how few people even knew about them. And I hate to admit that I had no idea what the heck Green Cleaning was. I knew it was supposed to be good for the environment but I didn’t know why or how. My shirt, pant, and other cleaning has increased a ton since I moved from my fleece worshiping days in the mountains. Back then a pair of jeans, some clogs, and a fleece top were the bulk of my wardrobe.

Now that I have balanced this with an urban style (I never said a good one) I actually have clothes that need some more attention. So if I am going to have them professionally cleaned I would like to think I will be green doing it. Hence I hunted down the green cleaning option in town and wanted to learn about their business.
And of course the geek in me (which is probably alot) wanted to learn the science behind it as well.
So on my last drop off to their shop, I asked if the owners would like to share with us some more details about their business and the science of green cleaning. They happily agreed. The following interview was sent by email…

Noel, many folks don’t know about Green Dry Cleaning. Can you give us a high level overview of the difference between your process and standard dry cleaning?

Dry cleaning isn’t really dry; rather, it’s cleaning without water. Standard drycleaning uses perchloroethylene (more commonly called PERC) as the primary solvent. Traditional machines are simply large washing machines that use PERC instead of water. PERC-exposure has been associated with lots of health problems, including being identified as a hazardous substance by the EPA. It is also one of the most common contaminants in groundwater. Cleaning in PERC requires drying of the garments at a high temperature. Our process doesn’t use PERC, or any other hazardous substances. Our two dry cleaning process’ use liquid carbon dioxide and water. Both are naturally occurring in the environment and in your body.

For the extra geeky among us who love the technical details… how exactly does your process work?

Our process involves washing garments in liquid carbon dioxide (CO2).

We use CO2 that has been recaptured from industrial applications and scrubbed. Our machine uses a closed loop compressing process; it compresses the gas to between 650 and 700 pounds per square inch in the cleaning vessel, at which pressure - under ambient air temperatures - it becomes a liquid. The machine then works like a standard machine, albeit with a cleaning vessel under extreme pressure. The vessel rotates and the liquid is jetted to facilitate cleaning.

After the cleaning cycle has run, the vessel pressure is reduced, the CO2 once again becomes a gas, and it is returned to our storage tanks. As a result, clothes cleaned in our machines end the cycle dry, and don’t require any additional drying. Approximately 80% of the CO2 is recaptured and reused during the next cleaning cycle.

We also perform “dry cleaning” with our wet cleaning equipment. These machines are essentially really expensive washing machines that have precisely controlled programs that allow us to any garment that would traditionally be dry cleaned. Depending on the fabric, construction and stains we may opt for wet cleaning. Pressing wet cleaned garments require special equipment to ensure items return to their previous shape and size. Wet cleaning requires more labor so we clean only about 10% of the dry clean garments that we receive.

What about standard dry cleaning? How does that process work and what impact does it have on the environment?

The process is described above. As for the environment, the impacts can be significant. First, you have to consider the potential effects on individuals who are exposed to PERC, also known as tetrachloroethylene. Exposure to PERC can effect the central nervous system, kidney, liver and possibly the reproductive system. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry lists the effects of exposure to high concentrations of PERC as dizziness, headache, sleepiness, confusion, nasea, difficulty in speaking and walking, unconsciousness, and death.

But that’s not all. Studies indicate that women who work in industries where PERC is used are more likely to suffer menstrual problems and spontaneous abortions (NOTE: that these studies were not conclusive on whether PERC was the cause of these events).

Further, the Department of Health and Human Services “has determined that tetrachloroethylene may reasonably be anticipated to be carcinogen.” A “carcinogen” is a substance with the ability to cause cancer. Cancers associated with exposure to PERC include cancers of the esophagus, bladder, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Studies of dry-cleaning workers who have worked in the industry for extended periods of time shows reduced scores on behavioral tests and biochemical changes in the blood and urine.

PERC does not bind well to soils, so it moves readily through the ground and into groundwater. EPA is involved in hundreds of groundwater cleanups around the country where PERC is one of the contaminants. The costs to remediate is enormous. In fact, according the ATSDR, PERC has been found in OVER HALF of the nation’s Superfund Sites. It is estimated that 1.2 million Americans are exposed to PERC in their drinking water at levels that exceed safe limits.

Can you give us some idea of the impact your business will have on a green scale? Lower carbon footprints or other measurements?

We are trying to build a sustainable business throughout our operation. Our cleaning processes, which not only use naturally occurring, environmentally benign solutions, consume less energy than traditional, and even other so called “green” solutions.

Our stores incorporate bamboo hardwoods and cork tiles. Bamboo grows to full height in two years and is thus rapidly renewable. Oak and other hardwoods take more than 40 years. Cork is harvested from the outside layers of the tree, leaving the tree alive to regenerate more material.

Our customer laundry bags are made out of hemp. Hemp uses substantially less land and pesticides than cotton, organic or traditional, and is a stronger fiber.

Our delivery vans are powered on biofuels. Our Dodge Sprinters are fueled with biodiesel, a fuel made from a variety of crops, most of which are grown locally in Colorado. Most commercially available biodiesel is made from soybeans or mustard seed. Used cooking oil can be used to make biodiesel but can vary in quality. Our Sprinters average 24 mpg, approximately twice the fuel economy of comparable delivery vans. Our Dodge Caravans are fueled with E85 ethanol. Ethanol is made from corn and can be run in any “flex fuel” vehicle. Both biodiesel and ethanol reduce overall emissions and reduce the carbon cycle.

We purchase wind power for our plant. Renewable Energy Credits help support sustainable power sources that contribute to the power grid.

What impact do you think one person makes in doing green cleaning for a year?

Well, there is certainly the peace of mind that comes with knowing you (and your family) won’t be exposing yourself unnecessarily to PERC and the ill-effects of that solvent. Besides clothing, we also clean pillows, stuffed animals, things that people and their kids keep close to their skin on a daily basis.

An individual’s impact is not insignificant. The average person who drycleans in this country spends over $100 of their income to sustain an industry that continually exposes people to hazardous substances, and creates wastes which will have to be dealt with for generations to come. We think that’s wrong; not just because the industy is dirty, but because there are alternatives that work just as well.

I love the green part, what about the clean part? Are there any differences or advantages in terms of how clean my clothes will get and why?

This is a question we’re asked quite often, and one which we had going into the business. Different solvents work better on different types of stains, so often times we’re comparing apples to oranges.Nonetheless, in a side-by-side comparison done by Consumer Reports, CO2 cleaning was found to be superior to all other methods tested, including traditional dry-cleaning. According to the report, “This method [CO2] gave the best results, even better than conventional dry cleaning. The clothing didn’t change shape, shrink, or stretch.”

We’ve found that, using a combination of CO2 cleaning and wet cleaning, there are no fabrics or types of stains that we can’t clean.

Additionally, since our CO2 process requires no heat, clothes are not subject to long, hot (up to 140 degrees) drying cycles. This leaves fibers soft and does not set stains.

Can you share a little of the history on Green Cleaning and how much of todays market is currently green? Are there certain parts of the country (or world) where it has caught on faster?

Probably due to our new awareness of green living - and the notion that green businesses can actually be successful - green cleaning has started to take hold in the last few years. Before then, there were very few alternative cleaners. CO2 cleaning was originally developed to clean things other than cloting - like microchips - in the 1980s.
The first CO2 dry cleaning machine was introduced in 1997, after a scientist at N.Carolina State U inadvertently discovered CO2 could be used as a solvent. Since that time, three other companies have begun to make the machines. Only 3 of the 4 are available in the United States although the German company Electrolux is exploring distribution of its machine here, as well.

Thus far, CO2 cleaners are found in discrete pockets throughout th country. To date, fewer than 50 cleaners in the United States use liquid CO2.

As for the other alternatives to PERC which have been called “green,” GreenEarth Cleaning is the most prolific. Currently, there are approximately 700 cleaners nation-wide who use this siloxane solvent instead of PERC. GreenEarth’s prominance is likely the result of significant corporate backing. As Environmental Chemistry (May 2006) said, “While CO2 drycleaning has some big companies behind it, the silocone-based GreenEarth approach is backed by two of the corporate world’s biggest names: General Electric and Procter & Gamble.”

Unlike naturally-occurring CO2, the GreenEarth solvent is decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. Recently, Dow Corning - a manufacturer of the solvent - released studies showing that exposure to the solvent can cause cancer in rats. Further, preliminary studies indicate that is may be toxic to the liver in humans.

The other PERC-alternative that has begun to get a foothold in the drycleaning market is DF-2000, a hydrocarbon solvent manufactured by ExxonMobil and Chevron. The jury is still out on the toxicity of this solvent and its environmental impacts. Live Science (January 30, 2007) recently said this about DF-2000: “DF-2000 is similar to Stoddard solvent, only with a higher flashpoint (meaning less of a tendency to explode if exposed to a spark). The EPA lists DF-2000 as a neurotoxin and skin and eye irritant for workers; and its use can contribute to smog and global warming, just like Stoddard solvent.”

We haven’t been able to confirm EPA’s treatment of this solvent, but as we said, the jury is still out.

What is the next advance you see in terms of changing another business to green that isn’t today?

We are always looking to partner with other green businesses, and to that end have expanded the CO2 cleaning idea to Seattle. We’ll be the first and only CO2 cleaner in the city of Seattle and San Francisco, and thus far have had a lot of positive feedback.

Since we are continually sourcing more sustainable components to our operations we are constantly meeting more and more green businesses. We are trying to source an economically feasible supply of corn plastic or recycled poly bags. Steel for hangers has been rapidly increasing so the cost of recycled hangers should soon be more than competitive. Solar power is slowly becoming a practical reality. With rising energy prices the return on investment is becoming more and more appealing.We believe that sustainability should be good business. Almost every industry could use some improvement and many of those changes can lead to cost reductions.

How did you get involved with Green Cleaning and can you share a little about your background?

Rusty was looking for business opportunities to put into a historic building in our neighborhood. Because we don’t have a convenient dry cleaner, he did some research into drycleaning franchises, and came across this new technology. Along with two previous business partners and his neighbor, they decided to embark on this business.

What other things do you do to be green in your personal life?

Each of the partners tries to stay green. Owning and running this business has keeps us constantly aware of opportunities to do be green. There is nothing in particular we do as a group but, for example, we all drive alt-fuel vehicles.

Each of us has consciously tried to reduce, reuse and recycle. This can apply to all phases of life not just in your recycling bin. Energy use, fuel, food waste, purchasing.

For each of us the mountains and the natural world provide immense value to our lives and we recognize our responsibility to maintain it.

Now tell us all the details about your business for the folks who want to give it a try. What hours, locations, and services do you offer?

Our stores are open 7-7 Monday through Friday, 9-5 Saturday and 11-3 Sundays (except Boulder). In Denver, we have stores in
Washington Park, Cherry Creek and 15th and Platte. Our Boulder location will soon be moving from north to central Boulder. At all of our locations, we are a full service cleaner, cleaning garments and household items, as well as doing alterations. All of the information is available on our website under the “Stores” tab.

Washington Park
258 S. Downing
(303) 733-6557

Cherry Creek
201 University
(303) 320-0787

Downtown
1550 Platte Street
(303) 433-2225

Boulder
4680 Broadway
(720) 406-7636

We also provide pick up and delivery service Boulder through the DTC.

What do you see as the next big improvement for the city of Denver? This can be anything or many things.

Rusty is a founding member of Mayor Hinckenlooper’s Greenprint Council. This council conducted an in depth report of the current state of Denver’s environment and the City’s current footprint. Out of this research we have compiled recommendations for the Mayor to implement his Greenprint Plan. We are currently fielding public input and we will see what makes it through to implementation. The council recommended fairly aggressive plans and would like to see even more aggressive steps taken.

Anything I forgot to ask that everyone should know?

I’m sure there’s more, but feel free to give us a call.

Noel H. Bennett and Rusty Perry