<FONT color=blue>PCT On The Road</FONT>: Forum Helps Industry in its Development of Green Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The pest control industry took another step towards developing green service standards during a Green Council meeting, held March 3, during NPMA Legislative Day.

The meeting was an important follow-up to last year’s “Going Green: Marketing to the 21st Century Customer,” a meeting hosted by the National Pest Management Association and sponsored by Nisus. At that meeting, the goal was to open up dialogue about green service standards.

“Our goal was to pull the industry together, to start talking about the issue and to let the speakers and the industry drive the agenda moving forward,” said NPMA Executive Vice President Rob Lederer.

Since that time, NPMA has taken the next step, which was to “put legs” under the issue. NPMA’s approach is two-fold.

• The development of a Green Council within NPMA to continue dialogue on this subject. This council was comprised of, among others, those that attended the “Going Green” conference last year.
• The launch of QualityPro Green. Similar to NPMA’s QualityPro program, QualityPro Green is NPMA’s green certification program by which NPMA provides tools and credentials for participating companies to obtain QualityPro Green certification.

Andy Architect, executive director of QualityPro, reviewed QualityPro Green at Legislative Day. Companies that participate in QualityPro Green will be required to meet qualifications based on a variety of standards including: ongoing testing and training; customer communications; record keeping; and environmentally responsible service practices. Upon application, companies will receive the professionally developed tools they need to meet QualityPro Green standards.

The centerpiece of QualityPro Green is the “QualityPro Green Orientation Manual,” which requires that participating companies adopt green service standards for those accounts at which it is providing a green service. This 13-page document currently is in the draft phase and NPMA asked that Green Council members review it and provide their feedback. NPMA hopes this document, upon completion, will be the guideline for QualityPro Green companies and also serve as the industry-wide standard for companies performing green services.