Meet the Jewish entrepreneur cleaning up the carcinogenic chemical problem

Plastic is one the biggest polluting substances on the planet. The UN estimates that every year 19-23 million tons of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers, and seas. Much of this comes from disposable plastic items, of which Israel is one of the biggest consumers. 

Per capita, the nation’s consumption is five times that of Europe. Households use 70 to 75% of all single-use plastic utensils in Israel, compared to 38% in Europe, where the bulk gets used by restaurants, catering, and other businesses. Meanwhile, a paper in the Israel Health Policy Research Journal that examined the adverse health effects of exposure to plastic saw that Israel is a regional “hotspot” of plastic pollution. with little discussion of potential adverse health effects from exposure to plastic. 

What’s more, many of the world’s plastic containers and bottles are contaminated with toxic  “forever chemicals” that are leaching into food, drinks, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, cleaning products and other items at potentially high levels. These toxic chemicals are now so embedded in global systems that traces are found on fruits and vegetables sold to consumers.

For Joshua Schwartz, President and Co-Founder of Viking Pure Solutions, the need to provide revolutionary solutions that clean up the planet not only makes good business sense, but is a core responsibility of his faith. 

The Torah contains a biblical law against needless destruction, which is based on the phrase “lo tashchit”, meaning “do not destroy”.

Through Viking Pure Solutions, Schwartz and his team are helping to reduce our reliance on plastics used for commercial cleaning and offer safer, non-toxic alternatives to harsh chemicals. 

The plastic problem with commercial cleaning  

A significant amount of plastic waste originates from cleaning products, primarily due to the plastic packaging used for most cleaning liquids. Further, as traditional cleaning solutions are often toxic or corrosive, the plastic used is single-use and non-recyclable, meaning that most end up in landfills. 

While eco-conscious consumers are free to choose from several green alternatives, the picture is slightly more complicated when it comes to commercial cleaning. Industry regulations dictate how and when places like office blocks must be cleaned and disinfected based on the type of activity being performed and the number of people on site. 

Further, purchase managers within large enterprises often have a limited roster of pre-approved suppliers to choose from, perpetuating the reliance on single-use plastics and harsh chemical formulations. 

For Schwartz, his company offers a way to disrupt this status quo and show that cleaning and disinfecting solutions don’t need to be harsh and toxic to be effective for killing viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens.  This is thanks to proprietary technology that is installed onsite at a customer’s location. Through a patented process, Viking Pure’s electrolyzed water generators produce unlimited amounts of all-natural cleaning and disinfecting solutions onsite at a customer’s location. 

Schwartz explained further, “This eliminates the need for deliveries, disposable and inventory management ensuring a sustainable cleaning model across almost every industry including in hospitals, senior living, education, food manufacturing, recreation, and commercial real estate.” 

Reducing infection and boosting employee engagement 

Beyond reducing the environmental footprint associated with commercial cleaning, gentle alternatives like electrolyzed water offer leaders a way to show how much they prioritize employee health.

Schwartz comments that “employees want to feel that their employers understand their concerns related to proper infection control within the workplace.”

However, overzealous disinfection protocols with harsh chemicals can put employees at risk of other health conditions, and potentially result in long-term negative impacts on their health if they contain carcinogens or are misused. 

“Given the increased use of cleaning and disinfecting products, it is more important than ever that employers are focused on the quality of solutions that they are using in their office environments.

Companies need to make sure they are properly vetting products before utilizing them in their spaces. Traditional harsh chemicals can cause asthma, allergies, skin irritations, and cancer among other ailments so employers need to make sure they are doing their homework.” 

It’s important for companies to have forward-facing cleaning and disinfecting programs that also protect the long-term health of employees and the planet. 

Cleaning is no longer a back-of-house challenge 

The pandemic made sure that cleaning and disinfection protocols were no longer an afterthought for companies. 

However, Schwartz is keen to point out that moving towards long-term change also requires ongoing education for both general employees and the teams responsible for cleaning. 

“Companies should choose chemical vendors who are willing to provide education to staff either in person, virtually, or in print to explain the products that have been selected and why they are the best fit for their respective companies. Safer products can be used more often and in a more public fashion which will instill more confidence in employees.” Schwartz explains. 

He concluded “It is critical to remember that when fighting viruses and illnesses there is no silver bullet. Companies must take a multi-layered approach to ensure their staff stays safe and healthy. Some of these programs are not cost prohibitive such as educating employees on the importance of proper handwashing.” 

This sentiment underscores the belief that cleaning is no longer a back-of-house issue. Companies that eliminate harmful chemicals and cut plastic waste can stand out, driving stronger engagement with employees and customers.