Undergrad Pulls Off Green Feats

Toilet paper might not be the first thing one associates with environmental activism, but for Elizabeth R. Shope ’09, the two are inextricably linked.

Last summer, Shope discovered that Kimberly-Clark, the company that supplied the majority of Harvard’s toilet paper, was not being environmentally friendly.

“I found out that Kimberly-Clark source some of their materials from the boreal forest [in Canada],” Shope said.

Shope approached Harvard Facilities Maintenance Operations (FMO) with a proposal to switch all the toilet paper on campus to 100 percent recycled products.

FMO agreed to start with a pilot program at Eliot House using EcoSoft toilet paper. When no major opposition arose to the new brand, FMO agreed to make the switch, Shope said.

EcoSoft paper products are certified by Green Seal, which is a non-profit organization that promotes “the manufacture, purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products and services,” according to its Web site.

“Green Seal certified products are the default now,” said Jason W. Luke ’94, who is associate director of custodial and support services, adding that this is true not just for toilet paper, but also for cleaning chemicals and paper towels.

Luke said that Shope is just one of many Harvard students, faculty, and administrators who have taken an active interest in working with the FMO on its Green Cleaning Program.

According to its Web site, the Green Cleaning Program was developed about three years ago and reflects a national movement that “uses procedures and products to make cleaning for the health of building occupants, janitors, and the environment a primary concern.”

Luke said that though the program is relatively recent at Harvard, the FMO has been monitoring the industry trend toward green cleaning for at least 10 years.

“The more changes we can make, the more changes manufacturers will make as well,” Luke said.

To celebrate the “green” changes that have already been made on campus, the Enviornmental Action Committee will be holding its annual Earth Day Fair tomorrow on the MAC Quad from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 will also be announcing the completion of the Green Crimson Campaign, a program he presented during last year’s Earth Day Fair seeking to raise $10,000 for renewable energy on campus.

At 1:45 p.m., the winner of the “Green Cup” competition will be revealed. The House which performed best in the four categories of energy conservation, recycling, “Eco-Projects,” and HoCo efforts will be awarded $1,038.