IPM Institute of North America
If someone were to ask you to name an environmentally friendly industry, pest control companies might not be at the top of your list. But, like many industries, pest control professionals are finding that green practices work just as well, if not better, than conventional methods and are good for both their clients and the environment. Now a new certification called Green Shield Certified is available for pest control service providers, making it easier than ever to get a third-party certified, environmentally friendly pest control service. You can ask your existing pest control company to get certified, so as a business owner, you can ensure that your vendors are following the same green practices that you are striving to incorporate into your operations.
Green Shield Certification is based on the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which is a proven, cost-effective, prevention-based strategy that reduces pest problems and pesticide impacts on health and the environment. By correcting conditions that lead to pest problems, IPM provides more effective pest control than conventional spray-intensive methods while reducing or eliminating pesticide use. IPM is now included in the LEED Green Buildings certification for existing buildings.
Green Shield Certified pest control professionals typically get started with a careful inspection for signs of pest activity and conditions that may lead to pest infestation. Rats, rodents, roaches, ants and other pests need food, water, and shelter to survive and thrive. In cooperation with facilities and maintenance staff, pest control providers eliminate access to these resources, providing lasting pest management. Preventative strategies include improving sanitation, sealing cracks to eliminate pest habitat, installing door sweeps to keep out mice or insects, and fixing leaking plumbing to remove access to water, among many others. When non-chemical measures are not adequate, baited pesticide traps in enclosed containers kill pests and reduce human exposure to pesticides.
Years of research indicate that IPM is more effective than conventional pest control measures. In a Virginia study, IPM treatment was far more effective than conventional methods in apartments with large cockroach infestations. In another study, IPM techniques led to a decrease of 93% in pesticide use and 89% in pest complaints in 55 federal government buildings. While a prevention-oriented service can create more up front costs, for example for initial repairs, those costs can be offset by reduced pest control costs over time as pest pressure drops. Local governments, schools and others have reported a net savings after implementing an IPM program.
According to environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which endorses Green Shield Certified, reducing pesticide use is a healthy goal. NRDC cites a national government survey of chemicals in blood and urine which found that more than 90% of people in the U.S. have a mixture of up to 43 pesticides in their bodies. Many of these chemicals have been linked to health problems such as cancer, birth defects and neurological problems. In another study, the U.S. Geological Survey found pesticides at levels of concern in almost 90% of the urban rivers and streams it surveyed.
Third-party certification can help customers be sure they are getting a safer, more environmentally friendly and more effective service. Because there is no standard definition of IPM, one company's definition of IPM might result in using a lot of toxic pesticides that another company would not touch. The IPM Institute of North America, which has been recognized by US EPA for its long-standing expertise in promoting environmentally friendly pest control, oversees the Green Shield Certification program.
Getting a Green Shield Certified service can be as easy as asking your existing pest control company to get certified. Office buildings, retail locations, or other facilities can also become certified, similar to a green building certification. See www.greenshieldcertified.org.
About the Author
Dr. Thomas A. Green directs the IPM Institute of North America and manages the Green Shield Certified Program. Tom is also President of IPM Works in Madison, WI, which provides consulting services to businesses and nonprofit organizations on broadening adoption of IPM and other conservation-enhancing practices. He holds a PhD. in entomology from the University of Massachusetts and is a Certified Crop Advisor and Technical Service Provider and chief scientist for the Eco Apple eco-label program. He can be reached at ipmworks@ipminstitute.org.
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