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SUSTAINABILITY

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"We Do Not Inherit the Land from Our Ancestors, We Borrow It from Our Children." Native American Proverb
 

Regional Distributors understands and is committed to helping our customers balance the economic climate of business today while maintaining the highest standard of cleanliness, freshness, and environmentally responsible practices. Our partnership with leading manufacturers, affiliation with nationally renowned organizations, and expertise assisting a range of diverse markets makes us the premier distributor for your green supply needs. We are dedicated to continuously adding new sustainable products, including compostable, biodegradable, renewable & recyclable products, to our expanding inventory to help you preserve the environment and protect the future for our children.



Green Products

We offer an evolving and wide range of green products and solutions from best-in-class manufacturers, such as Filmop, Betco, SCA Tork, and U S Chemical, whose advanced green technologies are assisting businesses develop sustainable practices. We are also proud to carry Green SealEcoLogo, and EPA Safer Choice certified products that are manufactured in a sustainable way and are guaranteed to have minimal impact on the environment. Visit our online catalog to view and order products, or contact us directly.

  • Recyclable, Recycled-Material, biodegradable, compostable, bio-based, reusable, refillable products Food Service and Janitorial Products
  • Efficient, Utility-Conserving Floor Care Equipment and Machines
VIDEO: Small Choices, Big Impact - Purchasing with a Positive Impact. This great video created by RIT's Golisano Institute for Sustainability shows the environmental impact and long-term benefits of procuring and buying green products. Also see ISSA's Value of Clean video that shows the cost-saving and health benefits of buying green cleaning products.

 


 

Personalized Green Services
 

Green Experts: Regional Distributors utilizes ISSA's Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS), the first consensus-based management standard that outlines the primary characteristics of a successful, quality cleaning organization. CIMS is more than just a way for cleaning organizations to set themselves and their green cleaning operations apart in the marketplace. Companies utilizing CIMS differentiate themselves from the competition by demonstrating their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, improves the organization’s overall operations, and saves money for both the organization and its customers.

Regional Distributors utilizes CIMS Expert (CIMS-I.C.E) and CIMS Green Building Expert (CIMS-GB) frameworks to further allow us to deliver quality, customer-focused services and ensures an organization is capable of delivering a comprehensive green cleaning program based on LEED: EB O&M v4 green-cleaning criteriaOur specialists provide valuable industry insight, cost-savings solutions, green product and solution recommendations, and resource conservation methods that assist you in developing processes for environmentally responsible practices that in turn can earn you LEED points for green cleaning.
 

Green Cleaning Assessment & Greenprint Plan: Our signature Green Cleaning Assessment & Greenprint Plan is a free customized support and training program designed to help our customers navigate their sustainability journey. Our comprehensive Green Cleaning Assessment evaluates the full impact that your current janitorial products have on the health of your facility, environment, and occupants. The assessment targets cleaning chemicals, paper products, and janitorial equipment, and then outlines a customized cleaning process that has an environmentally sound strategy. Once the process is in place, our team trains your staff to use the customized Greenprint Plan that acts as a blueprint to protect the ongoing health of your facility, occupants, and the environment. Contact us today to schedule your free Green Cleaning Assessment.
 

Customized Sustainable Solutions: Regional Distributors, Inc. assists in developing customized solutions and environmentally responsible programs for complete facility care, floorcare, warewashinglaundryfood service packaging, and a number of other green cleaning practices to help you reduce costs, time, labor, resource consumption, and environmental impact. 

Using floor care as an example, we'd evaluate your specific floorcare needs and recommend the appropriate Green Cleaning tools - such as matting, floor scrubbers, and vacuums with high-efficiency filters - to efficiently and effectively remove soil and improve indoor air quality to benefit the health of your facility and occupants. Contact us today to schedule your free Green Cleaning Assessment.
 

Training and Service: We provide in-depth, personalized product and equipment training to educate you and your staff on important health and safety measures. We also provide preventative maintenance services so that your equipment keeps working as hard as you do.
 

Industry Insight: Our strong partnerships with leading brands and renowned organizations allows us to keep you knowledgeable about the latest industry innovations to increase efficiency and decrease costs and use of non-sustainable resources.
 

No matter your budget, industry, or unique green product and solution needs, our team focuses our cumulative knowledge, enthusiastic energy, and expert skills to create customized green product and program recommendations to support your sustainability goals.
 


 

A Smarter, Greener Paper Choice: Benefits of Rapidly Renewable Fiber (RRF) Towel and Tissue Products

 

No matter the industry, quality paper towel and tissue products are necessary for a sanitary, safe and professional-looking workplace. 

Regional Distributors, Inc. is proud to deliver Rapidly Renewable Fiber (RRF) towel and tissue products from Solaris Paper, an industry leader in RRF research & development, and product development. Solaris Paper leverages their strategic partnership with Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) to produce sustainable base RRF virgin fiber and finished products derived from fast growing Eucalyptus and Acacia trees, which creates brighter, whiter and softer premium products. RRF is responsibly harvested in ten years or less yielding more paper from more trees on less land and in less time. 

 

Q:  What is Rapidly Renewable Fiber (RRF) and where does it come from? 

A:  Modern tree plantations, particularly along the equator, are expanding the notion of “green” paper through the development of certified-sustainable rapidly renewable tree plantations.

Rapidly Renewable is a term that describes plant materials that harvest in a 10-year cycle or less. Solaris Paper's strategic supply partner produces Rapidly Renewable Fiber (RRF) from trees that flourish in warm, moist climates, and reach full height and maturity in 6-8 years. In temperate, northern climates, a well-managed production forest takes 15-25 years to grow. That’s why 80% of the fiber in Solaris Paper products is derived from fast-growing Eucalyptus and Acacia species harvested from sustainable managed “tree farms”. Young, fast-growing trees enable shorter harvest cycles yielding more paper from more trees on less land and in less time. That’s true sustainability in paper.

Moreover, RRF is virgin fiber. This means that it does not gain any additional energy footprint; which is collected from consumer recycle bins or the chemical impurity footprint associated with re-processing in de-inking plants. And the end-product is a whiter, brighter, softer, “greener” and smarter paper choice.

VIDEO: Learn what Rapidly Renewable Fiber is and how APP's development process produces sustainable paper from plantation to product.

 

Q:  Why is Rapidly Renewable Fiber (RRF) a good alternative?

A:  Rapidly Renewable Fiber (RRF) offers an alternative that replaces the recycle stream with a source of virgin fiber that is free of the waste collection and re-processing footprint carried by post-consumer recycled fiber.

Below are an additional top 10 reasons to add Rapidly Renewable Fiber (RRF) towels and tissues to you RFP specifications:

1. LEED Compliant. 
Solaris Paper towel and tissue products meet the requirements of the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED: EB O&M v4 green-cleaning criteria.

2. Responsibly Harvested Under Ideal Growing Conditions. 
Rapidly Renewable Fiber (RRF) is produced from trees with a significantly shorter life cycle allowing them to be economically harvested in 6-8 years, and replenished quickly. Rapid renewability has long been a core value of environmental thinkers, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

3. Delivering Unmatched Strength and Softness. 
Solaris Paper's unique virgin fiber combination delivers reliable tissue strength without the heavy addition of strengthening chemicals, as well as "at-home" softness due to the abundance of short fibers.

4. Rapidly Disperses in Water. 
RRF tissue paper products disperse rapidly in water due to their highly absorptive properties, thereby making them safe for septic and plumbing systems.

5. Greater Wet Strength
RRF towel products provide greater wet strength than the fibers in recycled content because the natural properties of virgin fiber have not been removed by over-processing.

6. No Need for Optical Brightening Agents (OBA). 
RRF paper products do not require the addition of OBA needed to conceal impurities remaining after the de-inking of recycled fiber.

7. Increased Efficiency. 
The high level of quality in RRF products makes them whiter, brighter, softer, and more absorbent, helping to reduce the amount of product used.

8. Reduced Energy Footprint. 
Use of virgin fiber avoids the extra energy footprint and toxic chemical contamination added during collection and re-processing of recycled waste paper.

9. Confidently Enjoy a Secure Supply of RRF-based Products. 
Capacity of RRF products is being expanded around the world while electronic media continues to drive down the availability, quality and value of recycled paper supplies.

10. Offer a New Option for Purchasing and Procurement Professionals. 
RRF products give purchasing professionals another option, increasing their buying leverage and providing them with a new opportunity to purchase the high quality, high value, environmentally beneficial products consumers prefer at institutional price levels.
 

To order Solaris Paper RRF products, visit our online catalog and ordering site or contact us.

 


 

Resources

 

Visit the following sites for valuable tips, tools, insights, and facts to help develop and grow sustainable practices throughout your business, community, and home.

 

EcoLogo
The EcoLogo is an environmental certification mark recognized world-wide that guarantees the product has been manufactured in a sustainable way. The EcoLogo mark ensures that the product will have minimal impact on the environment throughout its entire life cycle. Regional Distributors, Inc. proudly delivers EcoLogo certified products.

 
Green Seal
Green Seal is a national non-profit labeling organization that identifies products that reduce air and water pollution, limit energy consumption and the effects of global warming, and protect fragile fish and wildlife habitats. Products that receive the “Green Seal of Approval” have been thoroughly tested to meet strict environmental standards and are certified to be environmentally sound. Regional Distributors, Inc. proudly delivers Green Seal certified products.

 
EPA Safer Choice

Products with the EPA Safer Choice label help consumers and commercial buyers identify and select products with safer chemical ingredients that are less toxic, without sacrificing quality or performance. In addition to safer ingredients that meet stringent human health and environmental criteria, EPA's Safer Choice Standard also includes requirements for performance, packaging, pH, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Rochester Greenovation
Rochester Greenovation seeks to reduce waste and associated environmental and economic costs by providing and promoting alternatives for reusable materials, educating the public about the value of reusable materials, and teaching people how to transform recycled goods for practical and creative applications through partnerships with existing social services. Visit the site to learn more about:

  • services including waste diversions, environmentally responsible building deconstruction, salvage service, and appliance and furniture repair resources.
  • center for reuse and recycling featuring a retail market, class space, art gallery, studios, and a community stage.
  • projects including Tiny House and Live Neutral.
  • online store, events, and volunteer opportunities.
USA.gov Tips for Going Green
As the U.S. government's official web portal, USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web. Visit the site for informative tips on how to be a green consumer, make green product choices, and more. 

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment through regulation, grants, research, education, and partnerships. Visit the site to learn more about:

  • how to protect the environment in your home, workplace, and community.
  • leading-edge research through science and technology.
  • regulations and information on technical, operational, and legal details.
EPA Recycling Basics
Visit the EPA’s recycling site for valuable tips and information on how to reduce, reuse, and recycling common household materials at home, work, and in your community.

 

U.S. Green Building Council (GBC)
The GBC is a non-profit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. Visit the site to learn more about:

  • LEED green building programs, rating systems, and credentials.
  • robust educational offerings.
  • a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates.
  • the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo.
  • advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities.

 

  Protect the Health of Your Facility & Occupants - Schedule Your Free Green Cleaning Assessment Today


 

 


Service Beyond Expectations
 

"When choosing a supplier, price is always one of the key factors that determines who will receive the business. Regional isn't only the company that has the best value, they also provide invaluable recommendations for highly efficient products and green alternatives. Their team goes out of their way to help each of our dining units evaluate their needs and provide specific products that work best. They also help the campus dining operations with various green initiatives and recycling efforts to help support RIT's impressive sustainability goals. If you’re looking to make a change in paper supplier, I highly recommend Regional Distributors."

Dean Engdahl, Former Asst. Director, RIT Dining Services, Rochester, NY

 


Did You Know?

Our commitment and passion for protecting the environment and promoting green practices, products, and technologies has rewarded us with an extraordinary energy savings of over 50% owed to our implementation of LEED designed features within our headquarters. Visit our Regional Working Green page to learn more.