MD Stetson

M.D. Stetson Recognized for Environmental Leadership

Mass.-made products improve public health in schools, universities and municipalities

LOWELL, Mass. – Fifteen years ahead of the “green” revolution, a small company in Randolph, Mass., M.D. Stetson, re-formulated a line of janitorial cleaning products without hazardous chemicals.

Today, the Company that employs 45 people is one of 17 Massachusetts companies being recognized by legislators and the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) Program as a “TURA 20th Anniversary Leader.” The awards and facility tours are intended to showcase environmental accomplishments—use of safer materials, waste reductions and energy savings—since the Toxics Use Reduction Act was enacted in 1989.

“We selected M.D. Stetson for its foresight and dedication in supplying public schools, universities and municipalities with green cleaning solutions way ahead of the spike in awareness of green products,” said Jason Marshall, laboratory director of the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell, who provided the third party performance testing of M.D. Stetson’s cleaning products.  “The company was proactive in developing the market, asking customers to try the safer products while still supplying the traditional products. Changing the mindset of customers demonstrates the depth of the company’s leadership.”

The Changes Made by M.D. Stetson have been Cost Neutral

The changes made by M.D. Stetson have been cost neutral, while providing many positive health and environmental impacts and, often, better performance. Since 1993, the company has reduced its use of glycol ethers from 176,000 to 75,000 lbs. and expects to eliminate the use of the solvents within the next few years. According to the EPA, short-term exposure to high levels of glycol ethers in humans results in narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage. Long-term exposure may result in neurological and blood effects, including fatigue, nausea, tremor, and anemia.

“I am honored to accept this award and recognition on behalf of my employees and customers,” said president of M.D. Stetson Michael Glass. “I’ve always been proud of our company for doing what’s right and manufacturing and selling our products here in Massachusetts. Eighty percent of American jobs are with small businesses like ours.”

For more than ten years, the TURI Laboratory has been providing the third party performance testing for M.D. Stetson’s cleaning products, a necessary step for their products to get certified by GreenSeal and EcoLabel—two of the toughest independent certification bodies for cleaning products.

For more than ten years, the TURI Laboratory has been providing the third party performance testing for M.D. Stetson’s cleaning products, a necessary step for their products to get certified by GreenSeal and EcoLabel—two of the toughest independent certification bodies for cleaning products.

In 1938, Max Stetson started his company with a simple philosophy of building relationships based on trust

In 1938, Max Stetson started his company with a simple philosophy of building relationships based on trust. Today, that same culture is alive and well. With a strong commitment to innovation, M.D. Stetson Company, Inc., based in Randolph, Mass. has invented revolutionary new products including green certified cleaning formulations, the world's first backpack vacuum and mop-on restorer. Now in its third generation of family ownership, Stetson continues to flourish. Stetson is proud to be the leading independently owned and operated cleaning and building maintenance supplies distributor in New England. For more information, visit www.mdstetson.com.

Twenty years ago, the Massachusetts legislature passed landmark legislation

Twenty years ago, the Massachusetts legislature passed landmark legislation—the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA). Today, the TURA Program is considered a model environmental policy by other states and countries. The three agencies below have provided training, grants, technical assistance and support to help companies reduce toxic chemical use and costs, improve health and safety and establish new green markets.

•  Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Provides education, training, and grants for Massachusetts industry and communities; sponsors research and demonstration sites on safer materials and technologies; provides policy analysis; and manages the TURA Science Advisory Board.

•  Office of Technical Assistance & Technology (OTA). A non-regulatory agency within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs that provides free, confidential, on-site technical and compliance consultations to Massachusetts businesses and institutions.

•  Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). C ertifies Toxics Use Reduction (TUR) Planners, receives and reviews toxics use reports submitted by companies, provides guidance, takes enforcement actions, and collects chemical use data and makes it available to the public.