The Federal Government actually founded Green Cleaning in the interest of promoting environmental conservation and healthier workplaces throughout the United States.

The federal government has defined "green" and "environmentally preferred purchasing" as "…products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products and services that serve the same purpose". Executive Order 13101 which can be seen at www.ofee.gov/eo/13101.htm.

Both definitions focus on the impact cleaning has on the health of people as well as the impact it has on the environment. Both definitions also describe a goal of striving to make sure cleaning has as positive an impact on human health and the environment as possible.