Bissell Homecare, Inc. unveiled its plan to get a little greener at this year's International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago March 16 -18. The floor care manufacturer is looking to lessen its impact on the global environment. Bissell's ForEver Green Team coordinates sustainability efforts in six major categories: packaging, engineering, chemicals, facilities, supply chain/logistics, and communications.

Bissell's goal is to reduce the impact it has on the global environment by identifying and implementing sustainability strategies consistent with overall key business objectives. "We know Bissell can't become green overnight, but the important thing is that we're making a serious effort to become a little greener and setting realistic, yet ambitious, goals to make that a reality," says Mark Bissell, Bissell's president and CEO.

As part of its commitment to becoming a little greener, Bissell is unveiling the new Little Green Compact, Multi-Purpose Cleaner at Housewares. In addition, Bissell will also be showcasing the Steam Mop hard floor cleaner, Natural Sweep carpet sweeper, 3X Concentrated Formulas with Scotchgard Protector and the PROheat 2X CleanShot carpet deep cleaner.

The Little Green is engineered to help consumers make their world a little cleaner and greener with sustainable design features that reduce waste and help protect the environment. It has PVC-free tanks and hose, and has parts made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.

The Little Green's carton has a minimum of 75% recycled corrugated packaging, no Styrofoam or PVC inserts, is smaller than the previous version, and is completely recyclable. In addition, the deep cleaner uses earth-friendly formulas that contain no heavy metals or optical brighteners and are free of phosphates and dyes. Bissell's goal is to make the product from 75%recycled materials by the end of 2008.