In the world of janitorial services, the lack of any kind of lasting odor is supposed to be a good sign. But the irony for Jarrett Walters, a champion of eco-friendly cleaning practices in Honolulu, is that he often has to explain why the lack of a fresh scent is even better.

"People think that if it doesn't smell like Pine Sol or lavender or lemon or lime it isn't clean," said Walters, who oversees the janitorial contracts for Hawaiian Building Maintenance. "All that did was show you there was a chemical there. We are trying to remove those fragrances and have our cleaning speak for itself."

By using cleaners that do not contain a harmful but sweetly scented chemical, Walters said he is making commercial buildings healthier for their tenants and his workers, too.

The practice is part of an industry trend toward greener practices that his company first embraced two years ago, Walters said.

"We recognized early on that green may not be the industry standard at the moment, but it is only a matter of time and everybody is going to expect it," he said. "We are getting to the point where people are asking for it."

New accounts start up green, while older ones are phased in as building owners and tenants are educated on the benefits.

Currently, about 75 percent of his accounts involve green-based cleaning, Walters said. The company serves more than 280 locations.

When Hawaiian Building Maintenance made the switch to greener practices, not all of the eco-friendly cleaning products were strong enough for some jobs, Walters said. Traditional chemical cleaners were used, then replaced with cleaners that used fewer dyes, fragrances and acids, he said.

"A lot of your older stuff had really complicated formulas that were not good for the environment," he said. "That was where it was when we first started, but we are at a point in our work where it all can be done full green."

Peroxide-based products have replaced harsher disinfectants and microfiber rags have been found to trap more dirt and dust, Walters said.

Greener cleaning practices were attractive to Sandy Tsujimura, assistant manager at Health Care Realty Trust, which owns two medical office buildings serviced by Hawaiian Building Maintenance. Tsujimura asked for the eco-friendly services two years ago.

"It just makes sense to do this because our clients are all physicians," she said. "We want them to be healthy. We want their customers, their patients, to be in a healthy environment as well. We are very conscious about that."

Tsujimura's company belongs to the Hawai'i chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association, which has pushed for green cleaning practices, as well as other eco-friendly initiatives, she said.

"I would say it is very widespread," she said. "I think every building owner wants to have something because you want to keep your tenants happy and it helps in marketing your property. You will be in a building that is safer for you."

And the cost of cleaning is almost the same, she said.

"So it doesn't make any sense for a building owner not to do this," she said.

Walters believes the trend will continue. His company recently sponsored sustainability workshops to raise awareness within the industry.

"Not only is it good for the Earth," he said, "but for the people who inhabit it, which is the end goal."