Healthcare cleaning services are essential for infection prevention but contribute significantly to the environmental footprint of hospital operations through the intensive use of chemicals, water, and energy. This study presents an integrated assessment of a conventional cleaning protocol (TT) and a CAM-compliant environmentally oriented protocol (GREEN, TG) in a real hospital setting (Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy), combining microbiological monitoring with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Surface contamination was evaluated across different risk areas using standardized culture-based methods, while environmental impacts were quantified using a cradle-to-grave LCA approach, focusing on Global Warming Potential (GWP100). Both protocols achieved significant reductions in microbial load, with post-cleaning values consistently below established hygienic thresholds. No pathogenic indicator organisms were detected after cleaning, and the GREEN protocol demonstrated microbiological performance equivalent to or slightly better than the traditional system across all risk categories. LCA results revealed a substantial environmental advantage for the GREEN protocol, with a 43.7% reduction in carbon footprint (−273 g CO₂e m⁻² year⁻¹), corresponding to an annual saving of approximately 13.3 t CO₂e at the facility scale. These reductions were primarily driven by decreased chemical consumption, optimized dosing, and lower laundering temperatures. The findings demonstrate that environmentally sustainable cleaning strategies can maintain high standards of microbiological safety while significantly reducing environmental impacts. This integrated approach supports the adoption of CAM-compliant protocols in healthcare facilities and highlights the importance of combining infection control metrics with life-cycle environmental evaluation to inform sustainable procurement and hospital management practices.

The transition toward low-impact facility management requires robust evidence that environmental optimization does not compromise hygienic reliability. In the professional cleaning sector, sustainability claims are often based on product substitution rather than on integrated performance validation. This study provides a dual-perspective evaluation comparing a conventional cleaning protocol with the Pfe Green system, an eco-designed approach compliant with the Italian Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM, D.M. 29 January 2021), implemented in a civil building of Renault Italia S.p.A. in Rome. A combined Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and microbiological evaluation was conducted under real operational conditions to quantify both climate-related and hygienic outcomes. The LCA, performed in accordance with ISO 14040–44 and ISO 14067 standards, demonstrated that the Green protocol achieved an approximately 30% reduction in Global Warming Potential over a 100-year horizon (GWP₁₀₀), mainly attributable to structural process optimization, including reduced detergent mass, lower laundering temperatures, improved dilution control, and energy-efficient machinery. Microbiological monitoring, conducted according to ISO 14698 and UNI EN ISO 18593, showed that both systems ensured high levels of microbial abatement, with the Green protocol exhibiting slightly higher average reductions in total viable counts (96.1% vs. 94.2%). These findings confirm that lower chemical input and eco-formulated products do not compromise hygienic performance when supported by standardized procedures and microfiber-based mechanical removal. By integrating life-cycle metrics with microbiological validation, this research proposes a replicable assessment model for sustainable cleaning services. The results demonstrate that CAM-aligned green protocols can simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintain hygienic effectiveness, thereby supporting evidence-based sustainable procurement and corporate environmental strategies. The originality of this study lies in the integration of life-cycle environmental assessment with real-world microbiological validation under operational conditions, providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating sustainable cleaning systems beyond product-level substitution.

The transition toward sustainable facility management requires cleaning systems that reduce environmental burdens while maintaining high hygienic standards. This study presents a comparative evaluation of a green cleaning protocol (EVA SmartClean), compliant with the Italian Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM; D.M. 29 January 2021), compared with a conventional cleaning system implemented in a civil facility (Adriatico Guest House, Trieste, Italy; 8260 m²). The assessment integrates a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), conducted in accordance with ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067 and PCR 2011:03 for professional cleaning services, with an extensive microbiological surface monitoring campaign performed using RODAC plates and swab sampling. The functional unit was defined as 1 m² of representative surface maintained clean for one year. The green protocol achieved a 47.7% reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP100 based on IPCC AR6 characterization factors), corresponding to −110 g CO₂e/m²·year and −908 kg CO₂e/year for the entire facility. Major reductions in climate impact were associated with chemical consumption (−82.6%), energy use (−49.5%), and textile waste generation (−92.4%). Microbiological analyses demonstrated that both protocols complied with reference hygiene thresholds, while the green system achieved reductions in total mesophilic counts that were comparable or superior across representative surfaces. The results confirm that environmental optimization in cleaning services can be achieved without compromising microbiological safety, supporting public procurement policies aligned with CAM requirements and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 12 and 13).