March 18, 2008 - Bissell says it's getting "a little greener," unveiling a new floor cleaner - dubbed "Little Green" - that symbolizes the company's focus on small environmental improvements over flashy corporate announcements.

“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 CEO Mark Bissell.

For example, Bissell saved 1 million pounds of high-density polyethylene by recycling plastics from old products into components for new ones. (Find more information on the company's "Get a Little Green" microsite.)

Bissell's new Little Green floor cleaner, unveiled last weekend at the International Home + Housewares show in Chicago, features PVC-free tanks and hose and incorporates parts made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. (The company says it aims to manufacture product from 75% recycled materials by the end of the year.) The machine uses eco-friendly cleaning fluids that contain no heavy metals or optical brighteners and are free of phosphates and dyes. In addition, the Little Green is packaged in a compact, 100% recyclable carton made from 75% recycled corrugated cardboard that includes no Styrofoam or PVC inserts.

In 2005, Bissell launched a "green team" to coordinate its sustainability efforts in six major categories: packaging, engineering, chemicals, facilities, supply chain/logistics, and communications.