# Biodegradable Degreaser for Canadian Facilities: A Buyer's Guide

> What actually makes a degreaser biodegradable, which standards verify it, and how JANITORI's plant-based degreasers compare on cost per use for Canadian facilities.

- **URL:** https://janitori.com/blogs/the-clean-room/biodegradable-degreaser-for-canadian-facilities-a-buyers-guide

"Biodegradable" is printed on more degreaser labels than almost any other cleaning claim — and it's one of the least verified. Most facilities managers can't say what actually makes a degreaser biodegradable, which standard proves it, or whether the biodegradable option on the shelf is any different from the conventional one next to it.

This guide breaks down what biodegradability actually means for an industrial degreaser, how it's verified, where it matters most in a facility, and which Canadian-made options deliver real cost-per-use value — not just a green label.

 **Key Takeaways**
- "Biodegradable" is a claim, not a certification — a real biodegradability test (ASTM D5864 or an equivalent OECD-aligned method) confirms an ingredient breaks down; a label alone does not.
- JANITORI No.71 and No.72 MAX use plant-derived surfactants with 0% VOCs, phosphates, and petroleum solvents — biodegradable by formulation, not just by marketing.
- No.72 MAX concentrate costs $0.05/L at 1:200 dilution (one 4L jug makes 800L of working solution) — far below ready-to-use biodegradable competitors at $9-$11/L.
- CCME's environmentally preferable purchasing criteria for cleaning products flag phosphates, VOCs, and non-biodegradable surfactants — the same three factors to check before any purchase.

 **Table of Contents**
- [What Actually Makes a Degreaser Biodegradable?](#what-makes-biodegradable)
- [Is "Biodegradable" the Same as "Eco-Friendly" or "Non-Toxic"?](#biodegradable-vs-eco-friendly)
- [Which Certifications or Standards Verify Biodegradability?](#certifications)
- [Where Should You Use a Biodegradable Degreaser?](#where-to-use)
- [Which Biodegradable Degreaser Is Best for Canadian Facilities?](#best-picks)
- [How Much Does a Biodegradable Degreaser Cost per Use?](#cost-per-use)
- [How Do You Switch to a Biodegradable Degreaser Without Disrupting Operations?](#switching)
- [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq)

## What Actually Makes a Degreaser Biodegradable?

A degreaser is biodegradable when its surfactants and solvents break down into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass through natural microbial action — typically confirmed with an aerobic biodegradation test like [ASTM D5864](https://www.astm.org/d5864-18.html), not just claimed on a label.

The active ingredient matters more than the marketing. Plant-derived surfactants (from coconut, corn, or citrus sources) biodegrade rapidly and completely under standard test conditions. Many petroleum-derived surfactants and solvents biodegrade slowly, incompletely, or leave persistent breakdown byproducts — some are labelled "biodegradable" based on partial degradation over a much longer timeline than the plant-derived alternative.

Three formulation factors determine real biodegradability: surfactant source (plant-derived vs. petroleum-derived), solvent class (no chlorinated or aromatic solvents), and the presence of phosphates or EDTA/NTA chelating agents, which resist natural breakdown and contribute to aquatic nutrient loading.

## Is "Biodegradable" the Same as "Eco-Friendly" or "Non-Toxic"?

No — the three terms measure different things. Biodegradable describes how a chemical breaks down after use. Eco-friendly is an unregulated marketing term with no fixed legal definition in Canada. Non-toxic describes acute health hazard (poisoning risk), not environmental fate.

A product can be non-toxic to humans but slow to biodegrade, or biodegradable but still classified as an eye or skin irritant under [WHMIS 2015 (CCOHS)](https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/). Buyers checking a single label claim can miss the other two entirely. The SDS is the only document that confirms all three — biodegradability data, toxicity classification, and VOC/solvent content — for a specific product.

## Which Certifications or Standards Verify Biodegradability?

The clearest verification is a documented biodegradability test result (ASTM D5864 or an equivalent OECD-aligned method) plus alignment with the [CCME](https://ccme.ca) environmentally preferable purchasing criteria used across Canadian institutional and municipal procurement.

CCME's criteria for cleaning products flag exactly three formulation risks: phosphate content, VOC content, and surfactants that fail standard biodegradation testing. A facility manager doesn't need a lab report to apply the same filter at the point of purchase — checking the SDS for those three items covers most of what a formal certification would confirm.

There is no single mandatory Canadian biodegradability certification for institutional cleaning chemicals (unlike NSF for food-contact surfaces). This is why manufacturer SDS documentation and ingredient transparency matter more here than for food-safe degreasers, which do have a defined certification path.

## Where Should You Use a Biodegradable Degreaser?

Use a biodegradable degreaser anywhere runoff can reach a floor drain, storm sewer, septic field, or waterway — which in practice covers most commercial and industrial facilities.

 | Zone | Examples | Why Biodegradability Matters

 | Floor drains & wash bays | Vehicle bays, equipment wash areas, loading docks | Runoff often discharges to storm or sanitary sewer with minimal treatment

 | Arenas & sports facilities | Zamboni pits, equipment rooms, locker rooms | High-volume rinse water, frequent floor drain discharge

 | Food processing & kitchens | Prep areas, hood systems, floor cleaning | Grease-trap and municipal wastewater load reduction

 | Rural & septic-serviced sites | Facilities on septic fields, not municipal sewer | Non-biodegradable surfactants can disrupt septic bacterial action

 | Enclosed mechanical rooms | Boiler rooms, compressor rooms, no floor drain | Lower environmental urgency, though VOC/solvent content still matters for air quality

## Which Biodegradable Degreaser Is Best for Canadian Facilities?

For Canadian facilities, the best biodegradable degreaser combines plant-derived surfactants, zero phosphates or VOCs, a documented SDS, and a Made-in-Canada supply chain. [JANITORI Degreaser No.71](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71) and [Degreaser MAX No.72](/products/degreaser-max-janitori-no-72) deliver all four at two different strength tiers.

 | Product | Formula | VOC | Phosphates | Format | Origin

 | **[JANITORI No.71](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71)** | Plant-derived surfactants | 0% | 0% | Direct spray or dilute | Made in Canada

 | **[JANITORI No.72 MAX](/products/degreaser-max-janitori-no-72)** | Plant-derived, heavy-duty concentrate | 0% | 0% | 1:200 concentrate | Made in Canada

 | Simple Green Biodegradable | Water-based, biodegradable solvent blend | Low | None advertised | Ready-to-use | USA

 | SoPure Degreaser | Non-phosphate, biodegradable | Not disclosed | 0% | Ready-to-use | Canada

 | Cuda Canada Biodegradable Degreaser | Biodegradable industrial formula | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Ready-to-use (5-gal pail) | Canada

[JANITORI No.71](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71) and [No.72 MAX](/products/degreaser-max-janitori-no-72) are made in Montreal from plant-derived surfactants with zero VOC content, zero petroleum solvents, and no phosphates, EDTA, or NTA. Both are part of our [biodegradable cleaning products](/collections/biodegradable-cleaning-products) line, used by arenas, hotels, and commercial kitchens across Canada since 2010.

[Shop Degreaser No.71 — $26.95 / 4L](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71)

## How Much Does a Biodegradable Degreaser Cost per Use?

JANITORI No.72 MAX costs $0.05 per litre of working solution at 1:200 dilution — the lowest cost-per-use biodegradable degreaser option available to Canadian facilities. Ready-to-use biodegradable brands run $9 to $11 per litre.

 | Product | Price | Dilution | Working Solution Yield | Cost / L

 | **[JANITORI No.71](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71)** | $26.95 / 4L | 1:40 | 164L | **$0.19**

 | **[JANITORI No.72 MAX](/products/degreaser-max-janitori-no-72)** | $29.95 / 4L | 1:200 | 800L | **$0.05**

 | Simple Green Biodegradable (RTU 32oz) | ~$8.99 / 0.95L | RTU | 0.95L | $9.47

 | Cuda Canada Biodegradable Degreaser (5-gal pail) | $199 / 18.9L | RTU | 18.9L | $10.51

For a facility using 20L of working degreaser per week, the annual cost difference between JANITORI No.72 MAX ($0.05/L) and a ready-to-use biodegradable brand at $10.51/L is approximately **$10,878 per year**. Even against a lower-cost RTU brand, concentrate dilution is the single biggest lever on a facility's degreaser spend — independent of the biodegradable question entirely.

[Shop Degreaser MAX No.72 — $29.95 / 4L](/products/degreaser-max-janitori-no-72)

## How Do You Switch to a Biodegradable Degreaser Without Disrupting Operations?

Switching takes three steps: audit current usage, match the ratio to the task, and pilot before a full rollout. Most facilities complete the switch in under a month without a service interruption.
- **Audit current usage.** Check invoices for litres of degreaser purchased per month across all zones — this is the baseline you're comparing cost-per-use against.
- **Match strength to task.** Heavy carbonized buildup (kitchen hoods, manufacturing floors, engine bays) needs a high-strength concentrate like No.72 MAX at 1:200. Daily light-to-moderate grease (countertops, shop tools, routine maintenance) needs direct-spray or light dilution like No.71.
- **Pilot on one zone for two weeks.** Verify grease-cut performance and rinse behaviour on your actual soil types before rolling out facility-wide. Request an SDS alongside the sample so your safety documentation is ready on day one.

## Frequently Asked Questions

## What does "biodegradable" mean for an industrial degreaser?

It means the active ingredients break down into water, CO2, and biomass through natural microbial action, typically verified with a standard test like ASTM D5864. It's a property of the formula, not a marketing category — plant-derived surfactants generally biodegrade faster and more completely than petroleum-derived ones.

## Is JANITORI's degreaser certified biodegradable?

JANITORI No.71 and No.72 MAX are formulated exclusively with plant-derived surfactants and carry no phosphates, EDTA, NTA, or petroleum solvents — the formulation profile CCME's environmentally preferable purchasing criteria look for. SDS documentation is available on request for facilities that need to confirm ingredient-level compliance.

## Does biodegradable mean weaker cleaning power?

No. Plant-derived surfactants break molecular bonds in grease and oil the same way petroleum solvents do. No.72 MAX is formulated specifically for heavy industrial degreasing — carbonized grease, engine bays, exhaust hoods — at full concentrate strength before dilution.

## Can I use a biodegradable degreaser near floor drains or waterways?

Biodegradable formulas are the right choice for these zones specifically, since runoff into floor drains, storm sewers, or septic systems is where non-biodegradable surfactants cause the most environmental impact. Always follow local discharge regulations regardless of formula.

## What's the difference between No.71 and No.72 MAX?

No.71 is a ready-to-use or lightly dilutable degreaser for everyday to moderate grease. No.72 MAX is a high-concentrate formula (1:200 dilution) built for heavy industrial degreasing — manufacturing floors, engine bays, and exhaust hoods with weeks of carbonized buildup. Both are biodegradable by formulation.

[Get Degreaser No.71 — Made in Canada](/products/degreaser-janitori-no-71)

[Get Degreaser MAX No.72 — Heavy-Duty](/products/degreaser-max-janitori-no-72)

## Related Articles
- [Best Industrial Degreasers in Canada: 2026 Buyer's Guide](/blogs/the-clean-room/best-industrial-degreasers-in-canada-2026-buyers-guide)
- [Commercial Kitchen Hood Degreaser: The Professional's Cleaning Guide](/blogs/the-clean-room/commercial-kitchen-hood-degreaser-guide)
- [Food Safe Degreaser for Commercial Kitchens: A Facility Manager's Guide](/blogs/the-clean-room/food-safe-degreaser-for-commercial-kitchens-guide)
- [Biodegradable Cleaning Products: Complete Buyer's Guide for Canadian Facilities (2026)](/blogs/the-clean-room/biodegradable-cleaning-products-complete-buyers-guide-for-canadian-facilities-2026)