Big picture, the commitment of the furniture companies to release their product lists demonstrates a push for transparency and an industrywide move away from using products that contain chemicals of concern.
“Purchasing products without hazardous chemicals just became much easier for healthcare,” said Gary Cohen, president of Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth. “This represents another important milestone in our efforts to make the healthcare sector a national leader in sustainability.”
According to Mr. Cohen, the list will not only allow health systems to better meet their sustainability goals — it will help hospital protect their patients, workers and communities.
Some chemicals and materials healthcare facilities should avoid, according to Healthier Hospitals, include:
- Flame retardants, many of which are toxic and unnecessary
- Stain- and water-resist or perfluorinated compounds, which are highly persistent
- Antimicrobials, which contribute to antimicrobial resistance
- PVC or polyvinyl chloride plastic, a plastic made of known human carcinogens
- Formaldehyde, also a known carcinogen
To access the new product list from individual manufacturers — including EniroLeather, La-Z-Boy, Naturepedic and Stryker — click here.
More articles on hospital materials:
Patient safety tool: Video on proper handling of dirty healthcare linens
Study reveals hospital linens helped zygomycosis infections spread during outbreak
The most MRSA-contaminated surfaces in a hospital room: Infographic
