"We need to remove these flame retardants from our bodies, from homes, our hospitals, from our schools and from commerce, we'll push the marketplace to get health care to lead by example."
- Gary Cohen, President of Health Care Without Harm
Did you know that fire retardant chemicals fail to have influence on protecting the fire safety performance of furniture? Due to the lack of impressive benefits and excess of harmful off-gassing chemicals the state of California has recently revised its flammability standard for upholstered furniture. The new regulation enables furniture manufacturers to meet the current standard sans the inclusion of those icky fire retardant chemicals and furthermore it will be required of them to abide by this rule come January 2015.
Following the release of this new state standard, healthcare institution Kaiser Permanente responded quickly by announcing its decision to cease purchasing of flame retardant treated furniture. This action has given Kaiser the great honor of being recognized as "the first healthcare system in the US to remove these toxic chemicals from hospital furniture." The power of their decision "could impact more than 38 hospitals and 600 medical offices in eight states and the District of Columbia." All remodeled and newly constructed buildings will not incorporate furnishings with added chemicals.
This transition will further contribute to Kaiser's "green" reputation as a leader in its industry. Kaiser is known for "sourcing safer alternatives to products used in healthcare settings" and remains loyal to its $30 billion commitment to green buildings. Kaiser's statement to withdraw from buying furniture laden with chemicals means a cleaner, healthier and safer environment for employees and patients throughout its medical offices and hospitals. Our company admires Kaiser's efforts to improve the environmental health conditions of their industry through integration of environmentally friendly products and sustainable policies and we hope their practices will put marketplace pressure on other institutions to start incorporating similar features.
To read more about Kaiser's announcement follow these sources:
Kaiser Will No Longer Buy Furniture Treated with Chemicals
- The Columbian
Kaiser Stops Buying Furniture with Flame Retardants
- Environmental Leader
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