Kaiser Permanente  [Printer-friendly version]
March 23, 2005

KAISER PERMANENTE ADOPTS COMPREHENSIVE CHEMICALS POLICY

[Rachel's introduction: In 2005, Kaiser Permanente, the largest U.S.
health maintenance organization, with headquarters in Oakland,
California, adopted the precautionary principle to guide its
purchase, use and disposal of chemicals.]

Vision:

Kaiser Permanente aspires to create an environment for its workers,
members and visitors that is free from the hazards posed by chemicals
that are harmful to humans, animals and the environment.

Alignment with KP Values:

Linkages to Kaiser Permanente's Mission

KP's mission is to provide affordable, high-quality health care
services to improve the health of our members and the communities we
serve. Our concern for the health of our communities extends to the
air we breathe and the water we drink. (KP 2002-03 Annual Report)

KP's Environmental Stewardship Vision

We aspire to provide health care services in a manner that protects
and enhances the environment and health of communities now and for
future generations.

Alignment with Externally-Developed Environmental Concepts:

The Precautionary Principle

When an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or human
health, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and
effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. (From
definition created at the Wingspread Conference on the Precautionary
Principle, January, 1998.)

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

EPR is an environmental policy approach in which a producer's
responsibility, physical and/or financial, for a product is extended
to the post-consumer stage of a product's life cycle. Manufacturers
should have a responsibility for the health impacts of the chemicals
they use and the products they create. Purchasers of these products
and chemicals have the right to request safety testing and full
disclosure of the results. Two key features are: (1) the shifting of
responsibility (physically and/or economically, fully or partially)
upstream to the producer and away from municipalities and purchasers,
and (2) to provide incentives to producers to take environmental
considerations into the design of the product. (The Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development, 1994 Guidance Manual)

Issues:

1. In the U.S. we are experiencing alarming increases in chronic
diseases. Cancer, asthma, birth defects, developmental disabilities,
autism, endometriosis, and infertility are becoming increasingly
common. Mounting evidence links incidence and severity of these
diseases to environmental toxicants.

2. Lack of information from manufacturers of products used in health
care about all chemicals, ingredients, and processes used in
manufacturing.

3. Lack of safety testing to identify health and environmental impacts
for the majority of industrial chemicals.

4. Burdens faced by users (KP) due to the lack of information:

** ascertaining potential health impacts of products

** conducting assessments of products (resources, expertise, data)

** public concern

** research work and testing required of purchasers that want to
ensure products and chemicals are safe

** making product selection decisions without adequate information

** continued use of potentially hazardous materials

** potential liability

** unpredictable regulatory climate

** costs to organizations due to above listed burdens

5. Underclassification or mischaracterization of hazardous compounds.

Actions:

We will take the following actions to achieve our vision:

Internal focus

** Identify high priority chemicals and chemical groups; regularly
update and prioritize this data resulting in a living list of
chemicals of concern

** Conduct an inventory of product standards for presence of chemicals
of concern

** Understand cost implications of substitutions and incorporate cost
of ownership model into purchasing systems

** Communicate preferences to GPO, vendors and manufacturers

** When appropriate, communicate desired alternatives and reasons to
employees, members and the communities we serve

** Continue to pursue green building activities

** Develop goals and metrics to measure progress and include
mechanisms for sharing successes and lessons with the public

Contracting focus

** Create appropriate contractual obligations with manufacturers,
suppliers and distributors to:

** avoid identified chemicals of concern

** conduct and share results of extended toxicity testing

** disclose processes that use chemicals of concern even if the
chemicals used in the processes are not a part of the end product

** Substitute safer alternatives identified through hazard analysis

** Integrate a cost-of-ownership approach to assessing alternative
products

External focus

** Support sound public policies that promote greater evaluation of
chemicals and public disclosure

** Influence manufacturers to provide materials disclosure and
performance of safety tests

** Promote labeling of products with all ingredients

** Influence medical research into less hazardous clinical and
laboratory products and processes