Reducing the Use of Toxic and Untested Chemicals in Products

There’s Gotta Be A Better way:  Participatory Workshop on Reducing the Use of Toxic and Untested Chemicals in Products

Lara Sutherland, Practice Greenhealth

Participatory workshop where about 50 particpants are sitting in a large circle.  Everyone is given a colored piece of paper by role -

Yellow- procurement
Red – provider
Purple- advocacy group
Green – Supplier

True and false questions about government processes and standards related to defining what is toxic.  Those answering true and false go to opposite sides of the room.  easy questions first, getting progressively harder.

For example:  Products containing cancer-causing agents cannot be sold in California. [false - you must be warned, but then they can sell it]

Question:  why don’t people use natural cleaners such as baking soda, vinegar. lemon juice, H2O2, etc? 

Answer is usually that some supplier company has won a contract to us a product that kills all germs at all times in all areas.   So, when contract comes up for renewal, then you can ask questions and try to change the standards. Local vendor pointed out that even standard cleaners require minimum contact times to get the cleaning done properly, and current labor standards do not allow for this.

Question:  How do chemicals end up in the environment?

Answer is that they come from runoff into watersheds, burning, and being passed up the food change.  Not enough research to know exactly how info goes up the food chain. Mining, transport, and natural disasters, also send info into the environment.

One participant had heard that for every pound of waste carted to a landfill, there are 7 pounds more that are still in the environment.  Can anyone corroborate this?

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing – choosing products and services that are perferable to those of alternatives.  Don’t wait to prove everything before acting!

Question:  What are you doing to address mercury in the workplace?

Participant said her facility was stopping it from coming in.

Question:  What about latex or PVC/DEHP?

Participant switched supplier when market came up for renewal.

Targeted Chemical Strategy – identity targeted chemicals, ask suppliers to disclose, and choose products without those chemicals (more on this and other topics in the booklet Guide to Choosing Safer Products and Chemicals:  Implementing Chemicals Policy in Health Care by HCWH (Health Care Without Harm).

Game – Product 1 versus Product 2.  List of issues related to what is in it and price.  Participants asked if they prefer 1 or 2.  Discussion about whether you would want 1 or 2 (what is disclosed, what is more dangerous, which performs better, etc).  Also ask for verification of what is on the list.

Game – small group exercise to decide questions you should ask before purchasing items that are on a sheet that is handed out to each group.  Each small group should have a member from each of the categories of participants determined at the start of the workshop.

Responses – groups pointed out that suppliers should be willing to use products on their own children, should be aware of respiratory issues, check for EPA Extremely hazardous Substances list, test in hospital’s internal lab, check for artificial flavors/colors, check for innovative vendors, cheeck for formaldehyde and endocrine disruptors, and supply contact person willing to sign no-harm pledge.

Are you willing to go back to your group and start this process?