Kimberly-Clark Health Care (KCHC), a Roswell, GA-based division of the Kimberly-Clark Corp., is achieving progress in its sustainability initiatives in medical packaging waste. From rewarding customers for their sustainability efforts to developing recyclable uses for medical packaging waste to partnering with top advocacy leaders in sustainability, these milestones highlight the company's ongoing commitment to sustainability.
KCHC diverts 6.5 million lb of its manufacturing waste away from landfills each month. "Kimberly-Clark Health Care has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to greening its products and practices for the benefit of customers, communities, and the overall environment," says Joanne Bauer, president of Kimberly-Clark Health Care. "In the past year, we've made great strides in our environmental efforts, researching innovative ways to reduce medical waste, acknowledging champions in the green healthcare movement and partnering with other leaders in healthcare sustainability. The results of our efforts are notable but we know there is work remaining, and we will continue our commitment in 2011 and beyond."
KCHC products help prevent, diagnose, and manage major issues in these clinical areas: Infection Prevention (Protection & Infection Control, Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, and Surgical Site Infections), Digestive Health, and Pain Management. Among the specific sustainability highlights in 2010 were the following:
• KCHC joined Practice Greenhealth, a membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that are committed to sustainable and eco-friendly practices. As a result of this membership, Kimberly-Clark Health Care will learn from industry-leading experts and consultants in the green healthcare community that can assist in the design and architecture of future sustainability projects.
• KCHC developed a campaign called "Save the Daisies" to reward its customers for recycling its KIMGUARD Sterilization Wrap, and for promoting details of its programs with other facilities. The four winning facilities each received an educational grant and a donation from Kimberly-Clark Health Care to the cause of their choice. The 2010 winners include: Summa Health System of Akron, OH; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, AK.; St. Luke's Boise Medical Center, Boise, ID; and WVUH Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, WV.
• KCHC worked with the Rhode Island School of Design's (RISD) Industrial Design Department to develop and identify sustainable new concepts and scalable designs for repurposing the Kimberly-Clark KIMGUARD Sterilization Wrap through a semester-long studio course, titled, "Kimberly-Clark Green Studio." The project resulted in a number of innovative ideas as to how best to repurpose the wrap without much altering. These concepts would reduce hospital expenses and waste that would lower the overall medical "carbon footprint" within a hospital. Click here for more information.
KCHC diverts 6.5 million lb of its manufacturing waste away from landfills each month. "Kimberly-Clark Health Care has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to greening its products and practices for the benefit of customers, communities, and the overall environment," says Joanne Bauer, president of Kimberly-Clark Health Care. "In the past year, we've made great strides in our environmental efforts, researching innovative ways to reduce medical waste, acknowledging champions in the green healthcare movement and partnering with other leaders in healthcare sustainability. The results of our efforts are notable but we know there is work remaining, and we will continue our commitment in 2011 and beyond."
KCHC products help prevent, diagnose, and manage major issues in these clinical areas: Infection Prevention (Protection & Infection Control, Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, and Surgical Site Infections), Digestive Health, and Pain Management. Among the specific sustainability highlights in 2010 were the following:
• KCHC joined Practice Greenhealth, a membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that are committed to sustainable and eco-friendly practices. As a result of this membership, Kimberly-Clark Health Care will learn from industry-leading experts and consultants in the green healthcare community that can assist in the design and architecture of future sustainability projects.
• KCHC developed a campaign called "Save the Daisies" to reward its customers for recycling its KIMGUARD Sterilization Wrap, and for promoting details of its programs with other facilities. The four winning facilities each received an educational grant and a donation from Kimberly-Clark Health Care to the cause of their choice. The 2010 winners include: Summa Health System of Akron, OH; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, AK.; St. Luke's Boise Medical Center, Boise, ID; and WVUH Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, WV.
• KCHC worked with the Rhode Island School of Design's (RISD) Industrial Design Department to develop and identify sustainable new concepts and scalable designs for repurposing the Kimberly-Clark KIMGUARD Sterilization Wrap through a semester-long studio course, titled, "Kimberly-Clark Green Studio." The project resulted in a number of innovative ideas as to how best to repurpose the wrap without much altering. These concepts would reduce hospital expenses and waste that would lower the overall medical "carbon footprint" within a hospital. Click here for more information.
