Kimberly-Clark Health Care
today announced achievements that highlight the company's substantial
progress in its sustainability initiatives. 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 all highlight the company's ongoing
commitment to sustainability. As a champion in greening the medical
manufacturing process and innovative product packaging,
Kimberly-Clark diverts 6.5 million pounds of its manufacturing waste
away from landfills each month, further supporting the overall goal of
providing quality protection to its customers and to the environment,
equally.
"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," said 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."
Following are some of the highlights from 2010:
- Kimberly-Clark Health Care has joined Practice Greenhealth, the
nation's leading 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.
- Kimberly-Clark Health Care 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, Ohio; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, Ala.; St. Luke's Boise Medical Center, Boise, Idaho; and WVUH Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W. Va.
- Kimberly-Clark Health Care 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 significantly reduce hospital
expenses and waste that would reduce the overall medical "carbon
footprint" within a hospital. Although still in the investigative
stages, Kimberly-Clark
is researching several of the ideas stemming from the project,
including disaster relief tent/shelters, children's toys and backpacks.
Kimberly-Clark in the Healthcare Environment
Around the world, medical professionals turn to Kimberly-Clark
for a wide portfolio of solutions that improve the health, hygiene and
well-being of their patients and staff. As part of their healing
mission, caregivers rely on Kimberly-Clark
to deliver clinical solutions and educational resources that they can
depend on to prevent, diagnose and manage a wide variety of
healthcare-associated infections. This more than $1 billion
global enterprise of Kimberly-Clark Corporation holds the No. 1 or No.
2 market share position in several categories, including infection
control solutions, surgical solutions, pain management and digestive
health. And throughout the care continuum, patients and staff alike
trust Kimberly-Clark medical supplies and devices, KLEENEX tissues, Kimberly-Clark professional skin care products and SCOTT towels for day-to-day needs. For more information, visit http://www.kchealthcare.com.
