April 3, 2007
Kris McNamara
Vice President
The Walt Disney Company
Corporate Environmental Policy
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-9758
Dear Kris McNamara:
I am writing to follow up on our request (November 30, 2006) to meet with you, and your February letter of response, on the issue of switching Disney World hotels and parks to use only least-toxic green cleaning products.
In your response you stated that Disney World currently uses over a dozen certified green cleaning products. We applaud your use of those products and are asking that The Walt Disney Company continue with that commitment to public health and only use green cleaning products at your parks and hotels.
Our cursory research confirms that Disney World uses some green cleaners, but Disney also uses dozens more very toxic cleaning products that can create serious health problems in children. Infants, toddlers and children with sensitive systems, such as asthmatics, are most at risk for lifetime health impacts from even one-time exposures to common chemicals. This research also showed that Disney World already knows how to buy and use green cleaning products. In Animal Kingdom certain products are not used because they could hurt the animals. However, those very chemicals are used in the parks, restaurants, and hotels where children play, bathe, eat and sleep. Additionally, three of the fifteen Disney World hotels already use green cleaners, and are certified by the Florida Green Lodging Association as having green cleaning programs. Disney World can make this commitment.
We are asking you to commit to fully transition the rest of Disney World parks, hotels and restaurants to green cleaning and to develop a plan to train maintenance staff in green cleaning procedures by the end of 2007.
To successfully and thoroughly transition to Green Cleaning, Disney World would need to:
Establish a Green Cleaning Purchasing Policy for all Disney World hotels, parks and restaurants.
Phase in certified green cleaning products within one year.
Use only staff trained in green cleaning procedures to ensure that they are used properly.
By taking these steps Disney World can become the leader in the tourism industry for healthy indoor and outdoor environments and protect the health of visiting families.
Last year a state law was passed in New York, directing government buildings and public schools to only use green cleaning products and procedures. In Massachusetts, New Jersey, and throughout the country other school districts have done the same. Disney’s use of green cleaning products and procedures will provide the same “healthy” environment for children that they get at home and in school.
This month the Center for Health, Environment and Justice will be holding a leadership training conference in Orlando, FL. At this conference will be a number of participants who care deeply about this issue, and are working to switch local schools and child care centers from toxic cleaners to green cleaners.
Conference planners thought that this conference would be the right opportunity to hold a press conference to announce that, after repeated requests from CHEJ to you for a meeting, and/or a commitment to change to green cleaners, that a public campaign will be launched. This media event will be the first in a series of events in NY, MA, NJ, FL and other states beginning on Earth Day weekend.
We know that The Walt Disney Company can make this change, since you already have in a few of your hotels and in Animal Kingdom. We invite you to seize on this public campaign to publicly commit to taking the next steps and make Disney World a safer and healthier place for families.
If Disney is ready to make the announce transition to green cleaning products and procedures, organizers of these events will publicly that Disney has made a firm commitment to protect children’s health, before the campaign grows and captures the attention of your summer vacation guests.
CHEJ and our partner organizations are willing to assist Disney World in this exploration of and transition to, green cleaning products and procedures, and to share experiences and expert resources from our national work on this issue.
Please let us know if you would like to meet and discuss this issue further.
Sincerely
Lois Marie Gibbs
Executive Director
Center for Health, Environment & Justice