NORDIC GUIDE TO GREEN PROCUREMENT OF TEXTILES Project for the Nordic Council of Ministers/Danish EPA David Watson, PlanMiljø Seminar Stockholm 16 th February 2017
Background & Goals Six projects under 2015 Nordic action plan for textiles Goals of this project were to: Develop a network of healthcare procurers Develop a guide to assist in greener procurement Ensure continued life of the network with new themes
Process 1st meeting discussed green issues and scope for a guide. Advice from network: Don t reinvent the wheel link to existing resources Equip procurers with knowledge on process/key considerations 2nd meeting first draft guide. Invited supplier viewpoints. Highlighted: Suppliers constantly developing new textiles Importance of market dialogue Provide some basic criteria
Guide Contents
Pesticides Chemical use in fabric production Production phase impacts Energy use/water use/wastew ater Energy use/water us/wastewa ter Detergents Use phase impacts Transport Net benefits End of life
Cleaner production Production phase impacts Extended product lifetime Use phase impacts Reduced energy/water laundering Fibre choice Lower impact detergents
Cleaner production Extended product lifetime Reduced energy/water laundering Fibre choice Lower impact detergents
Green ambitions/ex pectations Procurer Supplier s Green innovations Market dialogue can take place up until the beginning of formal tendering process Pre-tendering processes, collection of comments on draft tenders Individual meetings with potential suppliers In Sweden can gain assistance via Upphandlingsmyndighets programme of online resources Alternatively can make use of development contracts allow for new innovations
Box: Examples of innovations (page 13) Box: Functional criteria and Swedish guide (page 12)
EU GPP criteria for textiles core and comprehensive National versions of EU criteria Box: Hygiene standards for laundries (pages 16-17) Interesting Swedish study Swedish background and guidance documents: textile procurement and textile services Example green criteria uniforms Sykehusinnkjøp (pages 20-21) Box: CSR guidance on textile procurement (page 18)
If: Ecolabels for textiles and textile services Since 2014 may specify accepted Ecolabels in tender criteria must accept other documentation if tenderer couldn t gain Ecolabel in time Or can use Eco-label criteria for inspiration pick and mix Tailor to your level of ambition Section includes links to various Ecolabel websites/criteria
Different fibres have different environmental profiles during production
Different fibres have different environmental profiles during production Some fibres are more durable than others > but may not be more easily recycled (secondary problem) Synthetic fibres are easier to launder - lower energy use in drying. May also allow reduced wash temperature User comfort is key but carry out user tests results may surprise you!
Operation room textiles hygiene aspects are paramount Reusable textiles show significant environmental benefit compared to single use textiles - 2 to 3 times lower carbon footprint, energy use and water use Modern reusables are also equivalent or better in hygiene aspects lint production, barrier qualities, breathability and comfort Will also save money the savings are dependent on factors such as labour costs, energy costs, waste costs etc.
Green textiles may not be cheapest upfront. When full lifetime costs are included the picture changes TCO calculations for healthcare textiles require information on: Often lower TCO goes hand-in-hand with environmental gains durability obvious case Unfortunately no TCO tools available for healthcare textiles. Guide gives some resources Textile service providers can make TCO calculations
Questions for group work Guide content and layout: 1. Are there additional resources we should provide links to? 2. Is there text which is unclear/ could be misunderstood? Dissemination and updating: 3. How can the guide be disseminated by the network so that all procurers learn of it and should it be translated to national languages? 4. How often will it need to be updated and who should have responsibility? General aspects: 5. Are guides in general useful tools for procurers?