Disposable textiles for use in health care

The supplier of the products delivered according to the contract shall have routines for systematic quality work. The routines shall be documented, at least include the activities covered by the contract and shall be applied during the contract period. The systematic quality work shall include at least the following points:

• Routines for the requirements in the contract to be controlled and fulfilled during the contract period.
• Routines for the documentation that verifies fulfilment of the requirements are to be available.
• Routines for reporting and processing of deviations related to the set requirements.
• Routines for reporting, documentation and management of claims and complaints regarding the products
• Routines for traceability upstream in the supplier chain for the products covered by the contract.
• That there is a contact person with respect to the contracting authority.
• Routines for the contact person's annual reporting of the above points to the contracting authority

Upon request, the supplier shall be able to prove that the requirement has been met. If the supplier applies its own documented system, [The contracting organization] may request that the information is verified by an independent third party.

Disposable textiles delivered under the contract shall not contain substances included on the current candidate list (Article 59 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)) in levels above 0.1 weight percent (1000 mg/kg) per substance.  0.1 weight percent refers to each individual part of a product¹.
If new substances are entered on the candidate list during the contract period, the supplier shall within six months of the European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) publication of a revised candidate list present an action plan on how the substances can be phased out. The action plan is presented to the contracting authority upon request.

The dyes and pigments listed in the table below shall not be present in coloured disposable textiles in levels higher than 50 mg/kg textile for each individual substance.

Alkylphenol ethoxylates shall not be present in the disposable textiles in levels exceeding  100 mg/kg 0,01 weight percent). 
 

Exemption
sterically hindered phenolic antioxidants with molecular weight (MW) >600 g/mole.

The content of free and (partly) hydrolysed¹ formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) shall not exceed 75 ppm (75 mg/kg) in the disposable textiles.

Disposable textiles shall not be treated with biocidal products¹,².

Excemption
Textiles where a biocidal function is specifically requested, such as surgical incision drapes 

In disposable textiles treated with substances to obtain a water-repellent or waterproof function perfluorinated substances or cyclic siloxanes on the current candidate list (Article 59 of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)) shall not be included in levels above 100 mg/kg textile (0,01 weight percent).

To be awarded [points/price deductions] in the tender evaluation the supplier shall be able to show the life-cycle climate impact for one or several disposable textiles, under the contract.

To be awarded [points/price deductions] in the tender evaluation the supplier shall in the tender show that one or more disposable textiles, under the contract, contains at least 30 weight percent of biobased plastic. 
The supplier shall upon request declare content of biobased plastic materials. The declaration can be done as a calculation according to the principle of mass balance¹ under a defined time frame.

1. The supplier's obligation 

Throughout the entire contract period, the supplier shall apply the contract terms under item 1-4. The contract shall be fulfilled in accordance with the following terms regarding workers’ rights:

• The eight core conventions of ILO regarding forced labour, child labour, discrimination, freedom of association, and the right to collective bargaining (no. 29, 87, 98, 100, 105, 111, 138, and 182).

The terms regarding workers’ rights are called “the Terms” hereafter.

In the event of the core conventions of the ILO are in conflict with national law, the supplier shall take reasonable measures to ensure compliancy with the international regulations.

The obligations concerns workers when they perform work within the frame of the contract.

The supplier shall, according to item 2, ensure that the Terms are fulfilled by hired subcontractors that directly contribute to the performance of the contract, regardless of the number of intermediaries. In addition, the supplier shall ensure that these subcontractors participate in the follow-up,
according to item 3.

The obligations concerns work carried out under such conditions where Swedish labour law is not applicable.

2. Policies and routines

To fulfil the obligations under item 1, the supplier shall take measures to prevent and manage any deviations from the Terms according to item 2.1-2.6 below. The measures shall be documented and applied throughout the entire contract period in their own operation and the operation of any subcontractors who directly contribute to the performance of the contract, regardless of the number of intermediaries.

At the start of the contract the supplier shall have:

2.1 adopted a commonly accessible policy, adopted by the highest management including a commitment to respect the Terms,

2.2. adopted routines to convey their commitment to respect the Terms in their own operation and in the supply chain,

2.3 appointed a manager at the highest management level, responsible for compliance with the Terms,

2.4 adopted routines to regularly carry out risk analyses, i.e. to identify and prioritise current and potential risks of deviation from the Terms, as well as mapping the supply chain with special regard to high risk operations,

2.5 adopted routines for regular follow-up of the Terms compliance, and

2.6 adopted routines to immediate action to prevent and limit deviations from the Terms, and to make amendments to identified deviations.

The measures shall be taken in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, or the equivalent.

3. Follow-up

[The contracting authority] has the right to follow-up that the supplier fulfils its obligations. The follow-up may be carried out in different steps; self-assessment and audit.

3.1 Self-assessment
Upon request from [the contracting authority] the supplier shall, [within six (6) weeks/other time period, specified by the contracting authority] from the receipt of the request, report compliance with the Terms in writing. The account can be submitted by form, according to appendix 1: self-assessment questionnaire. The supplier is expected to provide the information requested in the appendix.

3.2 Audit
The supplier shall enable [the contracting authority] to perform audits, on their own or through a representative, with the supplier and/or its subcontractors to ensure that the supplier fulfils the obligations according to item 1 and complies with the Terms. The supplier shall provide the information and documentation necessary in connection with the audit

4. Management of deficiencies

If the supplier does not participate in follow-up or if there are deficiencies in the documentation to be provided under item 3, a correction shall be made within the time determined by [the contracting authority].

In case of deficiencies in compliance to the Terms, the supplier shall amend this according to a schedule and action plan, developed by the supplier, and to be approved by [the contracting authority]. The schedule and action plan are to be developed within the time period decided by [the contracting authority] and must be proportionate to the nature of the deficiencies and clearly describe how these are to be remedied within the established schedule.

[The contracting authority] has the right to terminate the contract with immediate effect if the supplier do not make amendments within the established period or do not remedy deficiencies within the established
schedule.

[The contracting authority] has the right to terminate the contract with immediate effect in the case of severe deviations from the Terms.

1. The supplier’s obligation

Throughout the entire contract period, the supplier shall apply the contract terms under item 1-4. The contract shall be fulfilled in accordance with the following terms regarding human rights, workers’ rights, environmental protection, and anti-corruption (sustainable supply chains):

• the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights,
• the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 32,
• the eight core conventions of the ILO regarding forced or compulsory labour, child labour, discrimination, as well as freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, (no 29, 87, 98, 100, 105, 111, 138, and 182),
• the labour law in force in the country were the work is performed, including regulations for salary, working hours, leisure time, and work environment,
• the environmental law in force in the country were the work is performed, and
• the UN Convention against Corruption.

The terms regarding sustainable supply chains are called “the Terms”  hereafter.

When international regulations prescribe a stronger protection for the individual than the national legislation, the supplier shall take reasonable measures to ensure compliancy with the international regulations.

The obligations concerns all operations connected to the performance of the contract.

The supplier shall, according to item 2, ensure that the Terms are fulfilled by hired subcontractors in all parts of the supply chain. In addition, the supplier shall ensure that these subcontractors participate in the follow-up, according to item 3.

2. Policies and routines

To fulfil the obligations under item 1, the supplier shall take measures to prevent andmanage any deviations from the Terms according to item 2.1-2.6 below. The measures shall be documented and applied concurrently throughout the entire contract period in their own operation as well as in the operation of any subcontractors in all parts of the supply chain.

At the start of the contract the supplier shall have:

2.1 adopted a commonly accessible policy, adopted by the highest management including a commitment to respect the Terms,

2.2. adopted routines to convey their commitment to respect the Terms in their own operation and in the supply chain,

2.3 appointed a manager at the highest management level, responsible for compliance with the Terms,

2.4 adopted routines to regularly carry out risk analyses, i.e. to identify and prioritise current and potential risks of deviation from the Terms, as well as mapping the supply chain with special regard to high risk operations,

2.5 adopted routines for regular follow-up of the Terms compliance, and

2.6 adopted routines to immediate action to prevent and limit deviations from the Terms, and to make amendments to identified deviations.

The measures shall be taken in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, or the equivalent.

3. Follow-up

[The contracting authority] has the right to follow-up that the supplier fulfils its obligations. The follow-up may be carried out in different steps; self-assessment and audit.

3.1 Self-assessment
Upon request from [the contracting authority] the supplier shall, [within six (6) weeks/other time period, specified by the contracting authority] from the receipt of the request, report compliance with the Terms in writing. The account can be submitted by form, according to appendix 1: self-assessment questionnaire. The supplier is expected to provide the information requested in the appendix.

3.2 Audit
The supplier shall enable [the contracting authority] to perform audits, on their own or through a representative, with the supplier and/or its subcontractors to ensure that the supplier fulfils the obligations according to item 1 and complies with the Terms. The supplier shall provide the information and documentation necessary in connection with the audit.

4. Management of deficiencies

If the supplier does not participate in follow-up or if there are deficiencies in the documentation to be provided under item 3, a correction shall be made within the time determined by [the contracting authority].

In case of deficiencies in compliance to the Terms, the supplier shall amend this according to a schedule and action plan, developed by the supplier, and to be approved by [the contracting authority]. The schedule and action plan are to be developed within the time period decided by [the contracting authority] and must be proportionate to the nature of the deficiencies and clearly describe how these are to be remedied within the established schedule.

[The contracting authority] has the right to terminate the contract with immediate effect if the supplier do not make amendments within the established period or do not remedy deficiencies within the established
schedule.

[The contracting authority] has the right to terminate the contract with  immediate effect in the case of severe deviations from the Terms.