Packaging within hospital care and health care sector
The hospital care and healthcare care sector is a purchasing area that involves significant streams of plastic, approximately 30 percent of which consists of packaging and wrapping. By optimising the use of plastic, steering purchases towards sustainable choices and setting sustainability requirements in public procurement, we can reduce the environmental impact of plastics and head towards circular solutions.
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| Solutions for circular packaging within hospital care and nursing sector | Core | Special contract terms | Packaging within hospital care and the health care sector | ||
Criterion information More circular packaging flows shall allow for recycling and ensure ensure that there is no increase in the amount of waste or the quantities of goods that are damaged. Criterion text The supplier shall, no later than [contract start or other time determined by the contracting organisation], disclose the measures taken in order to promote more circular packaging and wrapping flows, recycling and reduced waste from virgin materials for the contracted products. These measures must not result in an increase in production waste or additional damage in transit. The measures presented may cover one or more packaging materials at one or more levels of packaging used for packing the product; that is, the primary, secondary and tertiary packaging. During the contractual period, the supplier shall, upon the request of the contracting organisation, be ready to demonstrate how the special contract term has been fulfilled. | |||||
| Recyclable plastic packaging (Design for Recycling) | Core | Technical specification | Packaging within hospital care and the health care sector | ||
Criterion information Plastic packaging that is designed to be recycled contributes to more circular plastic streams. Criterion text Secondary and/or tertiary packaging made from plastic that is used under the contract shall be designed for recycling. Plastic packaging and closures shall comply with at least the following: Plastic packaging1 and any plastic closures2 shall be manufactured as a mono-material3 from one of the following plastics or as separable4 components thereof:
Metallic parts shall not be used in the packaging,1 closure2 or label. Plastic packaging shall not be dyed using carbon black Plastic packaging shall not have printing that covers more than 60% of its surface. Labels Labels on plastic packaging shall meet one of the following twp requirements:
Labels shall be able to be washed away according to following:
Labels shall not cover more than 60% of the surface of the packaging. Exception: Any seals or sealing wads present are excepted on the condition that they are easily separable3 from the packaging and the closure. 1Plastic packaging includes rigid and flexible packaging, such as bottles, pots, bags, trays and similar. 2Closures include bottle caps and lids. 3Mono-materials are plastics whose composition consists of a single type of plastic polymer, such as polyethylene. 4Separable components include elements of the packaging that can be easily taken apart by the end user without the need of tools before being recycled. | |||||
| Recycled plastic packaging | Advanced | Special contract terms | Packaging within hospital care and the health care sector | ||
Criterion information Requirements for packaging manufactured from recycled plastic increase demand on the market and contribute to more circular flows and reduced plastic waste from fossil-based virgin plastic. Criterion text Secondary and tertiary plastic packaging used within the scope of the contract shall consist, on average, of at least 30 percent by weight recycled PCR plastic (Post Consumer Recycled).1 The calculation can be made according to the mass balance principle2 during a defined period of time by means of the packaging supplier's monitoring and reporting. The following products are covered: [specify which product/products] Upon request, the supplier shall present the calculation of the proportion of recycled plastic and demonstrate that the recycled raw material consists of PCR plastic. 1PCR plastic, Post Consumer Recycled, is plastic packaging which has been used for its original purpose by a consumer, or in a certain business, and then had been collected for recycling. 2Mass balance can be applied using different methods that measure product substitution and include traceability back to production and raw material when transitioning to recycled and renewable raw materials. Additional information on different mass balance methods. | |||||
There is great potential within the hospital care and health sectors for reducing and improving the use of plastics on different levels of packaging where hygiene requirements and legislation do not limit market demand for recyclable packaging.
It is important that we increase the amount of business packaging that is recycled. The new packaging ordinance (2022:1274), which enters into force on 1 January 2023, includes provisions intended to simplify the sorting of waste for both households and businesses. Simplified collection and sorting will help producers to recycle more of their waste, make waste handling more resource efficient, and reduce the need for new raw materials, which will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This ordinance means that municipalities and producers take on new roles.
As of 1 January 2024, municipalities will have operational responsibility for collecting household packaging waste and informing households about preventative measures and how to sort packaging waste. From the same date, the producer responsibility organisation that has the greatest market share will be required to arrange for reception sites for packaging materials from businesses. These reception sites shall be completed by 1 January 2026. For more information, see the Producer Responsibility for Packaging guide (in swedish) provided by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
Use the sustainability criterion or criteria that meet your needs and objectives, and in areas where you are able to follow up the requirements that are set. Specify in your tender document exactly which products shall meet a certain packaging and wrapping requirement. It is also important to specify how the supplier shall verify that the requirement is met.
The requirements specifically target the use of plastic in packaging and wrapping. It can be difficult for individual suppliers to influence how food packaging is sourced. The requirements should therefore be used in conjunction with a well-thought-out strategy in the purchasing work conducted by the procurer or contracting organisation. This strategy should include long-term efforts to reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging and wrapping. Such a strategy should also include dialogue and collaboration with contractors and materials suppliers.
Conduct a thorough market analysis to become informed about availability and the prevailing market conditions. Please see the National Agency for Public Procurement's guides for conducting a market analysis and having an early dialogue (in swedish) with the supplier market. Read also more under Innovation in Procurement.