{"id":5263,"date":"2023-04-03T00:00:58","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T00:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eu.bd.com\/iv-news\/?p=5263"},"modified":"2023-03-30T16:31:29","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T16:31:29","slug":"nordics-and-the-u-k-set-standards-for-sustainable-procurement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eu.bd.com\/iv-news\/news-innovation\/nordics-and-the-u-k-set-standards-for-sustainable-procurement\/","title":{"rendered":"Nordics and the U.K. set standards for sustainable procurement"},"content":{"rendered":"

To fight against climate change, Norwegian health authorities have committed to a 40% reduction in CO2<\/sub> emissions by 2030 and they are working to become carbon neutral by 20451<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

One way to help meet these targets is the \u201cNordic Criteria for More Sustainable Packaging: For Healthcare Products2<\/sup>.\u201d This document aims to help reduce waste, increase recycling and expand the use of recycled or renewable materials3<\/sup>. These criteria were developed with the procurement departments at hospitals in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and the Faroe Islands2<\/sup>. They are designed to be used in public tenders3<\/sup>. A decision tree is included to help guide packaging-related procurement decisions3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

More on this topic: The ins and outs of syringe waste disposal<\/a><\/p>\n

Sustainable procurement transforms U.K. medical plastics<\/strong><\/h4>\n

While over in the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) has pledged to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 20404<\/sup>. Efforts to meet this target have been laid out in a report called, \u201cDelivering a \u2018Net Zero\u2019 National Health Service4<\/sup>.\u201d The NHS plans to implement decarbonisation measures in the following areas: estate and facilities, travel and transport, supply chain, medicines as well as research, innovation and offsetting4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In U.K. hospitals, more than 1.4% of supply chain emissions come from single-use plastics4<\/sup>. Before the pandemic, these hospitals produced an estimated average of 11,300 tonnes of plastic waste per day5<\/sup>. Better resource management could result in a 10% reduction in clinical single-use plastics (e.g., syringes, intravenous catheters or disinfecting caps), leading to a savings of 224 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (ktCO2e)4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

As part of efforts to decarbonise their supply chain, they will require non-pharmaceutical suppliers to meet NHS commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions4<\/sup>. The U.K. NHS is actively working with suppliers to reduce emissions from medical device packaging4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

More on this topic: 3 ways that BD is fighting climate change<\/a><\/p>\n

Sustainable <\/strong>procurement has the potential to change healthcare across Europe<\/strong><\/h4>\n

According to Susanne Backer, Senior Consultant from the Central Denmark region, the goal of the \u201cNordic Criteria for More Sustainable Packaging: For Healthcare Products\u201d is for them to eventually be adopted by European Union (EU) member states outside the Nordic nations3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

With close to \u20ac2 trillion spent each year by public authorities (many in healthcare) in the EU6<\/sup>, public procurement has the potential to shape a more sustainable economy7<\/sup>. An estimated 8.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) is used to purchase health services and medical goods in the EU8<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Procurement professionals and healthcare administrators across our region can help reduce their healthcare facilities\u2019 environmental impact through sustainable procurement9<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Want to know how you can make your tendering process more sustainable? Take a look at the European Commission\u2019s Buying green!<\/em> handbook below.<\/p>\n

Read Buying Green<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
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