Circular Procurement in Healthcare

In Spring 20236, the Flemish Government will launch a Green Deal Sustainable Heathcare together with many partners. Circularity will be one of the four major themes within this green deal. On this page we want to collect inspiring examples and publications, specifically for the healthcare sector. This includes, for example, the purchase of medical equipment, medical instruments and medicines. But of course there are also more generic product groups that are important for the healthcare sector. On the other product group pages you will find information about construction, textiles, ICT, office furnishing, catering, paper and cardboard, packaging, textiles and maintenance products.

Circulair procurement strategies Healthcare

Share internally
Rent or share peer to peer
Reuse, Refurbish or Upgrade
Minimal use of material in design
Less waste: the healthcare sector traditionally makes extensive use of many single-use products. This results in huge amounts of waste, but also a high dependence on the supply chain. It is therefore important to look for reusable or more environmentally friendly alternatives, without compromising the safety of patients and staff.

Insight into the share of recycled, biobased and virgin materials
Increase the share of recycled content Increase the share of biobased content
Energy, water and gas consumption during the use phase: opt for efficient equipment and optimal settings. The EU GPP criteria will help you procuring them.

Extended warranty
Contractual agreements for maintenance and repair
Upgradeable Products
Design for longevity
Repairability and maintainability
Modular/change-oriented design
Contractual incentives to extend service life
Advice on usage optimisation by supplier

Design for Diassembly
Modular design
Standardised design
Insight into composition and connections
Contractual agreements on take-back and reuse
Stimulating circular revenue models

Design for recycling: make sure that products are easy to disassemble and that the materials are easy to recycle. For example, by choosing mono materials.
Insight into materials: you can include in your criteria that plastic parts must be marked with the type of plastic
Contractual arrangements for return and recycling
Reducing Toxicity: Many of the products used in healthcare such as disinfectants, medical devices, furniture, electronic devices, solvents and medicines contain harmful chemicals. These toxic substances must be replaced by safer alternatives. In for the safety of patients and staff, but also to be able to safely close the cycle of products and materials. Healthcare without harm published a list of substances to avoid.
Biodegradable/ compostable
Stimulating circular revenue models

Criteria

Extensive dossier with criteria for electrical and electronic equipment for the healthcare sector on the EU GPP website. These are in need of renewal, but can certainly provide inspiration. T

Circular Procurement Projects in Healthcare

Prolonging lifecycle of baby strollers for preschools

Monday 10 July 2023

In Sweden, most preschools are run by the municipalities. In the city of Malmö, there are over 200 preschools for which the municipality procures baby strollers and buses. The products are generally …

Zorgbedrijf Antwerpen chooses reusable incontinence material

Wednesday 4 November 2020

In their tender for the framework contract for incontinence material, Zorgbedrijf Antwerpen incorporated sustainability in the awarding criteria. For the bid package on incontinence material for perv…

University Hospital Antwerp (UZA) includes circularity in catering contract

Monday 17 February 2020

Peter Bottelberghts: "The UZA has already concluded a circular contract concerning the operation of the patient kitchen, staff restaurant and commercial area in a public–private partnership for a per…