Hand Cleaners

Green purchasing guidance for hand cleaners, including:

Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP) states that “reducing…the use of dangerous toxics in the products state agencies purchase will all have a direct positive effect on human health, particularly for vulnerable children.” It further states, “When making purchasing, construction, leasing, and other decisions that affect state government’s emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) or other toxic substances, agencies shall explicitly consider the benefits and costs (including the social costs of carbon) of available options to avoid those emissions. Where cost-effective and workable solutions are available that will reduce or eliminate emissions, decision makers shall select the lower-emissions options.”
Accordingly, all non-antimicrobial hand soaps must have one of the following third-party certifications:
- Green Seal, Safer Choice, UL ECOLOGO
- Cradle to Cradle Certificate or Material Health Certificate: v3.1 at the Gold level or higher OR v4.0 at the Silver level or higher

Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:

Have one of the following certifications: USDA Biobased or USDA Organic.
Are free of fragrances and dyes.
Manual hand soap dispensers eliminate battery use but require users to touch them. If battery-operated hand soap dispensers are needed, try rechargeable batteries.

Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:

Vendors may not offer antibacterial hand soaps on your contract unless it is specifically requested by medical facilities. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), antibacterial hand soaps are not more effective at cleaning hands than non-antibacterial hand soaps and may contribute to antibacterial drug resistance and cause other negative human health and ecological impacts. If antibacterial hand soaps are needed, specify products free of Triclosan, which may alter human hormones.
Avoid bulk hand soaps because bacteria can breed in bulk soap dispensers. Use individual cartridges, instead.
Although foaming hand soap products reduce water consumption compared to liquid hand soaps, they may be less effective at getting rid of germs.

These laws, rules, and executive orders must be included in the contract language:

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

Use surplus disposal to get rid of items you no longer need. Keep materials out of landfills and make funds for your agency.

Hazardous waste disposal guidelines and options: