Medical Equipment and Supplies

Green purchasing guidance for medical equipment and supplies, including:

Blood pressure devices
Thermometers
Other miscellaneous medical supplies

Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP)
- “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.” It further 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.”
State employees should avoid purchasing medical supplies containing PVC (vinyl) and ortho-phthalates such as DEHP.
- State agencies should specify and choose products that are Greenhealth Approved.
All mask products must be free of PVC, latex, and PFAS (e.g., PTFE and Goretex) materials and treatments.
N-95 masks must be on the NIOSH/CDC Approved N95 Respirators A Suppliers List.
Face shields and goggles: All face shields shall be free of PVC and latex. Vendors shall disclose whether the product has an antifog coating that contains PFAS.
Bouffant caps, aprons, booties (shoe covers), coveralls and gowns, including reusable and single-use products: All products shall be free of PVC and latex. Preferred to avoid silicone. Vendors shall identify all products that contain PFAS (e.g.,Goretex, PTFE and other materials and chemical treatments).
PAPR System: The PAPR system shall use rechargeable batteries that do not contain lead or cadmium. It is desirable for the vendor to collect and recycle spent PAPR batteries.

Things to avoid

Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:

Avoid purchasing medical supplies containing PVC (vinyl) and ortho-phthalates such as DEHP.

Laws, rules, and executive orders

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

Find these products on statewide contracts

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

Contract 12722: Medical Personal Protective Equipment
Contract 02119: Medical Diagnostic Testing

End of life

Surplus goods that still can be used

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

Recycling and disposal

Hazardous waste disposal guidelines and options:

Department of Ecology: Dispose, recycle, or treat dangerous waste
Washington Recycles