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Tranemo Safety Expert Guide

7 STEPS TO A MORE RESPONSIBLE PROCUREMENT OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN PURCHASING PROTECTIVE CLOTHING As a purchaser or safety manager, it is important to consider environmental aspects when purchasing protective clothing. To facilitate this process, we have developed a checklist of steps to follow when making purchasing decisions. These steps range from evaluating current PPE suppliers to exploring PFAS requirements and the possibility of extending the product’s lifespan through care and repair. NOTE: This checklist focuses primarily on the product itself. Other sustainability aspects of the purchasing process- such as working conditions and human rights- are not covered in this guide.

7 STEPS TO A MORE RESPONSIBLE PROCUREMENT OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

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Conduct a risk analysis

Customise your protection - Avoid PFAS if possible

Keep track of the chemicals

Place demands on the supplier

Test functionality and comfort

Minimise the design

Think long term

1. CONDUCT A RISK ANALYSIS Start the purchasing process by conducting a thorough risk analysis of the working environment. This will help you determine which certified protective clothing is required. Different certifications require different levels of protection, which in turn determines which fabrics and virgin fibres the protective clothing should be made of. To minimise the use of environmentally harmful materials or treatments, always carefully consider whether the required level of protection is truly necessary.

2. CUSTOMISE YOUR PROTECTION - AVOID PFAS IF POSSIBLE Do you require protection against oils and chemicals? If so, it is particularly important to be aware of the exact type of protection needed. It is easy to order PFAS-treated clothing even though PFAS-free garments may offer equally effective protection for the specific risk involved. Remember that this decision- PFAS or not- has a significant impact on the environment. Consider the following: 1. 2.

Is EN 13034 required? - Acids or bases: PFAS-free impregnation - Oils or oil-based chemicals: PFAS impregnation If not, choose PFAS-free protective clothing.

To ensure adequate protection, a customised fabric test is recommended for the identified risks.

3. KEEP TRACK OF THE CHEMICALS Dyes, pigments, formaldehyde, plasticisers, flame retardants and biocides are just a few examples of chemicals used in the manufacture of protective clothing. Since chemicals can cause extensive damage to natural ecosystems, it is important to keep track of which harmful substances are used in textile production. By demanding transparency and traceability of chemicals, you facilitate compliance with regulations and can thus contribute to the emergence of more responsible manufacturing methods in the textile industry.

4. PLACE DEMANDS ON THE SUPPLIER The greatest environmental impact of textiles occurs during the manufacturing process. It is therefore important that you set clear requirements for the manufacturer of your protective clothing. For example, investigate where and how the fabrics have been produced to ensure that they meet your sustainability goals. Upon request, suppliers should be able to provide licences and documentation related to the use of environmentally harmful substances, as well as procedures and reports covering wastewater treatment, quality assurance and recycling. Help with drawing up requirements specifications for the procurement of textile products can be found on the Swedish National Procurement Agency’s website, among other places.

5. TEST FUNCTIONALITY AND COMFORT – THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY GARMENT IS THE ONE THAT IS NEVER PRODUCED An important aspect from a sustainability perspective is that the user feels comfortable in their protective clothing. Since the garments are designed to be worn five days a week, all year round, it is extremely important that they are right from the start. Let your colleagues try on different garments and give feedback on which ones work best before purchasing protective clothing. This will minimise the risk of having to buy new garments.

6. MINIMISE THE DESIGN From a recycling perspective, it is easier to recycle clothes made with minimal design and as few different materials as possible. However, to achieve optimal protection and high comfort, it is not possible to manufacture protective clothing from a single material. It is therefore important to find a balance between functionality, comfort, cost and recyclability. Be aware that logos and branding make reuse more difficult. For example, when an employee leaves the company, the clothing remains with its logos and branding. However, if the garments are free of these, there is a greater chance that they can be circulated and reused by others.

7. THINK LONG TERM – REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND LOWER OVERALL COSTS A key part of sustainable purchasing is thinking long-term when it comes to quality. Durable protective clothing that can be used for a long time helps reduce the need for new production, which in turn reduces environmental impact. By purchasing high-quality protective clothing that is designed to be repaired and last a long time, you can also reduce the total cost in the long term.

THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY GARMENT IS THE ONE THAT IS NEVER PRODUCED. For more in-depth information on risk analyses, standards, certifications and sustainability, please visit our knowledge bank at www.tranemoworkwear.com.

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