Disposable bio-based aprons for Skåne’s healthcare sector

Skåne Regional Council, Swedish southernmost county with Malmö as its main city, undertook with financial support from the Swedish Energy Agency, an innovation procurement for the supply of 5.2 million bio-based disposable aprons.

Thanks to an analysis of the region’s climate impact conducted in 2011, it discovered that its healthcare sector was one of the biggest contributors of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions – in fact 40% of the region’s total CO₂ emissions. Following the analysis, the region decided to carry out an innovation-oriented public procurement for the purchase of aprons mostly made from renewable (bio-based) material. The procurement involved four phases: a preliminary market dialogue/sounding phase; a qualification round to select potential suppliers; a negotiation phase; and an award phase.

The process began in 2014 and concluded in May 2016 with the contract awarded to a company for the supply of disposable aprons consisting of 91% renewable material. The purchase/use of the bio-based aprons is expected to result in savings of 250 tonnes per year of CO₂ emissions.

A case study of the Region of Skåne’s experience has been published as part of the EU-funded InnProBio project. The case study is available on the InnProBio website.