Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

• All single-use gloves shall be powder-free and labeled as such.

Preferred specifications

Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:

• Cradle to Cradle Product Material Health v 4.0 (Silver or higher).

Things to avoid

Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:

• EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP)
  • 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.” 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.”
  • Medical exam gloves may not contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which can contain phthalates and can create dioxins and furans, two highly persistent and bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals, when incinerated, unless no PVC-free alternatives are available.
• Avoid latex exam gloves due to allergies.
  • Purchase nitrile exam gloves instead.

Laws, rules, and executive orders

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

• EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP)
• EO 04-01: Persistent Toxic Chemicals

Find these products on statewide contracts

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

• Contract 12722: Medical Personal Protective Equipment

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