No time to waste

Why did Ansell decide to write an open letter to the European Union PPE Industry Regulating Bodies? 

As a leading company in the PPE value chain, Ansell is a trusted global manufacturer with a history stretching back more than 125 years. Our mission is to build a safer workplace for all. Our personal protection solutions have evolved in response to precise needs and answer real issues and challenges in the sectors in which we operate. Sustainability is becoming a priority in the industry, with issues such as resource scarcity and the global climate emergency putting it at the forefront of everyone’s agenda.

The reliability of our solutions and the trust this creates means customers routinely look to us for leadership and guidance. Ansell is guided by a responsible and responsive business strategy that encompasses our values and ambitions. Sustainability, as with safety and protection, is an equal part of these values, and our ambitions to build a – better society, better environment, and better business.

Why is Ansell applying its values and position in the industry to prompt change in the regulations?

The recent European PPE Regulation (EU PPE regulation 2016/425) provides an essential framework to ensure PPE made available in the European Union (EU) adheres to specific health and safety standards. 

The ‘open letter’ sent to the EU Commission and Industry Regulators included a request to present some opportunities that contribute to Ansell’s ambitions and which benefit the wider industry, and also to ask for their support in helping us to deliver on this. I signed the letter on Ansell’s behalf - drawing upon our acknowledged reputation in the global industry - to urge amendment of the guideline requirements and to request active encouragement for EU Member States to comply. This, we believe, is the kind of initiative that the industry expects from us. 

What does Ansell particularly hope to achieve by taking this action?

Our motives are two-fold. As I have already stated, it is in line with our commitment to build a better society, better environment, and better business. In terms of our ambitions to build a better business, our aim is to create one single and harmonized recycling label for packaging materials and packaging waste. Ansell believes that recent initiatives taken by several Member States following the Commission’s decision of Jan 28, 1997 - related to Directive 94/62/EC - to establish an identification system for packaging materials and packaging waste, are commendable. We also fully agree with the urgent need to develop such a system, as it will help raise awareness among end-users about this matter.However, we identified an issue that concerns us in the letter, and this is due to the unilateral action taken by some Member States.

Can you explain what this issue was?

Ansell has observed the emergence of new rules and regulations in various countries, especially regarding requirements linked to the recycling of PPE, textiles, and so on, and the marking of packaging and packaging waste. For example, Italian authorities now require manufacturers to add specific recycling or packaging waste labels on PPE packaging. Simultaneously, France is working on similar regulations, but France requires a different logo on the packaging.

We consider it timely to warn against the additional complexity that could occur from the emergence of these new rules and regulations, and their potential to hinder free circulation of protection products within the EU. Such piecemeal individual local labelling could be confusing, negatively impacting EU-wide awareness and end-user action. This is in conflict with our stated aim in the letter that there is a unique opportunity for EU Regulators to create one single, harmonized recycling label.

What are the sustainability challenges you have identified in building a better environment?

A considerable portion of personal protective equipment is sold in the industrial field; whereby the employer must select the proper equipment for employees and train them to use it safely. Consequently, Instructions for Use (IFUs) are needed during the equipment selection process and for training purposes; however, they are no longer relevant during use. 

While EU PPE Regulation 2016/425 doesn’t expressly stipulate to supply IFUs in a paper format, the PPE Regulation guidelines require PPE products to be accompanied by a paper IFU, available in every EU language where this PPE is sold. 

What is the scale of the problem, and how do you propose to alleviate it?

We estimate that for our protective products sold in the EU alone:

• IFUs currently require 10 500 tons of paper annually.
• This amounts to approximately 630ha of forest.
• Which is the equivalent to 950 football fields.
• And equal to 625 paper-filled containers traveling on average 10 000 km.

In highlighting technological developments and end-user behaviour, Ansell has identified a real opportunity to avoid further waste of natural resources, by allowing manufacturers to move to a sustainable solution using digital IFUs in business-to-business environments. These are already allowed for medical devices, and therefore, we requested the EU Commission and Regulators to amend the applicable PPE guidelines and encourage Member States towards this direction.

What is the second focus of Ansell’s aims in the letter? 

The second clear focus of our proposals in the letter is designed to stem the flow of fake and dangerous PPE and help toward building a better society. As a result of the unprecedented demand for PPE in the COVID-19 pandemic, we have also seen a concerning influx of new - and even existing PPE brands – selling products in the EU non-compliant with applicable regulations. These often don’t meet minimum protection levels, or they claim higher protection properties than they can provide. Despite this, their prices make them attractive to buyers.

Such practices are growing exponentially due to poor market surveillance and the absence of severe penalties to combat fraud. This increasing non-compliant PPE also creates an unfair competitive environment and could mislead customers, creating unsafe work environments and potential accidents.

We contend that the industry needs increased market surveillance. At Ansell, we are taking several initiatives to ensure that we bring products to market that meet and exceed the regulatory standards, as well as educate the market on the regulation. This includes putting in place strict release control criteria and continuous assessment of our processes and products against the claims we make, so our customers and end-users can trust the products they buy. We are also training distributors on what they should be vigilant for and commit to report to the European Safety Federation cases in the market that are not compliant to the regulation.

Why does Ansell’s letter to the Regulators stipulate that - there’s no time to waste? 

Ansell views this as a unique opportunity for EU Regulators to take the lead and facilitate a harmonised approach that will bring more clarity for PPE users regarding packaging, sustainable disposal and recycling of the packaging in the EU. We’re convinced this will ultimately lead to a more significant and positive environmental impact.

We see the process as much more than applying the latest rules to stay compliant, or indeed, doing so to just to help our partners and customers to be compliant, too. Ansell views this as a chance to drive to the industry as a whole toward action that ultimately leads to shifts in attitude and ignites more significant transformation down the line, making things safer for the people who use and rely on PPE. 

In conclusion, how would you underline your actions and expectations in the letter? 

We realise our goals are ambitious, but with the will and support of key regulatory bodies in aligning their actions and legislation - along with Ansell’s commitment to improve the environment, society, and our industry - we believe together we can achieve a positive outcome.

We urge EU Regulators and authorities for more market control and strict penalties when fraudulent protective equipment is brought into the European market for product integrity and everyone’s safety and peace of mind. That’s why we believe that there really is - no time to waste.

Rikard Froberg is president industrial global business unit at Ansell. For more information, visit www.ansell.com/gb/en/about-us/sustainability