October 28, 2019

Discussion on integration of circular economy aspects into standardisation

The SBS sector Forum on personal protective equipment (PPE) on 24 October in Brussels saw an intense exchange of ideas on how standards can be used to promote a circular business model like PPE cleaning and reprocessing services. The SBS sectoral associations DTV and SME Safety encouraged the Commission and the standardisation bodies to take action towards a more circular economy. The PPE and textile care sector, mainly driven by SMEs, has a business model that already incorporates principles of reuse, repair, recycle products. The SBS Forum highlighted that supporting the use of reusable and repairable PPE, e.g. via public procurement practices, would not only help to achieve environmental goals but also support local SMEs. Thousands of SMEs across Europe provide services like laundering, repair and recycling of textile PPE products.

The discussion showed that the implementation of circular economy aspects into the PPE regulation will be a long process. A short-term solution for progress in this area might be the development of specific product standards as well as accompanying guidelines.

Event programme:

08.30-09.00 Welcome coffee and registration

09.00-10.00 Setting the Scene—PPE, Standards, and Circular Economy

• PPE Sector Update
• European Standards in PPE and Sustainability
• Closing the Loop! Integrating Circular Economy into Standards
• How are SMEs benefiting from Circular Economy Models in PPE?

Speakers: Andrea Rechtsteiner (CEN TC 162 WG 12), Andreas Schumacher (DTV)

10.00-10.30 Coffee break

Speakers for the sessions

• Christoforos Spiliotopoulos, Policy Director at European Environmental Citizen's Organisation for Standardisation (ECOS)
• Sebastian Lentz, Project coordinator at DIN Environmental Protection Helpdesk, CEN Strategic Advisory Body on Environment (SABE)
• Mario Gabrielli Cossellu, Policy Officer, Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Systems, DG GROW
• Stephanie Jansen, Horizontal Committee of Notified Bodies (HCNB) for PPE

10.30-11.30 SESSION 1: Sustainability in the PPE Industry

11.30-11.45 Mini-break

11.45-12.45 SESSION 2: Discussion about the inclusion of Circular Economy into the standards-making process13.15-1330 Q&A

12.45-13.00 Q&A

13.00-13-15 Closing remarks

13.15-14.15 Informal networking lunch

Presentations:

• Andrea Rechtsteiner (DTV Standardisation expert)
• Andreas Schumacher (DTV Standardisation expert)
• Christoforos Spiliotopoulos (ECOS)
• Jennifer Ogbonna (CEN-CENELEC)
• Memorandum of Understanding between SBS, SME-Safety and DTV, and the national associations
  
• Sebastian Lentz (DIN and SABE)

More photos of the event: