The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment reported on October 27, 2024 that the Joint Research Centre had released a practical guide to using EU Ecolabel criteria in the green public procurement of absorbent hygiene products.
The announcement describes recommended criteria covering sourcing and processing of fluff pulp, man-made cellulose fibres and cotton, material efficiency during manufacturing, and product packaging. The guide is intended to help purchasing authorities develop environmental specifications and award criteria for tenders.
The EU Ecolabel and EU green public procurement criteria are voluntary instruments. This announcement is not a new compulsory standard for all adult diapers or all purchases. The linked official article is an introduction to the guide; tender-specific requirements need to be checked in the applicable procurement documents.