Vizient expands EPS portfolio to help reduce carbon intensity of built environments

By Erin Cristales, Vizient

Most people feel far safer indoors than out. But often, built environments can house serious health risks, both to people and the planet — in fact, 91% of the air pollution humans experience is located indoors.

It's crucial then — particularly for hospitals, which should be seen as safe havens — that the products used in their facilities and construction are manufactured with a focus on sustainability. As long-term assets, it's essential to consider how these materials perform under different degrees of climate change, particularly as more independent facilities come together to create new integrated health networks.

"Many of the products used within capital, construction and facilities are very carbon intensive," said Ty Anderson, Vizient manager, contract and program services. "So, when members are constructing new buildings or even upgrading current buildings, we feel a responsibility to educate them  on products within our portfolio offering that have the least impact on the environment."

That's exactly why Vizient is growing its portfolio of products and services that support the lifecycle of the built environment from conception, planning, procurement and construction to the ongoing and longer-term aspects of the facility's care and maintenance. In 2017, Vizient's Environmentally Preferred Sourcing team worked with the facilities and construction sourcing team to incorporate environmentally preferred (EP) standards into a national bid for furniture. Now, that framework has been extended to multiple other product categories within the built environment, including floor coverings, door handles and controls, hand hygiene, facial protection, organic baby care, HVAC cleaning services and mattresses, with ceiling products soon to be added.

"Through the Environmentally Preferred Sourcing program," said Mellissa Nguyen, Vizient senior program services manager said. "Vizient leads the group purchasing industry in advocating for safer chemical management, conservation of natural resources and responsible waste management."

Increasing transparency

As part of the EPS designated portfolio, participating suppliers must provide a list of products that meet pre-defined environmentally preferred standards, as well as specific third-party certifications to indicate independent auditing of sustainable manufacturing standards. Suppliers also agree to submit separate sales reporting for EP and non-EP product purchases to facilitate member tracking via normal Vizient financial reporting channels.

"Through the portfolio, we want to make hospitals aware of a broader array of products and services, enabling them to provide the highest quality of care while also encouraging manufacturers to pioneer new solutions that reduce negative human and environmental impact," Nguyen said.

Meeting member and supplier goals

Many hospitals have specific goals for the use of EP products in their facilities which, on a bigger scale, help contribute to the overall environmental health of society.

"Vizient is able to provide supply chain metrics that show how members' purchasing behavior align with their sustainability goals related to environmentally preferred products," Nguyen said.
Vizient has identified key solutions for healthcare providers to develop and expand their environmentally preferred procurement programs, including

• Improving visibility into environmentally preferred products from a data perspective
• Gaining support for environmentally preferred procurement (EPP) goals from executive leadership and throughout the hospital organization
• Developing a cost-effective portfolio that includes sustainability considerations
• And identifying financially viable opportunities combined with subject matter expertise in sustainable procurement.

Suppliers also have the opportunity to showcase and demonstrate their sustainability commitment through the EP standards used in their manufacturing, from raw materials sourcing to the physical facilities and processes used when producing their products.

To learn more, check out Vizient's Environmentally Preferred Sourcing website. For more information, email EPS@vizientinc.com.