Sanitary Products (SPv1.0-2019)

The GECA Sanitary Products (SPv1.0-2019) standard is a modified adoption of Nordic Ecolabelling’s Sanitary Products (V6.4: 2016) standard, referred to as the source document and has been reproduced with permission from Nordic Ecolabel. This standard seeks to set the benchmark in Australia for environmentally preferable sanitary products.

Modifications to the source document have been made in order to maintain relevancy to the Australian market. A list of changes to the source document along with the justification can be seen, upon request to GECA. After an 18-month transition period, this Sanitary Products standard will be reviewed and undergo consultation with relevant stakeholders before assuming the status similar to that of all other GECA standards.

Products included in the scope of this standard are: breast pads, children’s diapers, incontinence care products, (panty-liners, formed diapers and diapers with tape strips), sanitary towels (pads and panty-liners), tampons, cotton buds, cotton pads, cotton wool, sauna underlays, bibs, plasters, compresses, mattress covers/protectors, draw sheets, bed linen, wash cloths (except paper cloths), surgical gowns, patient gowns/patient covers, surgical masks and caps.

Relevant disposable products in addition to those specified above may be included in the product group upon request if they are viewed as sanitary products. This applies only to products made of materials for which requirements are imposed in the criteria. GECA will decide which new products may be included in the product group.