4 MIN READ
12-14-2024
Plastic Reduction in Healthcare: Safe and Sustainable Alternatives to Single-Use Items
Alex Schulze , CEO/Co-Founder
Plastic Reduction in Healthcare: Safe and Sustainable Alternatives to Single-Use Items
Alternatives to Single-Use Items
Sustainability initiatives are gaining traction across industries globally, and healthcare — one of the largest contributors to plastic waste — is no exception. The increasing push to reduce plastic waste in medical settings aims to expand sustainability in the industry while upholding the high standards of care and sanitation required in the field. However, this shift poses a unique challenge due to the widespread use of plastics in healthcare.
Manufacturers are focusing on reducing dependence on single-use plastics, as their use has become deeply intertwined within the field of care. The goal is to strike a balance between minimizing environmental impact and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical treatments.
Policies Paving the Way to a Plastic-Free Future
A 2020 study found that roughly 80% of healthcare-related emissions were from disposable (single-use) equipment, with 8% attributed to the U.S. alone. As a result, governments worldwide are enforcing stricter regulations on single-use plastics to mitigate their environmental impact. While many regulations may not specifically target hospitals, broad restrictions on disposable equipment will inevitably require healthcare facilities to comply.
The European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive is a key regulatory effort, requiring that, if a sustainable and affordable alternative is available, single-use plastics cannot be sold within EU member countries. This has limited the sale of certain plastic items, including hygiene products and containers, making them unavailable for hospital purchase.
In South America, several countries are implementing laws to support environmental sustainability that tackle plastic and packaging. Chile’s Single-Use Plastics Law, enacted in 2021, regulates plastic use in both food and healthcare sectors. Colombia’s National Plan for the Sustainable Management of Single-Use Plastics aims to ensure that by 2030, all such plastics are reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
As more regulations both local and federal are established, healthcare manufacturers are being compelled to innovate and find sustainable solutions that align with these new standards. These regulations set an expectation for reducing plastic waste, pushing healthcare providers to rethink their reliance on disposable items and adopt practices that meet both environmental goals and safety requirements.
Reusable Materials: Safer and More Cost-Effective
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed interest to reducing medical waste, particularly with regard to repercussions of plastic personal protective equipment (PPE). Recent studies have found that returning to reusable alternatives in healthcare settings is not only environmentally beneficial but also provides enhanced safety. A 2021 study comparing single-use plastic surgical gowns with reusable linen gowns found that the reusable options provided superior pathogen protection and were more cost-effective, further supporting the reduction of plastic waste without compromising safety.
UCLA Health’s case study with Practice Greenhealth illustrates this point. By switching to reusable isolation gowns, UCLA diverted approximately 297 tons of waste over three years while saving $1.1 million in gown costs since 2015. This demonstrates the potential for sustainability and cost-efficiency to coexist in healthcare.
Recycling Initiatives in Healthcare
Another strategy for reducing plastic waste in healthcare involves integrating recycling systems. The Mayo Clinic’s waste management initiative exemplifies this by focusing on waste segregation, recycling, and the steady reduction of single-use items by reprocessing medical devices, repurposing materials after use, and implementing general recycling practices. Through their recycling program, Mayo Clinic has diverted significant waste from landfills while also lowering the organization’s environmental impact.
Similarly, the Netherland’s University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht found success when reexamining and reducing the use of disposable items in healthcare. Their approach emphasizes reusing or recycling medical devices and materials in hospital waste management. Their program has been able to recycle 40% of waste that UMC Utrecht facilities produce. This serves as a model for other hospitals seeking to reduce reliance on single-use plastics while maintaining quality care and reducing costs.
These initiatives demonstrate that sustainability and operational efficiency can go hand-in-hand in healthcare, offering a viable path forward for hospitals aiming to reduce plastic waste while upholding high standards of patient care.
Looking to the Future of the Healthcare Industry
The healthcare industry is continually making significant progress to sever its reliance on single-use plastics while maintaining safety and efficiency. Through the adoption of reusable materials, stricter government regulations, and innovative recycling programs, healthcare institutions are finding sustainable alternatives that lower environmental impact. Initiatives like those seen at UCLA Health, UMC Utrecht, and Mayo Clinic demonstrate that reducing plastic waste is not only feasible but also beneficial from both environmental and financial standpoints. As these efforts continue to expand globally, the healthcare sector is forging a more sustainable future for all.