USA
Earth Day was 22 April, an event marked for 55 years to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on 22 April 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally through earthday.org including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. As such it prompted TRSA’s Joseph Ricci to reflect in a new op-ed published by Medical Economics, that although America’s doctors, nurses and support staff provide invaluable support to countless patients every day: “Our health care system must wrestle with a difficult reality: A system built on caring and healing is also a leading factor contributing to environmental waste and greenhouse gas emissions.”
Published on Earth Day, the op-ed helps explainwhy the health care’s environmental footprint has grown so significantly: “In recent decades, hospitals and other health care facilities have grown increasingly dependent on disposable products, moving away from linens, textiles and PPE that can be hygienically cleaned and reused.”
What that means for the environment:
“Between 80% and 90% of all health care textiles in the US are disposable,” writes Ricci, “tossed into the trash after a single use. Hospitals generate 29 pounds of waste per bed per day and 5 million tons of waste each year, reports Practice Greenhealth. It’s estimated that 70% of health care waste comes from operating rooms. If the health care sector were a country, it would be one of the top 15 largest greenhouse gas emitters on the planet.”
Why change is needed:
“If we continue the status quo, we will continue to miss one of the best opportunities to deliver lifesaving care in a way that is more environmentally sustainable. One study published in the AORN Journal found reusable gowns reduced energy consumption by 64%, greenhouse gas emissions by 66% and solid waste generation by 84%.”
To learn more about hospitals making the switch to hygienically clean reusable textiles, steps other health care leaders can take to reduce their reliance on single-use PPE, and what policymakers are considering to help advance change, please be sure to read the full op-ed here. As Ricci writes:
“This year’s Earth Day reminds us that small steps can lead to big change … By embracing reusables and reducing reliance on disposables, the health care industry can lead the way toward a cleaner, healthier future,” comcluded Ricci.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to reach out. TRSA is happy to be a resource.
