The website of the Clinical Services Journal

Sustainability and single use

George I’ons discusses the impact of the single use on the environment and highlights some potential solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of disposable medical devices.

As the largest employer in Europe and one of the largest employers in the world, the National Health Service is a vast organisation which requires considerable volumes of goods and services to function. Consequently, the NHS is responsible for 4% of England’s total carbon footprint,1 with a significantly higher percentage of plastic waste compared to other industries. The complexity of infection control means that only about 5% of this plastic waste is being recovered.2 In 2020, for instance, the need to urgently control COVID-19 infection rates led to increased use of personal protective equipment (PPE), which tends to be made of plastic material and is intended for single-use only. By July, health and social care services in England were already set to surpass PPE distribution in the whole of 2019.3 This unavoidable increase in plastic waste, exacerbated by the use of single-use face masks among the wider population, has raised greater awareness of the need to improve waste management in the medical industry. 

The traditional method of medical device disposal is incineration, which must increasingly become a last resort due to the environmental damage caused by the process. However, it must be noted that, where incineration cannot be avoided, there are strict European regulations limiting clinical waste emissions,4 and the UK will now need to set its own limits. Additionally, there are innovative solutions available to contain impact to the environment, such as sophisticated filtering systems which can help to prevent toxic fumes from polluting the atmosphere. 

Maintaining safety standards

Log in or register FREE to read the rest

This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text. If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
Register

Upcoming Events

Central Sterilising Club - Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Crowne Plaza at Gerrard’s Cross
15th April 2024 – 16th April 2024

DECON UK 2024

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
17th April 2024

Infection Prevention & Control

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
23rd - 24th April 2024

Theatres & Decontamination Conference 2024

Coventry Building Society Arena
16th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Birmingham

Millennium Point, Birmingham
18th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Exeter

University of Exeter
22nd June 2024

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

Central Sterilising Club - Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Crowne Plaza at Gerrard’s Cross
15th April 2024 – 16th April 2024

DECON UK 2024

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
17th April 2024

Infection Prevention & Control

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
23rd - 24th April 2024

Theatres & Decontamination Conference 2024

Coventry Building Society Arena
16th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Birmingham

Millennium Point, Birmingham
18th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Exeter

University of Exeter
22nd June 2024

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999
www.step-communications.com
© 2024 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025