How Can Hospitals Reduce Waste?

Hospitals are essential institutions that prioritise patient care and safety. However, the healthcare sector is also a significant contributor to environmental waste. The volume of waste generated is substantial, from single-use items to disposable medical supplies.

Last year, the Government outlined their plans for a new strategy on NHS waste. Citing the need to “crackdown” on hospital waste, specifically for single-use medical devices. Read the article.

This blog explores strategies for hospitals to reduce waste, enhance sustainability, and align with environmental policies.

Understanding hospital waste

Hospitals produce various types of waste, broadly categorised into:

Clinical waste: Includes items like gloves, aprons, bandages, and syringes. Due to their nature, disposal costs are higher compared to domestic waste.
Non-hazardous waste: Comprises general waste from staff, patients, and visitors, such as paper, food, and fabric.
Textile waste: Encompasses items like bed linens, gowns, and uniforms, which can be significant contributors to overall waste.

Strategies for waste reduction

While we know that some hospital waste is unavoidable due to stringent hygiene protocols and regulations, there are still some ways to significantly reduce it. Through careful considerations around textile use, purchasing, and smart swaps, many organisations can make positive changes to meet sustainability goals.

Use colour-coded bins

Introduce clearly labelled, colour-coded waste bins across all departments to make it easy for staff, patients, and visitors to dispose of waste correctly. Most hospitals already use some form of colour-coded bins, such as:

Yellow: Clinically highly infectious waste
Orange: Clinical infectious waste
Purple: Cytotoxic and cytostatic waste
Red: Anatomical waste
Blue: Pharmaceutical waste

Switch to reusable or long-lasting textiles

Transitioning to reusable and durable textiles can significantly reduce waste. Sustainability is also about the use we can get out of the items we have, such as choosing high-quality bed linens that last, and launder well time after time. Interweave offers a range of these types of products, such as:

Flame retardant polyester bedding: Durable and suitable for multiple washes.
Cotton-rich pillowcases: Comfortable and long-lasting due to the blend of cotton and polyester.
RENEW sustainable scrubs: Eco-friendly uniforms made from recycled materials.
Patient gown: Designed to withstand being washed at high temperatures to achieve thermal disinfection.
Reusable slide sheets: Offer a sustainable and cost-saving option when compared to patient-specific options.

By investing in products like these, hospitals can reduce textile waste and meet sustainability goals, and in many cases, also achieve a cost saving.

Conduct regular waste audits

Regular waste audits help identify areas where waste can be reduced. Auditing current practices can be a great starting point and identify the points which should be prioritised.

Hospitals can:

Monitor waste streams to understand composition.
Set measurable reduction targets.
Engage staff in waste reduction initiatives.

These audits can lead to significant reductions in waste over time, though they might be difficult and time-consuming in the beginning.

Educate and engage staff

Staff education is crucial for successful waste reduction. In order to create change, staff have to be consulted and involved in the process. Managing large scale waste, such as from a hospital requires everyone’s commitment.

Hospitals can:

Provide training on waste segregation and recycling.
Display clear signage near waste disposal areas.
Encourage staff to adopt sustainable practices.
Make the process as simple as it can be.

An informed and engaged workforce is key to achieving sustainability goals. Ensuring simplicity where possible increases the chances of staff sticking to these processes. Hospitals are very busy environments, and time-consuming waste management will become less of a priority.

Sustainable suppliers

Partnering with suppliers who prioritise sustainability can enhance waste reduction efforts. Working with suppliers that can provide durable, reusable products and fabrics allow hospitals to reduce their use of disposable items.

Encouraging sustainability and carbon reduction throughout the entire supply chain plays a key part in reducing overall waste. Waste does not just have to be physical, it can also include waste in energy. There are a multitude of factors involved in achieving big sustainability goals, such as NHS Net Zero, which involves suppliers and stakeholders.

Conclusion

Reducing hospital waste is not only beneficial for the environment but also aligns with healthcare sustainability goals. By implementing strategies like using reusable textiles, conducting waste audits, educating staff, and collaborating with sustainable suppliers, hospitals can make significant strides towards waste reduction.

For more information on our sustainability goals, you can read our sustainability policy.

Interweave Healthcare