Health Care Without Harm has partnered with the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund (NREF) for a two-year project focused on sustainable textile production and consumption in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. This initiative aims to combat the global plastics crisis and promote sustainable practices.
Medical textiles such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - for example, gowns, aprons, and face masks- and "blue wrap" used for sterilization are among the top six plastic items used in health care1 and can account for up to 10% of total hospital plastic waste. These items are primarily made from non-woven polypropylene, a challenging material to recycle. In Europe and the United States, these textiles contribute 20-35% of waste from operating rooms, making up 30% of total hospital waste. The addition of antimicrobials further complicates recycling due to potential toxic residues and contributes to the crisis of antibiotic resistance.
Fortunately, many single-use medical textiles have reusable alternatives already being used safely in hospitals worldwide. Switching to reusable gowns, aprons, and drapes reduces the production of single-use plastics and minimizes waste.
“The reusable textiles revolution: curbing plastic pollution in healthcare” project seeks to transform the health care sector's dependency on plastic and toxic materials by promoting reusable alternatives. Funded by the NREF, Norway's largest private environmental fund, this initiative supports projects that aim to prevent and reduce plastic pollution and increase plastic recycling. Health Care Without Harm has a strong track record in developing and implementing plastic reduction strategies, policies, and practices for the health care sector.
“It is a myth that disposable medical products are always safer. Instead, they contribute to the global plastics pollution crisis, which harms humans, the ecosystem, and climate health. By helping hospitals switch to reusable products, this project will start to reverse these impacts, while saving money, protecting staff and patients, and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps”, said Ruth Stringer, Health Care Without Harm’s International Science and Policy Coordinator.
By activating a global network of health care providers committed to reducing and reusing health care products, this project will elevate the voices of health care professionals, the majority of whom are women2, to influence global policies and scale up the sustainable health care movement.
Together, we aim to transform the health sector by adopting sustainable, reusable medical textiles and reducing reliance on single-use plastic and other fossil-fuel based products. The network’s dedication, dynamism, and collaborative spirit will significantly contribute to achieving this project's objectives, integrating task forces in four countries to carry through the different stages of the initiative.
The project will progress through four key stages:
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1 Based on waste audit and procurement data and desk reviews conducted during the Towards plastic-free healthcare project. HCWH Europe (2021) ‘Measuring and reducing plastics in European healthcare’
2 WHO (2019) Gender equity in the health workforce: Analysis of 104 countries