4 minute read
Ten Ways to Reduce Single Use Plastic in Your Practice
Plastic is undeniably a very useful material in healthcare – it’s cost-effective, versatile and can be made to meet requirements for sterility and infection control. Unsurprisingly given these attractions, over recent decades, plastic has become ubiquitous in healthcare. How inconvenient then, that plastic comes with some serious downsides for human health!
Most of the plastic used in healthcare is single use, hard to recycle and may well end up incinerated, adding to carbon emissions. And we can’t ignore that most plastic is still made from by-products of the petrochemical industry – in other words, it is intrinsically linked to fossil fuel production, which is driving climate breakdown, with very serious consequences for us all.
Eradicating oil-based plastic from healthcare is a significant challenge which will take time to solve. More sustainable materials such as biodegradable plastic may in time become mainstream in healthcare. Even so, re-using where appropriate is always likely to be the more environmentally responsible option. Here are some ideas to help you reduce single use plastic usage in your practice right away – in most cases, also saving money and even storage space:
1. Say goodbye to single-use equipment wherever feasible
It’s a great place to start! Clinicians generally prefer to use sturdier re-useable equipment. Greener Practice members can access a Quality Improvement Project (QIP) to take you through the process of swapping to re-useable equipment. This is one of over 50 QIPs available to help your practice become greener.
2. Gloves off!
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has been leading a campaign to reduce unnecessary glove use for a number of years. They say, ‘plastic gloves made using fossil fuels are one to the most common single-use plastic items in healthcare. By reducing unnecessary glove use, we can help reduce the impact on the environment. A common misconception is that gloves should be used to prevent the spread of infection – in fact hand-hygiene is a key way to achieve this.’ Look out for the RCN’s revamped campaign later this year and in the meantime, find out more here.
3. Re-use applicators for Estradiol pessaries
Prescribe HRT pessaries with re-useable applicators or, better still, brands with no applicator – let the patient choose. We have a QIP to help you with this too.
4. Re-useable trays for laboratory sample transport
Follow our stepwise advice on how to introduce this, leading to faster test results and reduced need for retesting. Re-usable trays are easier to use and practice staff love them!
5. Prescribe reusable insulin cartridges
… instead of single use pens, for people living with diabetes. Dr Vincent Simpson has cahmpioned the PenSwitch project, which you can see more about here.
6. Reduce urine dipstick waste
A packet of dipsticks only lasts 3 months once opened, so instead of putting a supply in each clinical room, have a couple of bottles available in reception for all clinicians to share. Better still, revisit the UKHSA diagnostic decision tool for suspected UTI in adults over 65 years in case they are not needed at all.
7. Champion re-useable sanitary wear in your practice
Find out how one practice in the North West does this here (including the full report at the bottom of the page) and check out our QIP. The benefits extend beyond the surgery, by encouraging patients to swap to money-saving, microplastic-free re-useable products.
8. Rethink your drinking water.
Instead of disposable plastic cups for water in your waiting room, make paper cups or reusable melamine cups available. Jugs of tap water are a more sustainable choice than water coolers that take energy to keep cool. Encourage staff and patients to bring their own reusable water bottles.
9. Make some simple swaps
Choose re-usable tourniquets instead of disposable ones, get rid of those enormous plastic water containers and disposable cups in your waiting room (sign up to Refill instead, and invest in a few re-usable bamboo tumblers for patients to use on request), and keep encouraging and educating your staff, remembering to include this in induction for new-starters.
10. Choose plastic-free teabags
There’s nothing like a nice cup of tea to keep you going through the working day is there? As you sip, please spare a thought for the teabag in your mug: what is it made from and how was it produced? With Fairtrade Fortnight approaching, now is a good time to switch to plastic-free teabags from brands that guarantee a fair wage and working conditions to their workers.
This is just a selection of ideas to help you reduce single-use plastic. What are you doing in your practice? Look out for our Instagram and LinkedIn posts on the topic and share your ideas and experiences!