Strategies for minimising the impact of medical devices on your carbon footprint 

Medical devices have a large contribution to a practice’s carbon footprint. How can you minimise the environmental impact of your practice?

The manufacture, use and disposal of medical devices can have a lasting impact on the environment. Practices are seeing their carbon footprints increase as a result of:

• the sourcing of raw materials;
• the manufacturing and transport of medical devices;
• the decontamination, repair and sterilisation of medical devices;
• the disposal of medical devices and packaging, especially from incineration of single use plastics.

For example, according to the BBC, aerosol inhalers are leading the way as the NHS’ biggest contribution to climate change; although they are cheap, the greenhouse gases they contain contribute to a large carbon footprint. However, there are many steps practices can take to minimise their impact on the environment.

Environmental and public health impact assessments

Environmental health impact assessments (EIAs) measure and assess the possible effects of a project or development proposal on the environment, whilst health impactaAssessments (HIAs) do the same for a population – particularly those in disadvantaged or vulnerable groups. 

By making it a requirement that manufacturers complete these assessments when introducing new devices, the waste and emissions associated with a device can be measured, and taken into account, along with information on whether it can be reused, re-processed or recycled. 

Waste management responsibilities

Practices can introduce waste management responsibilities into their medical device supply chain to reduce environmental impact and encourage purchasers to consider using less hazardous materials that are easier to dispose of safely.

It can also help to introduce a requirement that devices must be designed and manufactured to reduce the risks posed to public health by substances or particles that may be released from them; this would include wear debris, degradation of products and processing residues. 

Make electronic instructions more available for medical devices

Offering electronic instructions, instead of printed versions, can also reduce waste. UK medical device regulations currently allow electronic instructions to be used in certain circumstances – but the device must be intended to be used by healthcare professionals, have an adequate risk assessment conducted for electronic format, be available in paper copy if requested, and have the same content as the paper version would.

Share data 

Practices can use the data from EIAs and HIAs relating to previous medical devices to influence and inform their future decisions when procuring medical devices. Sharing a summary of the assessments publicly can also support more informed medical device choices across the sector.

As the government aims to provide a cleaner, greener and more resilient country for the next generation – as stated in its 2020 Environment Bill – implementing measures across your practice can minimise your carbon footprint now and for the future.