End of the line for disposable surgical textiles?
The first ever independent UK-based Life Cycle Analysis into the environmental impact of disposable vs reusable surgical gowns has been completed.
The results are in
Based on just 1,000 gowns being used per week in the UK, the annual carbon footprint saving for reusable gowns vs disposables is equal to 85 return flights from London to Rome*
* Based on High Protection gowns processed at our Camberwell site, with 75 uses per gown. Annual saving of 36.8 tC02e compared to one return flight from London to Rome (including radiative forcing) being 430 kgC02e.
Based on just 1,000 gowns being used per week in the UK, the annual energy saving for reusable gowns vs disposables is enough to power 1308 LED light bulbs all day, every day, for a year*
* Based on High Protection gowns processed at our Camberwell site, with 75 uses per gown. Annual saving of 619028 MJ based on one 15W LED light bulb using 473.04 MJ to be on all day, every day, for one year.
Based on just 1,000 gowns being used per week in the UK, the annual water saving for reusable gowns vs disposables is equal to filling over 2,459 baths*
* Based on High Protection gowns processed at our Shrewsbury site, with 75 uses per gown. Annual water saving of 196.7 ㎥ based on the average water used for one bath being 0.08 ㎥.
Based on just 1,000 gowns being used per week in the UK, the annual clinical waste saving for reusable gowns vs disposables is equal to the weight of 1.7 fully grown elephants*
* Based on High Protection gowns processed at our Camberwell site, with 75 uses per gown. Annual clinical waste saving of 8,550 kg based on the average weight of an elephant being 5 tons.
Reduced environmental emissions, greater carbon savings
Compared to a disposable gown, when used an optimal 75 times, an Elis reusable gown:
- Had up to 69% lower global warming potential (carbon footprint).
- Generated just 16% to 22% of the mass of waste, saving between 105g and 164g for every gown reprocessed.
- Provided annual clinical waste disposal cost savings of between £2,600 and £7,700 (based on customers using 1,000 gowns per week and depending on regional disposal costs).
Results were calculated for 30 uses as a base case, with 75 uses compared as a best-case scenario. Moving from 30 to 75 uses resulted in:
- A 10% to 15% decrease in cumulative energy demand.
- A 20% - 22% decrease in water consumption.
- A 12% - 19% decrease in global warming potential.
The savings when using a gown 75 times compared to a disposable gown are 37% to 66% for cumulative energy demand, 50% to 61% for water consumption, 40% to 69% for global warming potential and 78% to 84% for waste generated. Variations on savings are based on factors such as the type of gown (standard performance vs high performance) and distribution distances travelled.
The assessment was commissioned by Elis and conducted by the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures – a collaboration between The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and The University of Sheffield.
Carried out in compliance with ISO14040, the results analyse the carbon emissions of Elis standard protection (SP) and high protection (HP) reusable surgical gowns versus SP and HP disposable alternatives. Nineteen impact categories were analysed, with Elis reusable gowns performing better than disposable counterparts.
“Reusable surgical textiles provide a solution more in keeping with the circular economy model and, as the findings from our study show, this offers significant sustainability benefits over the linear nature of disposable counterparts, which are manufactured, used once and then discarded.”
Rachael Rothman
Professor of Sustainable Chemical Engineering and Co-Director at the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures at the University of Sheffield.
“The results from this first UK-based study show without doubt that reusable products have a lower impact on the environment than disposable alternatives, so isn’t it time for Trusts to rethink their approach to surgical textiles? The Life Cycle Analysis provides robust and quantitative evidence, and we hope this will enable customers to make informed and sustainable procurement decisions to support the NHS in its ambition to achieve net zero by 2045.”
Richard O’Brien
Commercial Director – Healthcare & Hospitality at Elis UK.
The evidence is in, so is it the end of the line for disposable surgical textiles as we move towards a circular economy?
The future isn’t disposable. It’s time to make a choice.
Take a look and find out more about our reusable surgical textiles
Leading quality standards in reusable surgical textiles
