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OPTIMISING CUSTOM PACKS: A STEP TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE HOSPITAL?

European Statement

Selection, Procurement and Distribution

Author(s)

A. KANDEL (1), L. CABRIT (1), C. HUMARAUT (1), A. MASSRI (2), C. TAILHADES (1), S. ARRAKI ZAVA (1), V. GRENOUILLEAU (1)
(1) Pharmacy Department, Medical Devices Unit, Pau Hospital Center, France
(2) Intensive care unit, Pau Hospital Center, France

Why was it done?

Medical devices (MDs) and drugs account for 55% of the carbon footprint of a hospital’s French healthcare system, making this sector a key focus for the ecological transition. The MD sector alone is responsible for 32% of our hospital’s CO2 emissions, underlining the need to rethink our practices in order to reduce our environmental impact.

What was done?

Elimination of waste produced unnecessarily by optimising customised packs (CP) containing the MD required for treatment.

How was it done?

After a multidisciplinary team (pharmacists, intensive care units, anaesthetists, nurses) was put together, packs containing unused medical devices (UMD) were identified in 2 pilot departments: anaesthesia and intensive care. The packs were weighed with and without the UMD. The savings in terms of waste weight and carbon footprint were calculated according to the type of waste: general waste or biohazardous waste. In conjunction with the medical teams and suppliers, the re-evaluation of the MD required and the withdrawal of UMDs led to the updating of CP in the pilot departments.

What has been achieved?

The packs identified include: the suture pack (SP), the central venous line pack (CVL) and the epidural pack (EP). Over one year, the weight of waste avoided was: 64 kg for the SP, 87 kg for the CVL pack, 55 kg for the EP. After modifying these packs, annual CO2 emissions were reduced by 55% for the SP, 14% for the CVL pack and 8% for the EP, with a total annual saving of €5,423. The annual weight of waste was reduced by 206 kg, a saving of 92 kg of CO2: the equivalent of 86 Paris-London train journeys.

What next?

The re-evaluation of CP can generate a significant ecological impact. This initiative is intended to be rolled out on an institutional scale, with the active collaboration of the sustainable development department, and as part of future calls for tender. These adjustments save time for care staff, significantly reduce the carbon footprint, and contribute to the ecological transition. It is essential to strike a balance between economic and environmental imperatives, given the financial constraints facing public hospitals.

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