The key tenets of sustainability are ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. Cutting down on the number of products you buy and the amount of packaging you use minimises pollution and reduces waste, contributing to a greener environment and lower carbon emissions.
These principles can be applied directly to surgical instruments. Repairing and reusing existing instruments instead of buying new ones can help to reduce the demand for raw materials, minimise emissions produced during transportation, and help your hospital achieve its green goals.
In October 2020, the NHS became the world’s first health service to commit to reaching carbon net zero. It did this in response to the ‘profound and growing threat to health posed by climate change’. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, the NHS is urging suppliers and partners to use greener practices and source environmentally friendly products.
When it comes to surgical instruments, one of the main ways that waste and carbon emissions can be reduced is by repairing instead of replacing them. Repairing surgical instruments minimises the amount of waste that goes to landfill and cuts demand for new products.
A lot of hospitals are now trying to implement circular economy principles into their operations. Based on sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling, the circular economy aims to extend the lifespan of products in order to reduce waste and minimise pollution.
Repairing surgical instruments lessens the need for new materials, it fits right into the circular economy idea. Through good maintenance and skilled workmanship, these instruments can be kept out of landfills for as long as possible.
Unlike tools and products used in other industries, surgical instruments that are given a fresh lease of life need to be as good as new. Luckily, it is generally possible to repair surgical instruments to an ‘as-new’ standard, often at a fraction of the cost of buying replacements. This has the triple benefit of giving surgeons high-quality tools they can rely on, reducing the toll on the environment, and helping hospitals cut costs.
Most trusts will have contracts with specialist surgical instrument repair companies. However, in the majority of cases, these contracts are significantly underused. Taking full advantage of the repairs available would not only benefit the environment, it also help your hospital finances and contribute to a greener culture.
To find out more about the benefits of repairing surgical instruments, and learn about the repairs we do, contact us and speak to a friendly member of our team today.
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