Sustainability interventions in nursing wards
ADL
Reducing absorbent mat use
Disposable absorbent mats are designed to absorb large amounts of body fluids from patients. In practice, they are also used for other purposes, such as wiping up spilled liquids on the floor. In many cases, a towel or collection tray will suffice. Because of their high consumption in hospitals, absorbent mats have a significant environmental impact1.
Intervention
Reduce the use of absorbent mats by only using them when necessary.
Environmental impact
Measured in CO₂ emissions, based on the reduction in the number of absorbent mats used.
Implementation approach
- Look at the approach for reducing the use of a product.
- In the implementation plan, describe possible alternatives and encourage awareness by, for example, storing absorbent mats less visibly than towels. Place a poster near the separate stock of absorbent mats with the message: “Note: only use absorbent pads to collect large amounts of moisture.”
- Consult the step-by-step guide for more information on setting goals, implementation, and evaluation.
When was it implemented?
This intervention is considered implemented when the set goal has been achieved, with fewer absorbent mats being used compared to before the implementation, and the difference in CO₂ equivalent (kg) has been calculated.
How is this measured?
The environmental impact of this intervention can be determined using purchasing data for the number of absorbent mats, see Measuring an intervention using purchasing data.
Note: Other interventions may affect the results. If the “Washable underpad” intervention is implemented at the same time, it may influence the purchasing data for cellulose mats. Implement the “Washable underlay” intervention after the implementation of this intervention to measure the effect accurately.
Resources
Click gentleman for an example of avoiding (refuse) and reducing (reduce) cellulose mats at UMCG.
Footnotes
- Dutch Federation of University Medical Centers (June 2024). National survey of medical disposables at UMCs.
Resultaten
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View our other interventions
Nursing practice
Reducing maintenance IV flow rate
A maintenance IV with NaCl 0.9% at a flow rate of 5 ml/hour is often used to keep the IV line open for patients not receiving intravenous medication. Reducing the pump rate to 2 ml/hour lowers NaCl 0.9% use, allowing for smaller infusion bags or less frequent bag replacement. This is more sustainable and reduces material consumption.
General resources
Paper medication cup
Medication is often administered several times a day in plastic cups, which generates a large amount of waste. Paper medication cups suitable for liquids (containing less than 5% plastic) offer a more sustainable alternative. In some cases, however, a plastic cup remains necessary, for example when crushing medication.
