Because all other factors ( cost , protection , and comfort ) are reasonably similar , the environmental benefits of reusable surgical gowns and drapes to healthcare sustainability programs are important for this industry .”
are shown to withstand laundering 75 to 100 times in contrast to the single-use disposable gown . The circumstances of the pandemic forewarn the need to shift our single-use PPE practices to standardized reusable applications . Ultimately , sustainable forms of protective equipment can help us prepare for future crises that challenge the resilience of the healthcare system .”
Overcash ( 2012 ) remarks that “ Contemporary comparisons of reusable and single-use perioperative textiles ( surgical gowns and drapes ) reflect major changes in the technologies to produce and reuse these products . Reusable and disposable gowns and drapes meet new standards for medical workers and patient protection , use synthetic lightweight fabrics , and are competitively priced . In multiple science-based life cycle environmental studies , reusable surgical gowns and drapes demonstrate substantial sustainability benefits over the same disposable product in natural resource energy ( 200 percent to 300 percent ), water ( 250 percent to 330 percent ), carbon footprint ( 200 percent to 300 percent ), volatile organics , solid wastes ( 750 percent ), and instrument recovery . Because all other factors ( cost , protection , and comfort ) are reasonably similar , the environmental benefits of reusable surgical gowns and drapes to healthcare sustainability programs are important for this industry .”
The American Hospital Association ( AHA )’ s Sustainability Roadmap for Hospitals advocates the use of reusable textiles because they decrease waste , reduce costs , improve patient comfort , and provide a more sustainable option to single-use disposable items in the healthcare environment .
The disposable paper gowns and drapes that were introduced in the 1960s had advantages of lower linting and better barrier protection than traditional textiles , the AHA notes , which was key especially in the operating theater . The AHA observes that , “ Technology applied to woven reusable medical textiles has greatly advanced over the last 50 years , and reusable products are now equal or superior to disposable options ,” but acknowledges that “ Several generations of healthcare professionals are conditioned to use disposable products instead of reusable textiles . The culture created by this conditioning may be difficult to change .”
One of the challenges , according to one expert , is that old opinions based on early evidence die hard . Overcash ( 2012 ) reviewed the medical literature and opined that “ The main limitation in the current literature comparing reusables and disposables is the repetition of old , now-inadequate citations , which have coalesced into widely held perceptions . The evolution of gowns and drapes , driven by new textile technologies and new required testing standards , means that we must set aside those comparisons of liquid and bacterial protection that do not reflect these changes . We should only use studies that cover current textile products and standards .” Overcash ( 2012 ) adds , “ Older studies also reflect economic , environmental , and manufacturing
conditions that may lack relevance to contemporary products .”
However , the focus on climate change and other environmental concerns may help dissuade proponents of disposables . The volume of medical waste pre-pandemic was significant , but the pandemic-related medical waste is staggering , drawing further attention to the waste stream and the need for improved sustainability .
Pre-pandemic , the operating room has consistently contributed a disproportionate share of waste volume in the hospital , generating about 20 percent to 30 percent of the total volume of waste in a typical facility , according to the AHA , which points out that disposable gowns contribute to 2 percent of all hospital waste , and 80 percent of hospitals use single-use gowns . The American Reusable Textile Association ( ARTA ) reports that 2 percent to 3 percent of a hospital ’ s budget is spent on laundry services , including all linen and textiles .
As AHA notes , “ A healthcare organization can slowly increase its use of reusable textiles and achieve corresponding benefits ; adoption does not have to be an all-or-nothing proposition . Consider customized hybrid packs , part disposable and part reusable . Understand if [ vendors ] provide their reusable textiles as a stand-alone offering or if they partner with a disposable kit manufacturer to also provide custom packs . Some reusable vendors / reprocessors have unique partnerships with disposable custom kit manufacturers where reusable textiles are provided as part of a disposable custom kit .”
Examining Environmental Benefits in the Reusables / Disposables Comparison
Whatever one ’ s beliefs about climate change , there is no denying that the healthcare industry leaves a significant footprint . As Baker , et al . ( 2020 ) observe , “ The U . S . healthcare sector alone is responsible for 10 percent of U . S . greenhouse gas emissions , 64 percent of which comes from supply chain ; therefore , averting the worst effects of climate change requires substantial supply chain emissions reductions . Climate-smart healthcare is healthcare that is both low-carbon and builds resilience to climate change .”
Baker , et al . ( 2020 ) reviewed the literature surrounding reusable isolation gowns , the second-most-used piece of PPE , following gloves . The researchers point to a healthcare systems like Johns Hopkins , which estimated that a single 100-day COVID-19 wave would require an additional 321,000,000 isolation gowns on top of baseline isolation gown use in hospital inpatients , emergency departments , emergency medical services , outpatient visits , and nursing homes in the U . S .
They add , “ Prominent successful deployments of reusable gowns at institutions like the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Carilion Clinic in Roanoke , Va ., have demonstrated how reusable gowns are safer , cheaper , and more sustainable than disposable gowns . Reusable PPE is especially relevant during the pandemic , as it ensures supply stability given increased demand . Finally , replacement of disposable isolation gowns with reusable isolation gowns demonstrated a 28 percent reduction in energy consumption , a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions , a 41 percent reduction in blue water consumption , and a 93 percent reduction in solid waste generation . Although reusable gowns have clear benefits , 80 percent of U . S . hospitals currently use disposable isolation gowns .”
A good place to start is understanding the life cycle of a healthcare textile . While disposables are designed to have a very