In the final comparison of beliefs between reusables and disposables according to the survey :

Patients prefer disposables :

Disposables safer for patients :

Microbe transfer not a concern :

Single-use disposables more hygienic :

Disposables save time :

Disposables less expensive :

Environment not a concern :

No environmental difference :

Purchasing disposables is easier :

minds can be swayed on the subject . When responding to the statement , “ it is possible that disposables are not sanitary ,” 72 percent agreed while 28 disagreed .

The presenters said that cloth / reusables ’ big opportunity lies within the Hygienically Clean certification and the impact of a hygienically clean certification label on cloth patient gowns , 62 percent of those surveyed said they would be more likely to prefer a cloth / reusable gown , while 29 percent said there would be no impact on their preference and 8 percent said they would be less likely to prefer a cloth gown because of the certification .

When it comes to selecting a contractor / vendor for healthcare laundry and textiles-related needs , the composite persona from the survey indicates the following priorities :

For a uniform contractor

For a textile contractor

40 % Patients prefer cloth ( reusables ):

56 % Cloth safer for patients :

38 % Microbe transfer a concern :

64 % Cloth options more hygienic :

46 % Outsourcing cloth saves time :

38 % Reusables less expensive :

36 % Environmental benefits :

22 % Cloth better for the environment :

36 % Working with a third party is easier :

60 %

44 %

62 %

36 %

54 %

62 %

64 %

78 %

64 %

Making the Transition From Disposables to Reusables

Baker , et al . ( 2020 ) note that “ Successful transition to reusable gowns requires both initiative and consideration of institutional needs . A proper workflow includes engagement of all stakeholders , especially infection control , and education on the superior protective properties of reusables .”

Practice Greenhealth provides an example workflow to adopt reusable gowns ( tailored for surgical gowns , but easily

items are more comfortable to wear and cost less than disposables . You can go to the www . ARTA1 . com website for more information , data and research to help make the case for reusable textiles . ARTA has conducted life cycle analyses on several key products in the healthcare textile services industry — surgical gowns , isolation gowns , and incontinence pads . In addition , member Eurotape has conducted an LCA on surgical drapes . All these LCAs prove that reusable textiles are the sustainable choice versus disposables . ARTA also has infographics to help explain the data to clients . Sometimes it makes sense to use disposables . For example , do you send your client a $ 50 reusable drape that the doctor cuts to his preference , or do you provide a disposable drape ? It makes the most sense to provide a disposable , unless you can convince your doctors to change their habits . Note : Many clients have disposables stockpiled from earlier in the pandemic and they have three years max to use them . Talk to your clients and work with them on finding the right balance between reusables and disposables .

Joe Ricci : The U . S . market has opted for disposable HCTs for as much as 90 percent-plus of uses in which reusable HCTs would be an equivalent or superior substitute . This reliance on disposable products is unacceptable especially at a time when supply chains are threatened . Dangerous shortages resulted early in the COVID-19 pandemic . TRSA members addressed the HCT shortage by supplementing disposables with equally or more protective , hygienically clean , and safe reusable alternatives , but it was difficult to bridge the gap . This was less problematic in European countries where reusables traditionally had a much larger share of the healthcare PPE market . HCTs processed by Hygienically Clean certified laundries support a more secure , safe , and sustainable supply chain , particularly in comparison to foreign-sourced disposable HCTs . Healthcare facilities should be compelled to strike a more balanced usage of reusable and disposable HCTs , which will promote environmental sustainability as well . Numerous life cycle assessments have shown that on a per-use basis , reusables have less environmental impact “ from cradle to grave ” ( raw material harvesting through manufacturing , delivery , use and disposal ). One reusable gown can replace 75 single-use disposable gowns . Hospital gowns cleaned after each use create four times less solid waste than paper gowns . Reusables conserve resources and reduce pollution and waste . TRSA advocates requiring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ( CMS ) to compel healthcare facilities to utilize a minimum of 50 percent of reusable HCTs . California passed a model law to this effect in 2020 , establishing a PPE stockpile at the Department of Public Health , requiring healthcare providers to maintain their own stockpiles and facilitating in-state PPE manufacturing capability in the supply chain to protect and mitigate against any future shortage . The legislation also established a Personal Protective Equipment Advisory Committee to set appropriate levels of HCTs to maintain a safe stockpile . www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • march 2022

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