Our partner, Dr. Laura Lorenzon, Surgeon at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS has just released an article focusing on assessing the impact of operating room waste and designing strategies for reduction. This study uses data from Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli, one of Italy’s largest university hospitals.

The study provides a detailed analysis of the current waste management practices in surgical settings and identifies key areas for improvement to support more sustainable healthcare operations. The findings are striking: operating rooms can generate up to 2,300 kg of waste annually, with 90% being incinerated, largely due to the incorrect classification of materials as hazardous. However, the research also highlights simple yet effective interventions, such as reducing the number of disposable cardboard bins and increasing the use of reusable medical supplies, which could significantly cut both waste volumes and related carbon emissions.

This work not only contributes valuable insights into hospital sustainability but also supports the broader goals of CARING NATURE in promoting greener practices in healthcare environments.

Read the full article here.