5 easy ways to make Patient Care more sustainable
The CQC New Approach To Assessment
This is directly from the CQC website on their Well-Led Quality Statement:
Environmental Sustainability – Sustainable Development
“We understand any negative impact of our activities on the environment and we strive to make a positive contribution in reducing it and support people to do the same.”
Creating a more sustainable healthcare system not only protects us but also protects our planet for future generations. Nearly 85% of waste created is from general, non-hazardous material which includes many patient care items, and as we work towards Net-Zero it is imperative to look at easy ways to decrease this waste.
So how can patient care become more sustainable?
Firstly choose a UK based manufacturer, importation via air or sea adds a huge environmental cost with the extra co2 created in travel. Reduce pollution and your carbon footprint by choosing UK made.
Watch out for green washing, designed in the UK, does not mean made in the UK. Learn the people behind the business.
Circular economies and kind ingredients are another factor, is there a better chemical or substrate that can be used. How are they dealing with waste and by product?
Alongside this you can make easy switches in your care home or healthcare setting, that are more cost effective than you may think and good for the planet. Patient care is often an overlooked area in sustainability, yet produces an enormous amount of waste. Below are 5 easy swaps you can make which can vastly reduce your waste and make your patient and personal care more sustainable.
1. Swap Shampoo Caps for a “Towel Off” Shampoo
Shampoo Caps are a single-use healthcare product that looks like a shower cap, but instead ‘washes’ your hair without water. These are incredibly wasteful and also costly due to being a single-use, non recyclable item. Instead switch to Nilaqua ‘Towel Off’ shampoo which works in the exact same way just without the cap / single use plastic. Simply pour the liquid onto your hair, massage into a lather to lift any dirt or grease into the solution, and then towel off, leaving your hair clean and fresh.
Nilaqua’s 200ml Shampoo is the equivalent of 5 shampoo caps and Nilaqua’s 500ml Shampoo is the equivalent of 12 shampoo caps.
2. Choose Aerosol Free
Did you know many skin cleansers are aerosol based, and countain counter emollients from the paraffin. This is because the aerosol based skin cleansers degrade the skin over time, meaning emollients/barrier creams are needed to counteract this. Aluminium to be cost effective is currently only possible in China and uses a vast amount of energy to create, which counteracts using UK reusable plastic.
Instead switch to an aerosol free skin cleanser like Nilaqua’s Foam Skin Cleanser, which is dermatologically tested and lasts twice as long as aerosols.
Not only is this cost effective by reducing the amount of products needed but also eco-friendly as Nilaqua can be used for the whole body including incontinence. Allowing you to reduce waste and multiple products being used.
3. Dry Wipes
Wipes are a huge part of patient care but often aren’t up to the task needed. Many are too small and not strong enough, meaning per use, multiple wipes are needed. This creates more waste and isn’t a sustainable option, as most dry wipes are incinerated.
Nilaqua have developed an extra large dry wipe 25x28cm which is soft and ultra absorbent for intimate areas. This high performing wipe is strong enough to take on 5 of the value wipes at a time, meaning they last 5 times as long. Available in a pack of 100, these wipes are a better choice, but we recognise we need to do more and are working on solutions. The Nilaqua Dry Wipe is a cost effective option, and can be used in conjunction with the Nilaqua Skin Cleansing Foam.
4. Swap Surface Wipes for a Surface Spray
While disposable surface wipes provide an easy solution, they unfortunately contribute significantly to plastic pollution and landfill waste, with many containing microplastics which are harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.
Instead switch to Nilaqua’s Surface Spray and a reusable cloth as an eco alternative. This alcohol-free surface spray is non tainting, and can be used on any hard surface. Killing up to 99.9999% of germs from just 30 seconds which makes this ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, wooden surfaces & even toys. Eradicate the need for multiple single use plastic items and choose this vegan friendly, non tainting alternative.
5. Swap Non-Biodegradable for Biodegradable
Most patient care items are not biodegradable or made from recycled materials. These single-use items are incredibly bad for the environment and are not a sustainable option. The energy used to produce, and then dispose of has a huge environmental cost and can also become costly. Ensure when buying patient/personal care you are choosing UK made, biodegradable and recycled. Nilaqua is all UK made, using recycled materials which can be further recycled and all ingredients are biodegradable. Do your bit for the circular economy and help shape a more sustainable future.
Nilaqua has been working with the NHS on sustainable patient care and achieving Net Zero. They have recently completed a study with Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Trust into patient care as it is an often overlooked, yet has a huge impact to the environment due to waste. The study showed vast savings on the following areas
The results from the study showed Nilaqua as the most environmentally friendly and cost effective solution for patient bathing in terms of plastic waste, cost, local economy, water and Co2.
Creating a better, safer, less wasteful hospital. With NO financial impact. However we are not saying we are perfect and always working towards better practices and welcome ideas. In the meantime…….
Please email hello@waterlessltd.co.uk to find out more on how Nilaqua can help you become more sustainable and reduce waste.
*https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/health-care-waste
