The sustainability benefits of prefilled flush syringes

From the electricity required to run hospitals, to the emissions created by healthcare-related supply chain processes, healthcare has a significant impact on our environment and planet. More than 4% of global CO₂ emissions come from healthcare systems,¹ and activities related to the healthcare supply chain contribute to roughly 80% of the industry’s total carbon output.² Waste plays a role too, with the healthcare sector responsible for generating millions of tons of waste around the globe annually.³

Single-use medical plastics and the impact on the environment

Plastics are estimated to contribute more than 30% of the total healthcare waste.⁴ The use of single-use plastics (SUPs) is growing.⁵ Reasons for the expanding use of SUPs include the prevention of infection from contaminated medical equipment, greater convenience, and the advantages they offer to healthcare providers in developing economies.⁴ The US produces approximately 1.7 million tonnes of medical plastics waste annually, while the UK disposes of about 133,000 tonnes of medical plastic waste each year.⁴

Some of the impacts:

Manufacturing processes that release greenhouse gases and create a large carbon footprint. The manufacture of medical plastics releases greenhouse gases through the burning of fossil fuels and uses carbon in multiple ways.⁴ Plastics manufacturing has been identified as a major contributor to climate change.⁴

Impact on landfills. A lot of medical plastics end up in landfills, or are disposed of in hazardous waste incinerators.⁶

Sustainability and prefilled flush syringes

Given these factors, what is the role – and environmental impact – of prefilled flush syringes?

For healthcare professionals looking for ways to support climate action, manage resources and reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics, prefilled flush syringes can represent an efficient and sustainable option. In this blog article, we offer a comparison of prefilled vs. manually filled syringes for flushing IV lines, and highlight some of the key points to consider in choosing prefilled IV flush syringes.

More on this topic: Quality control of prefilled flush syringes: key considerations

Prefilled vs. manually filled IV flush syringes: differences in safety and sustainability benefits

Safety. There are multiple steps required to manually prepare an IV flush – and each represents a concomitant risk. The wrong choice of syringe or needle, forgetting a disinfection step, or causing touch contamination at any point are examples.⁷ Prefilled flush syringes, on the other hand, can reduce the potential for contamination and risk.⁷

Sustainability. Beyond patient safety, the use of prefilled flush syringes can result in less waste. Manual preparation involves multiple products, each of which requires disposal.⁷ And if a syringe is prepared manually but not used, it must be considered waste.⁸ The fact that prefilled flush syringes are available in different sizes means that the dose can be precisely matched to the requirement. Prefilled syringes that are not used in a procedure can be put back in inventory rather than destroyed.⁸

In this article from the British Nursing Journal, you can read about the experience of the Swansea Bay University Health Board in the U.K. when they switched to prefilled syringes.

More on this topic: 7 reasons to add prefilled syringes to your vascular access practice

Points to consider in choosing a prefilled syringe for IV flushing

What is the best way to determine the sustainability benefits and environmental impact of a medical product, such as prefilled flush syringes? These are some aspects to consider in choosing a supplier partner and product to support your sustainability objectives:

Packaging of the product:

• Are sustainable practices followed in the manufacture of the product packaging?
• How much of the packaging is recyclable?
• Is the product designed to minimise material waste?

It’s important to know if the materials used for shipping and inventory are recyclable, and whether the product itself is designed to enable optimal use and reduce waste.⁹

Manufacturing and distribution:

• Where is the product shipped from?
• Is it manufactured in a plant that reduces emissions?
• Is it made with 100% renewable electricity?

It’s helpful to understand the energy practices of the supplier, their level of commitment, and specific processes, relating to their renewable and sustainable practices, so you can see how they align with your own objectives.¹⁰ Find out more about the potential sustainability benefits of prefilled flush syringes, and how BD prefilled flush syringes may help to enhance patient safety and boost sustainability, by downloading the brochure below.

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