Strategies for Sustainable Surgery: Enhancing Eco-Friendly Practices in the Operating Room

Key Takeaways

• Surgical sustainability refers to initiatives to minimize the environmental footprint of operating rooms. It accomplishes this by reducing waste, energy consumption, and toxic emissions, which is especially important for U.S. healthcare institutions.
• Hospitals generate large volumes of medical waste and consume significant energy, making waste reduction, reprocessing devices, and energy-efficient upgrades essential steps for greener operations.
• Transitioning from disposable to reusable supplies saves money in the long run. It helps to minimize the carbon footprint of surgeries by selecting environmentally friendly anesthetic alternatives.
• Partnership powers progress! With ongoing education, surgical teams, hospital leadership, and industry partners can collaborate to facilitate the shift to more sustainable and eco-friendly practices within surgery.
• A public and transparent reporting of tracked environmental metrics holds the health care industry accountable, while measuring progress and improving the sustainability of surgery over time.
• Consumers, especially younger patients, are actively looking for greener care. Hospitals that take a stand toward sustainability can answer this growing demand and create healthier communities and environments.

Hospitals and clinics are working toward improving their sustainability and eco-friendliness in their surgical practices. They take real steps to reduce waste, use more environmentally safe materials, and reduce energy use in the OR. Here in the United States, this trend is picking up momentum.

Healthcare systems are starting to understand the outsized contribution they make to our pollution burden and the resources we consume. Innovative methods such as single-use device recycling, low-energy lighting implementation, and the use of greener cleaning products have become commonplace in many operating rooms.

Top medical centers in Los Angeles unite with environmental health organizations. Combined, they hope to create tougher standards and exchange best practices. Taken together, these actions reduce costs, improve safety for staff and patients, and are better for the environment.

The following sections dive deeper into tangible examples, general challenges, and what’s ahead for a greener surgery.

What is Surgical Sustainability?

Sustainability means doing things in ways that are less harmful to our environment and health. It’s about reducing waste, accelerating carbon emissions, and preventing pollution across our operating rooms. The healthcare industry is a major part of the problem, though. Health services are responsible for nearly 5% of all greenhouse gas emissions! That’s a huge number for a single sector, and much of it occurs within the surgical practice.

Therefore, surgical sustainability is not just a trendy term; it is an absolute necessity. At its heart, this model seeks intelligent opportunities to reduce the ecological footprint of surgery. To get started and begin building a sustainable healthcare system, teams can use the “10R model.”

Our waste reduction model includes eliminating waste, safe reuse, and maximizing recycling efforts. For instance, hospitals can substitute all-in-one disposable packs with reusable instruments. They can also design a system to place recycling bins specifically for certain types of packaging and plastics. Small sustainability measures such as these can reduce landfill waste and save money.

It’s not just the tools in the operating room that make a difference—the people do, as well. From surgeons to perioperative nurses to anesthesiologists, each of us has a role. Anesthesiologists should be able to select machines that waste less gas.

Digital tools are able to identify and track areas where waste or misuse is occurring, providing teams with the information they need to adopt more productive sustainability practices. To level the field, overcoming the knowledge gap is absolutely pivotal. Yet, few surgeons would be able to accurately estimate the carbon footprint of their practice.

When surgical teams collaborate and disseminate their findings, they are able to establish achievable targets and implement sustainable change. This collective effort can significantly influence sustainability in the surgical environment, leading to better patient outcomes and a healthier planet.

The OR’s Environmental Toll

As one of the most resource intensive and polluting spaces in a hospital, ORs are a key component to health care’s environmental footprint. With complicated instruments, powerful luminance, and stringent safety protocols the OR is a environment where protecting life is the utmost priority.

This lifesaving work has tangible costs in waste, energy, and yes, the air we breathe. Health care is responsible for almost 8.5% of America’s total greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the U.S. Leads the world in per-patient emissions. Research continues to prove the real impact of health care pollution, quantified in terms of lost years of healthy life.

Mountains of Medical Waste

Mountains of Medical Waste Annually, U.S. Hospitals dispose of thousands of tons of surgical waste. Blue wraps, gloves, drapes, syringes, single-use tools—all of it going into medical waste containers.

Incineration, which is often the alternative disposal method, can release dioxins that contaminate the air and soil. Recycling options are severely limited in most hospitals—92% of OR staff identify this as a major issue. Most of these items have the potential to be recycled or reused if an appropriate system is in place.

When surgical teams actively sort waste and work to use less packaging, they’ve been able to reduce trash by as much as 50%. Even modest measures, such as using reusable gowns instead of disposables or reprocessing some reusable tools, make a difference.

OR Energy Consumption Crisis

ORs consume 3-6 times the energy of other hospital spaces. High-intensity illumination, air conditioning, and other high-energy equipment operates around the clock, frequently on a vacant basis.

This dramatically increases energy bills and carbon emissions. Retrofit lighting to LED, add smart building controls, and upgrade HVAC systems are all key steps. Saving energy is cheaper over time and helps reduce our carbon footprint.

The Disposable Dilemma

Single-use supplies proliferate because they reduce infection and expedite care. Plastics and non-recyclable items accumulate quickly.

Reusable alternatives—such as metal instrument trays or washable sterile drapes—provide one solution, but the change is not simple. In addition to providing effective cleaning systems, hospitals need a plan to mitigate safety concerns.

In the long run, reusable alternatives can save municipalities both money and trash.

Anesthesia’s Atmospheric Impact

Anesthetic gases including desflurane, nitrous oxide, and sevoflurane are potent greenhouse gases. They leak into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

Some machines have been designed to use reduced gas flows to minimize this effect. Newer, less-polluting gases exist as well. Considerations for phased-in implementation.

By selecting greener gases and advocating for change, anesthesiologists can help make surgery greener without compromising the quality of care.

Key Strategies for Eco-Surgery

ECO-SURGERY Sustainability in surgery practice is increasingly becoming a movement, as hospitals and healthcare providers of all sizes seek to reduce their impact on the environment. This green-thumbed advocacy is saving the planet! In addition, it delivers tangible improvements in patient safety, cost efficiency and the future-proofing of health care.

Effective partnership, continuous professional development and an enabling policy environment are all essential. These strategies translate into concrete action steps that surgical teams can begin to implement immediately.

1. Slash Waste: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The OR is the largest contributor to environmental waste in hospitals. Tackling this starts with clear, actionable steps:

• Use digital records instead of paper charts
• Choose surgical packs that contain only what is necessary for each procedure
• Switch to reusable gowns, drapes, and containers where safe
• Provide convenient recycling bins for plastics, metals, and clean packaging.
• Sort waste at the source using color-coded bins

When feasible, reusing surgical tools over single-use alternatives reduces waste and has a positive impact on the environment. With today’s reprocessing technology, single-use devices can safely be returned to the field after effective cleaning and sterilization.

Recycling programs for instrument wrapping, blue wrap, and other packaging materials can reduce landfill burdens. Clearer waste segregation makes a difference too—sharps, biohazard, and general waste separated so that more can be recycled or treated safely.

Hospitals across Los Angeles are seeing impressive outcomes from basic adjustments such as these. They are already reaping the benefits of lower hauling costs and a safer, cleaner job site.

2. Choose Wisely: Sustainable Procurement Now

Supplies account for the majority of surgical costs and waste. Hospitals can move the needle by:

• Choosing products made from recycled or biodegradable materials
• Favoring devices that can be safely reused or reprocessed
• Purchasing sustainably made goods to reduce emissions from transportation
• Working with vendors who share sustainability goals

Procurement policies are an effective tool to do this by establishing robust criteria that prioritize sustainability in procurement decisions. When hospitals collaborate, they create a more powerful negotiating force against suppliers, forcing the entire industry to move toward greener products.

In the U.S., pioneers like Kaiser Permanente, Intermountain Healthcare and other hospital networks have already moved a big percentage of their purchasing to those companies possessing eco-certifications. This move is better for the planet—and it’s frequently more cost-effective in the long run.

3. Power Down: Optimize OR Energy

Operating rooms use a lot of energy, but there are simple ways to cut back:

• Turn off lights and equipment when not in use
• Switch to LED lighting and energy-efficient monitors
• Use motion sensors for lighting and climate control
• Stagger surgery schedules to maintain fewer ORs operational at any given time

Hospitals that conduct energy audits uncover substantial hidden savings. Solar panels and energy-efficient HVAC systems can lower utility bills and carbon footprints, especially in sunny regions like Southern California.

A thousand small changes—beginning with unplugging equipment that sits idle—add up to significant savings over time. In most instances, these efforts go hand-in-hand with improving air quality, benefitting staff and patients alike.

4. Rethink Anesthesia: Greener Gas Choices

In fact, traditional anesthetic gases account for 5% of the global warming potential. Some, such as desflurane, stay in the atmosphere for a long time and heat the planet. Alternatives include:

• Using lower-impact gases like sevoflurane or isoflurane
• Switching to total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA)
• Training anesthesiologists on gas-sparing techniques

First step—education is definitely key. When teams realize the science of climate change and the contribution of anesthesia to greenhouse emissions, they are more receptive to greener alternatives.

These cumulative decisions have the potential to reduce surgery’s contribution to greenhouse gases by a significant percentage. Hospitals that have switched over have not seen a decrease in patient safety or outcomes.

5. Educate & Empower Surgical Teams

Developing eco-surgery skills Training is an ongoing process that lays the foundation for building eco-surgery skills. Key topics include:

• Waste reduction and proper segregation
• Energy-saving practices in the OR
• Safe use of reusable equipment
• Sustainable procurement and supply chain basics
• Carbon literacy and climate science

Integrating these concepts into nursing and medical school curriculums ensures that our new staff are able to hit the ground running. Ongoing awareness campaigns—such as hospital-wide “Green Week” events—make sure that sustainability is always on everyone’s minds.

Leadership is important here as well. When department chairpersons are the example, everyone else falls in line. This culture change fosters an environment where teams are more likely to follow through with their new habits and discuss their success.

6. Embrace Safe Device Reprocessing

Moreover, reprocessing single-use devices reduces both waste and expenses. The key steps include:

• Following strict cleaning and sterilizing protocols
• Using tracking systems to monitor device cycles
• Working only with approved reprocessing companies

Hospitals that do so safely see millions in savings on high-quality, sterilized supplies, while decreasing waste going to landfills. It reduces the demand for raw materials and new manufacturing, alleviating that environmental burden as well.

This approach is most effective when surgical teams and reprocessing vendors maintain open communication.

7. Design Truly Green Operating Rooms

Future-ready ORs are built with sustainability from the ground up:

• Use recycled or low-impact building materials
• Install high-efficiency HVAC and filters
• Add windows or skylights for natural light
• Set up easy-to-use recycling and waste stations

Energy recovery and energy exchanging ventilation systems are becoming increasingly popular and accessible. Not only does natural light reduce the use of electric lights, it can improve staff morale.

Renovation projects in two Los Angeles hospitals highlight the advantages that can be achieved by making green design decisions. These decisions result in reduced utility bills and a more pleasant atmosphere for the staff.

8. Manage Pharmaceutical Waste Better

If not properly treated, pharmaceutical waste generated during surgery can contaminate water and soil. Best practices include:

• Track and log all medication use
• Set up drug take-back programs
• Use tamper-proof disposal bins
• Train staff to never flush drugs down drains

Responsible disposal can go a long way. Surgical teams can do their part by only opening medications that are actually needed and returning unused medications back to the pharmacy.

This makes sure that harmful substances do not enter the environment and complies with stringent local and federal regulations.

Innovations Driving Surgical Sustainability

Innovation is driving a shift in surgical care, as the healthcare sector increasingly seeks to reduce waste and emissions. It’s pretty shocking how much trash and carbon a single procedure creates. A large portion of this waste is produced by the operating room (OR).

Today, innovative technology and creative thinking are paving a path toward progress.

Eco-Conscious Materials & Instruments

Today, hospitals are seeking out biodegradable drapes, sutures, and instrument trays to reduce landfill contributions. Instead of single-use plastic instruments, manufacturers are producing reusable forceps and scalpels in stainless steel.

These changes are cost-saving and align with the 10R model—reducing, reusing, and recycling. In the long run, replacing disposable tools with greener items results in less medical waste and a reduced carbon footprint.

That translates into lower pressure on supply chains. Companies that produce these products are critical, too, as their decisions largely dictate what hospitals have the option to purchase.

Smart Tech for Efficient ORs

Smart sensors monitor energy consumption, allowing hospitals to identify waste and reduce energy use. Smart lighting and HVAC controls that automatically tune power use in real-time help maximize energy savings.

Data tools identify which stages of surgery contribute the most waste, allowing teams to correct habits or replace products. Automation, such as robotic arms, can more accurately prep trays and track supplies to reduce waste and diversion.

These tools not only expedite work but can improve quality of care for patients.

Less Invasive, Less Waste Impact

Laparoscopic and robotic surgeries often result in smaller incisions, less blood loss, and less consumable supplies. By producing less waste and requiring less energy, these techniques are better for patients and the planet.

People heal sooner, which gets beds and resources freed up faster.

Digital Health Streamlining Care

Electronic records reduce the amount of paper used, and telehealth appointments reduce the need—and emissions—associated with travel. Smart scheduling software can cluster cases in a way that maximizes the use of ORs and staff.

These digital tools help streamline care and reduce waste.

People Powering Sustainable Surgery

Sustainable surgery doesn’t occur without the people who propel it forward. Surgeons, nurses, and green champions among the staff create new norms and advocate for environmentally sustainable change. Their expert, trusted role in healthcare makes them uniquely positioned to educate patients on how climate change is connected to their health.

Developing carbon literacy is an important first step. Understanding the reality of emissions and being able to identify realistic solutions puts OR teams in a position to make meaningful, sound decisions. Yet, the majority of staff report that they do not receive adequate training or information to implement environmentally sustainable initiatives.

Surgeons as Green Champions

Surgeons should champion sustainability within their surgical teams by choosing reusable tools or minimizing single-use waste. Many have launched initiatives that replace single-use equipment with products that can be cleaned and sterilized for reuse.

Mentorship is important in this process. Experienced staff can teach interns and recent hires how to integrate eco-goals into practice. When surgeons demonstrate concern for sustainability, patients see this and feel more confident in the system.

Patient Demand for Eco-Care

Patients are increasingly asking about greener surgery options. They’re looking for straightforward transparency in what hospitals are doing to reduce their footprint.

The more knowledge patients have, the better they can choose safer, simpler actions that are healthier for them and the planet. This kind of patient demand can help force hospitals to adopt unambiguous, eco-friendly practices.

Industry Collaboration is Essential

Surgical societies and hospitals make the most progress when they collaborate. Organizations such as the American College of Surgeons have provided advice and resources that contributed to the reduction of waste.

When a hundred different organizations come together, the potential to create long-term, large-scale change becomes possible.

Policy Shaping Greener Healthcare

Leaders set the rules that shape daily work. When safe, clean practices are codified into laws and regulations, sustainable changes occur.

Staff and patient advocacy will be crucial to ensuring these rules are written in a way that benefits the entire healthcare system.

Hospital Leadership Driving Change

Whether or not such a school is built, hospital heads need to support widespread green plans. When leadership is vocal and passionate about eco-goals, their teams march in line.

It’s not only big paradigm shifts or innovative new technologies that can lead to less waste and lower costs in the short term.

Measuring Our Green Progress

Continuously tracking progress will be important as hospitals advocate for more environmentally-conscious surgical practices to continue. These numbers provide a transparent view into just how much greener our spaces are becoming. They show where we still have a lot of work to do.

It’s no secret that the healthcare sector has an enormous environmental footprint here in the U.S. So it’s more important than ever to invest in proven strategies to reduce waste, energy consumption, and improve sustainability.

Key Metrics for Sustainability

In these hospitals, they are monitoring the exact metrics to track their progress toward seeing a meaningful difference. Some common metrics include:

• Amount of medical and plastic waste made per surgery
• Percentage of recyclable surgical tools and materials that are recycled and/or reused
• Energy and water used in operating rooms
• Share of eco-friendly products bought
• Carbon output for each surgery

Establishing specific targets for each of these figures gives design teams a north star to work towards. Robust data collection allows hospitals to identify patterns, identify problems, and make more informed plans.

When the public has access to these metrics, they are motivated to take individual actions and make incremental changes that lead to larger impacts.

Tracking Environmental Footprints

To understand the full footprint, hospitals calculate the energy, water, and disposables involved in one surgery. Extended producer responsibility and other lifecycle checks can help ensure we understand how items, especially single-use plastics, affect the environment long-term.

Emerging technology, such as smart meters and commodity or supply chain tracking software, are helping to increasingly record and share this data. When teams are armed with the most current numbers, they are better equipped to select the greener alternative and eliminate waste in more meaningful ways.

Reporting Successes and Challenges

Transparent reporting on both successes and challenges goes a long way toward establishing that trust. Case studies provide teams with concrete, real-world examples to test out.

Effective communication, from nurse to C-suite, ensures that everyone is on the same page. Communicating outcomes helps staff and stakeholders alike understand what’s working—and what’s not.

This visibility is what gets the culture to move little by little, step by step.

Challenges on the Green Journey

Advocating for more sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices in surgery is not without its challenges. Hospitals and clinics want to reduce waste, energy use, and the environmental impact while providing the care patients need, when they need it—without compromising quality. Yet this balance is hard to maintain.

As it stands, the healthcare sector has an enormous environmental footprint. Transitioning to greener practices isn’t just a fad—it’s a huge imperative! However, legacy practices, limited funds, and inflexible regulations are keeping progress at a crawl.

Cost Versus Eco-Benefit Balancing

Every time, going green is more expensive in the short term. Take, for instance, sustainable surgical instruments or compostable containers, which tend to carry a premium compared to typical petroleum-based products. Eventually, decisions such as switching to long-lasting LED lights—saving up to 75% in electricity—start saving money.

One clinic that reduced plastic waste disposal by half found their costs for waste removal dropped significantly. Life-cycle cost vs eco-benefit balancing Cost-benefit analyses are essential. Most importantly, they help leaders understand what the payoffs will look like down the road.

Not all savings are immediately apparent. Investing in green tech and green friendly supplies is playing the long game and hoping for future payoffs.

US Regulatory Hurdles & Helps

Rules established by federal agencies such as the FDA and EPA determine what is and isn’t possible for hospitals. It’s a long process to get new materials or recycling and reuse systems approved. A few state programs incentivize hospitals for greening their facilities.

She explained that compliance is time-consuming, costly, and requires a lot of paperwork. Continued advocacy for clearer, more flexible rules would facilitate more experimentation and testing of innovative new approaches.

Changing Ingrained Surgical Habits

Changing ingrained surgical habits is extremely difficult. While most surgeons are well aware of healthcare’s contribution to climate change and pollution, implementing green initiatives doesn’t always translate into the daily workflow. Training is essential, but attitudes are as important as training.

As with many changes, small wins such as transitioning to reusable gowns can ignite more substantial systemic changes. Continued open dialogue and shared education help to cultivate a culture that continually advances.

Ensuring Patient Safety Always

Safety remains paramount. Each green mile traveled should adhere to the highest benchmarks of care. Patient safety risk checks are essential. Clinics need to consider environmental benefits versus safe results.

New safety regulations can delay the inevitable transition, but they keep patients and staff safe in the meantime.

Future of Sustainable Surgical Care

Surgical care is changing fast – in a good way! Hospitals and clinics understand that there’s an urgent need to eliminate waste and decrease their carbon footprint. Additionally, the healthcare field as a whole is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In reality, it is responsible for nearly 5% of emissions worldwide!

One surgery could equate to as much as driving 720 km in a personal car. These figures call on all of us in the surgical community to reconsider our ingrained practices. They challenge us to lead the way in finding more sustainable ways to care for patients.

Today, the emerging trends emphasize productivity—intelligent designs and innovative techniques that do more with less. For example, more surgical teams are transitioning to reusable textiles such as hats, surgical gowns, and surgical drapes. After all, 81% of them are already using these items on a daily basis.

Then there’s the huge effort to have surgical trays more standardized so only the tools you need are unwrapped and sterilized. This straightforward measure, supported by 97% of personnel, reduces waste while saving cash. There are still hurdles to overcome.

Most surgeons are unable to even estimate the carbon footprint of their practice. The truth is, fewer than 1 in 12 are even able to guess correctly! This absence of recycling bins in ORs is a third major barrier, with 92% reporting that it is an actual issue.

United Nations and European Union proposals are calling for climate-neutral healthcare by 2050. These international initiatives challenge local teams to innovate in new ways, such as increasing waste sorting efficiency and transitioning to low-carbon alternatives.

Today, nearly everyone engaged in healthcare understands that climate change poses a significant threat. Yet, three-quarters don’t feel like their jobs make a tangible positive impact on the planet.

Going forward, collaboration, increased education, and innovation will all play a role in creating a future with surgery that is not only safe, but sustainable.

Conclusion

Surgery continues to evolve, and the transition to greener methods is not just a dream—it’s a reality taking shape in operating rooms throughout the country. Our member hospitals reduce waste, save energy, and reuse equipment when possible. Innovative technologies and easy replacements—such as using reusable metal tools instead of single-use plastic—make tangible impacts. Physicians, nurses, and staff contribute to the process with novel concepts that take hold. Each improvement counts, whether it’s installing more convenient waste bins or having the right supplies in your OR to minimize waste. Patients not only want to know that they are receiving safe care, but that their care is not harming our planet. In order to maintain this momentum, people in each and every hospital have to be vigilant. They need to exchange best practices and advocate for more sustainable practices! Have ideas or interested in telling us about your team’s work? Take part in the discussion and ensure that the green momentum continues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does sustainable surgery mean?

Sustainable surgery is a movement that aims to eliminate waste, conserve energy, and promote the use of environmentally safe materials within the surgical environment. This initiative focuses on healthcare sustainability, emphasizing efficiency and environmental responsibility while continuing to provide exceptional patient care.

How does surgery impact the environment?

Operating rooms are the highest energy-consuming units in hospitals, contributing significantly to hospital waste, particularly single-use plastics and packaging. Implementing sustainability measures in these surgical settings can reduce pollution and lower the overall carbon footprint.

What are some common eco-friendly practices in surgery?

Common sustainable healthcare practices include recycling surgical tools, implementing energy-efficient lighting, reducing single-use plastics, and opting for reusable gowns and drapes. Most hospitals in Los Angeles are adopting these sustainability measures.

Are there any new technologies making surgery greener?

Absolutely, creative advances such as energy-efficient HVAC systems, compostable perioperative surgical supplies, and digitization of documentation are all contributing to sustainable healthcare practices, reducing environmental impacts in the OR. These technologies are becoming more widespread in U.S. hospitals.

How can surgical teams measure their environmental progress?

Hospitals can track tons of waste reduced, energy consumption, and recycling diversion rates to enhance their sustainable healthcare practices. To report progress towards greener operations, surgical teams can utilize sustainability scorecards or certifications.

What challenges do hospitals face in going green?

These barriers can be attributed to high upfront costs, strict regulations, and staff training needs. However, many healthcare teams are actively addressing these challenges in pursuit of sustainable healthcare practices and a greener and healthier future.

Why is sustainable surgery important for Los Angeles?

Los Angeles faces unique air pollution and waste management challenges. By adopting sustainable healthcare practices, hospitals in L.A. are taking crucial steps to enhance community health and promote environmental sustainability, ultimately benefiting both the community and the planet.