From the January 2015 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
2. End of use/waste reduction
Packaging reduction – Visit any backdoor of a facility and be ready for your own “aha!” moment. Hospitals generate over 30 pounds of waste per bed, per day. The volume of material is staggering. Take a closer look at waste and put aside the impressions of infectious waste, and it doesn’t take long to realize that a large volume of the material isn’t the product at all — it’s what the product was contained in — paper, plastic, Styrofoam, cardboard — various types of packaging. While boxes are readily recyclable, they add tremendous volume of waste up on patient units and require significant labor to transfer, to bale or compact and prepare for recycling. Other packaging, like polystyrene and some types of plastic, are harder to recycle. With toters for material delivery, take-back programs and polystyrene elimination, hospitals are taking a bite out of their packaging. Businesses are also getting serious about packaging reduction. This is an important conversation to have at the negotiating table. When purchasing products, make sure that packaging is part of the conversation! Responsible packaging is both a commitment to less waste and a fantastic opportunity for marketing and demonstrating that a business is thinking and innovative.
Hazardous materials and waste – It’s important to consider “backdoor” issues and costs when reviewing contracts. While mercury-containing equipment may cost less upfront, the spill cleanup and eventual material removal, ups the cost tremendously. Every product is paid for twice — when it comes in and when it goes out. Mercury, lead, excessive packaging, lead-based tape for blue wrap, computers, refrigerants, hand soaps, disposable isolation gowns, Styrofoam food ware – all of these products have hidden costs. Hazardous waste removal is the most costly waste stream per unit. This is followed by infectious waste, solid waste and then recyclables. Keep in mind the “backdoor” or “back-dock” impacts of procurement to address total cost when making purchasing decisions. Ask facility managers for the cost per pound for solid and hazardous waste and, based on the weight of the products purchased and ultimately disposed, use these calculations in purchasing evaluations.
3. Energy conservation
With hospitals using double the amount of energy per square foot compared to commercial office buildings and with the clear health impacts from energy use understood, most facilities are working to improve their energy performance. But shutting off lights and conducting energy audits aren’t enough. Imagine the facility manager working hard to improve energy use, and then finding the new computers purchased aren’t energy efficient! With the use of the Energy Star label, and environmental standards that include energy efficiency, such as EPEAT, purchasers have tools to support buying energy-efficient electronics. EPEAT verifies electronics that meet their environmental standards and provides product lists, for items like EPEAT registered computers, printers, televisions and copiers. Hospitals can be smart when purchasing electronic equipment. Refrigerators, fans, HVAC, lighting and much more can also be chosen carefully to make the purchases align with energy targets. Medical equipment like X-rays and MRs are not yet included in Energy Star rating.
4. Public health/healthier food
Increasingly, hospitals are demonstrating that issues such as climate change and multi-drug-resistant organisms are public health issues. Once environmental issues are properly connected to public health, there is an opportunity for clinical engagement, policy development and momentum to drive change. Healthier food initiatives are gaining attention for their connection to and addressing of wellness, prevention, climate change and multi-drug-resistant organisms through antibiotics in meat. The Healthier Hospitals Initiative is tackling the obstacles with healthier food sourcing (local and/or sustainable and meat that is free of the nontherapeutic use of antibiotics) and tracking of healthier foods. A hospital can demonstrate leadership through leveraging supply chain options that are at the intersection of sustainability and public health by developing policy statements and working together to phase out the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in meat. Opportunities also include reducing overall meat procurement and using the savings to purchase healthier organically raised meat and to address other food issues like increasing the offering of healthy beverages and promoting local and seasonal foods.
