The Healthcare Plastic Waste Crisis: Why Ireland Needs Sustainable Alternatives

# The Healthcare Plastic Waste Crisis Healthcare is one of the largest contributors to environmental pollution, generating over **5 million tonnes of plastic waste** globally each year. In Ireland alone, hospitals produce approximately 30,000 tonnes of healthcare waste annually, with a significant portion being single-use plastics. ## The Scale of the Problem - The average hospital bed generates 15kg of waste per day - 85% of healthcare waste is non-hazardous but still ends up in landfill - Single-use PPE accounts for 25% of all healthcare plastic waste - COVID-19 increased PPE usage by over 500% ## Why Traditional PPE is Problematic Traditional PPE is made from petroleum-based plastics that take hundreds of years to decompose. When incinerated, they release harmful toxins. When landfilled, they leach microplastics into our soil and water systems. ## The Sustainable Alternative Compostable PPE offers the same level of protection while breaking down completely within 90 days in industrial composting facilities. Made from plant-based materials, these products are: - EN13432 certified for industrial composting - Fully compliant with medical safety standards - Cost-competitive with traditional alternatives - Carbon-neutral in their lifecycle ## Making the Transition Transitioning to sustainable PPE doesn't require a complete overhaul of your procurement process. Start with: 1. **Audit your current usage** - Identify which PPE items have the highest volume 2. **Pilot program** - Test compostable alternatives in one department 3. **Staff training** - Ensure proper disposal protocols 4. **Scale gradually** - Expand based on results ## Conclusion The healthcare sector has a responsibility to lead by example in environmental sustainability. By switching to compostable PPE, facilities can reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. --- *Ready to make the switch? [Contact us](/contact) for a free sustainability assessment.*