Impact of delivery instruments on the environment: A life cycle assessment

Abstract

Abstract Objective To determine a break‐even point in the carbon footprint of disposable and reusable instrument sets used in the delivery room. This can aid hospitals in making sustainable choices. Methods Observational study conducted in a university hospital with an obstetric care centre. The study used life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare a reusable (minimal 500 times use) with a disposable instrumental set (single use). LCA quantifies the environmental impact of products over their entire life cycle. The contribution to climate change (i.e., carbon footprint) was used as the environmental indicator [in kg CO2 equivalent (eq.)]. Primary outcome was to determine a ‘break‐even point’: the number of uses at which the carbon footprint of the two sets was similar. Secondary outcomes: (1) ‘worst case scenario’, in which both sets are only used once; (2) ‘scenario of 500 deliveries’ and (3) annual carbon footprint reduction when switching to the set with the lowest environmental impact. Results After ≥3 times use, the carbon footprint of the reusable set becomes lower than the disposable set. When both sets are used only once, the reusable set had a higher impact on the environment (1.2 kg CO2 eq. difference). In case of using both sets during 500 deliveries, the difference in kg CO2 eq. was 400 kg CO2 eq., corresponding with a 2.3 times lower environmental impact in favour of the reusable set and a reduction of about 1800 kg CO2 eq. per year. Conclusions Disposable instrumental sets used in the delivery room have a higher impact on the environment compared to reusable sets.

Keywords

• carbon emissions
• delivery set
• disposables
• life cycle assessment
• plastic waste
• reusables