Webinar | Towards plastic-free healthcare

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Thursday 2 July | 15:30 – 16:30 CEST

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Plastics play an important role in providing healthcare, but it is important, however, to recognise the negative health and environmental impacts of certain plastic materials. There are threats to health and environment across the lifecycle of plastics, from the extraction of oil and gas, the exposure to toxic additives, and the waste generated. 

Specialist healthcare devices are still produced using plastics made from toxic materials despite the availability of safer alternatives. Recycling rates for plastic waste in healthcare are typically low across Europe, even though 85% of healthcare waste is comparable to domestic waste; a large majority of healthcare’s plastic waste is needlessly sent to landfill or incinerated, hampering the transition towards a circular economy.

Although there are technical challenges to reducing and replacing plastics in healthcare, particularly in the short term, many hospitals are already committing and taking steps to reduce their use of plastics.

HCWH Europe members participating in our project Towards plastic-free healthcare are working to minimise their use of disposable plastics and replace them with safer alternatives. This webinar will provide an insight into this work and outline how they are working to overcome some of the challenges they have encountered during this process.

This webinar aims to:

• Present our latest project Towards plastic-free healthcare
• Highlight and share best practices in reducing plastic waste in healthcare facilities
• Inspire other hospitals and healthcare providers to start tackling the plastic challenges
• Encourage discussion on ways for healthcare facilities to reduce plastic waste
• Raise awareness on the risks that plastics pose to health and to the environment

Speakers

Estefanía Aguilar, Paediatrician - Hospital University Virgen of Arrixaca

With strong interest in research and improvement of environmental health conditions in childhood, Estefanía finished her medical degree at the University of Murcia and her speciality at Hospital Fundacion Jimenez Diaz in Madrid. She previously volunteered Cameroon, where she was responsible for neonatal care whilst learning about tropical disease, she later worked in Belgium with special focus in environmental health and breastfeeding.

In her current role at the Paediatrics Environmental Health Unit she is working on environmental toxics in reproduction and childhood and is the doctor responsible for the breastfeeding bank donation process.

Amy Johnston, Sustainability Officer - The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

With a master’s degree in Clean Technology from Newcastle University, Amy assists in the management of waste, carbon emissions, and wider sustainability throughout the Trust. The Trust was the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency; Amy has worked on a number of projects to improve the sustainability of catering, including the use of single use plastics within its delivery.

Oliver Slaughter, Sustainability and Environmental Manager - Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Oliver delivers wide ranging sustainability projects within Waste management, Circular Economy, Travel and Wellbeing work streams. Previously Oliver studied BSc (Hons) Environmental Science at Plymouth University and has worked within the Trust’s pioneering Care without Carbon team for 3 years. 

Arianna Gamba, Procurement Policy and Projects Officer - Health Care Without Harm Europe 

Arianna oversees the Towards plastic-free healthcare project and coordinates HCWH Europe’s contributions to the Sustainable Health in Procurement Project (SHiPP). With a European MSc in Health Economics and Management, she also has international experience in non-profit, intergovernmental, and business sectors of cooperation and development, international affairs, healthcare and sustainability.

Register here

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