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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Actionable avenues for dermatologists to reduce their environmental impact
ClearPlastics in dermatology: A review and solutions
This review examines the widespread use of plastics in dermatology products and medical devices, highlighting health risks at every stage of the plastic life cycle. The authors note that microplastics and their chemical additives can be absorbed through the skin and recommend that dermatologists reduce plastic use and advocate for safer alternatives to protect both patient and environmental health.
Mikroplastik und dermatologische Versorgung
This brief commentary highlighted the relevance of microplastic pollution to dermatological care, noting that plastics are ubiquitous in medical settings and arguing that physicians have a professional responsibility to promote more sustainable practices. The precautionary principle was invoked to justify action ahead of complete evidence on health impacts.
Towards greener conferences: Addressing the sustainability of cosmeceutical samples
This commentary addresses the environmental impact of distributing large quantities of cosmeceutical samples at dermatology conferences like the annual EADV Congress. The authors highlight that single-use plastic packaging from these samples contributes to waste and microplastic pollution. The piece proposes practical solutions including sustainable packaging policies, digital sampling alternatives, and making sustainability a key conference agenda item.
Green surgery: to reduce carbon footprint
This paper examines the environmental footprint of surgical procedures and proposes strategies for green surgery, including reduction of single-use plastic instruments and packaging that contribute to operating theater waste streams. The authors call for systemic changes in hospital procurement to reduce carbon emissions from healthcare.
Cobénéfices santé-environnement : concepts et recommandations pour la pratique clinique
This paper reviews the concepts of health-environment co-benefits within One Health, EcoHealth, and Planetary Health frameworks, providing clinical practice recommendations for healthcare professionals to integrate environmental co-benefit considerations — including reductions in plastic and chemical exposures — into patient counseling and healthcare system decision-making.
Sustainability in anaesthesia and critical care: beyond carbon
Researchers reviewed the full environmental footprint of healthcare — going beyond greenhouse gas emissions to include water pollution, toxic chemicals, and microplastics — and found that drugs like propofol and antibiotics discharged into waterways, along with massive quantities of disposable plastic equipment, pose serious ecological risks. The article calls on clinicians and policymakers to adopt holistic strategies that reduce waste, limit single-use plastics, and account for the full spectrum of environmental harm.
The greening of diabetes
This article examines efforts by diabetes care stakeholders to reduce the environmental impact of plastics used in diabetes devices and supplies, discussing innovations in device sustainability and the collaborative industry approach emerging to reduce the pharmaceutical sector's plastic footprint. The piece highlights both progress and remaining challenges in greening the materials used for insulin delivery, glucose monitoring, and related diabetes management tools.
The environmental awareness of nurses as environmentally sustainable health care leaders: a mixed method analysis
This study surveyed nurses about their environmental sustainability knowledge and practices, finding that most have adequate awareness but face barriers to sustainable behavior in the workplace. While not directly about microplastics, the study highlights the role healthcare workers can play in reducing medical plastic waste, a significant source of microplastic pollution.
Sustainability Challenges in Diagnostic Healthcare: Environmental Risks and Policy Responses
Researchers examined the environmental sustainability challenges posed by diagnostic healthcare operations, including biomedical waste, single-use plastics, chemical residues, microplastics, and greenhouse gas emissions. The study identified structural barriers such as regulatory gaps, fragmented waste infrastructure, and insufficient environmental performance measurement. A multi-level policy framework is proposed covering strengthened regulation, circular economy strategies, decarbonization, and improved waste management to reduce the environmental footprint of diagnostic laboratories.
Reducing pediatric healthcare plastic pollution: Call to action
This paper highlights that hospitals are a significant and underrecognized source of plastic pollution, generating large volumes of single-use plastics that degrade into micro- and nanoplastics. Children are especially vulnerable due to their developing physiology and higher per-kilogram exposures. The authors call for clinical strategies to reduce unnecessary single-use plastics, transition to safer alternatives, and advance regulatory policies restricting harmful plastic additives in healthcare settings.
Single‐use materials and poorly recycled waste in intensive care: An argument for improving sustainability
This article argues for improving sustainability in intensive care units by addressing the environmental impact of single-use plastics, paper, and other materials commonly used in clinical settings. The authors highlight that ICU waste is energy-intensive to produce and difficult to recycle, contributing significantly to healthcare's carbon footprint. The study calls for rethinking material choices and waste management practices in critical care to reduce plastic pollution and environmental harm.
Sustainability in the Operating Room
Researchers review the outsized environmental footprint of surgical operating rooms — particularly from volatile anesthetic agents, medications, and single-use equipment — and argue that anesthesiology has exceptional leverage to reduce healthcare's greenhouse gas emissions and waste burden as part of a broader sustainability transformation in medicine.
A Practical Guide for Physicians and Health Care Workers to Reduce Their Carbon Footprint in Daily Clinical Work
This commentary provides practical strategies for physicians and healthcare workers to reduce their individual carbon footprints in daily clinical practice, framing medical professionals as having a privileged duty to protect planetary health. The authors highlight that many carbon-reduction measures in clinical settings also carry direct health co-benefits.
How Should US Health Care Lead Global Change in Plastic Waste Disposal?
This article argues that US health care must lead global change in plastic waste disposal by assigning accountability to organizational leaders, implementing circular supply chains, and collaborating across medical and waste industries to reduce environmental harm.
Sustainability and General Dental Practice: An Overview.
This overview examines sustainability considerations in general dental practice, from single-use equipment and patient travel to oral hygiene products and treatment decisions. Researchers discuss how dentistry contributes to environmental waste, including plastic pollution from disposable items and packaging. The paper proposes practical options ranging from simple behavioral changes to larger investments for reducing the environmental footprint of dental care.
Sustentabilidade no processo produtivo da indústria cosmética: uma revisão da literatura
This systematic literature review examined sustainability practices in the cosmetics industry, including the growing concern over microplastic ingredients in cosmetic products. The review identified trends toward greener formulations, sustainable packaging, and consumer-driven pressure for environmental responsibility. The cosmetics sector is increasingly recognizing its environmental impact and exploring alternatives to synthetic microplastics.
Environmentally sustainable critical care: Special issue introduction
This editorial introduces a special issue on environmentally sustainable critical care, highlighting the healthcare sector's significant contribution to climate change, air pollution, and waste generation. The authors discuss how the triple planetary crisis of environmental degradation is both worsened by and harmful to healthcare delivery. The piece calls for urgent action to reduce the environmental footprint of medical care, including addressing single-use plastics and waste management.
Cleaning up plastics in healthcare waste: the transformative potential of leadership
This commentary argued that plastics used in healthcare should be classified as hazardous waste and that health professionals have a professional obligation to seek non-plastic alternatives rather than relying on recycling. The authors contended that recycling processes and recycled plastic products remain hazardous to health and the environment.
Infection prevention and control programme priorities for sustainable health and environmental systems
Researchers highlight a paradox in healthcare: infection prevention programs that protect patients and workers from disease also generate significant plastic waste and environmental harm. Addressing this trade-off is essential for building health systems that are both safe and truly sustainable.
Environmental Impact of Plastic Waste: Strategies for Sustainable Management
This systematic review summarizes the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste and evaluates strategies for sustainable management. It highlights that plastic pollution threatens ecosystems and human health through microplastic contamination, and examines approaches like recycling, biodegradable alternatives, and policy interventions to reduce exposure.
Environmental and economic impact of sustainable anaesthesia interventions: a single-centre retrospective observational study
Researchers at a Swiss hospital found that implementing sustainable anesthesia practices — including eliminating the high-carbon anesthetic desflurane and reducing sevoflurane use — cut the environmental impact of anesthesia by 81% per procedure while simultaneously lowering costs by 11%, demonstrating that green healthcare practices can align with financial savings.
Environmental stewardship in healthcare: Use of bio-plastics in surgery
This review examines the growing environmental burden of healthcare waste, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and evaluates the potential of bioplastics as sustainable substitutes for conventional single-use plastic surgical materials. The review advocates for bio-plastic adoption in surgery as part of broader environmental stewardship efforts in healthcare to reduce landfill waste, incineration emissions, and toxic chemical release.
Impacto ambiental de productos dermatológicos: Una revisión sistemática sobre ecofarmacovigilancia.
Not relevant to microplastics — this Spanish-language systematic review examines the environmental impact of dermatological pharmaceutical products from an eco-pharmacovigilance perspective, focusing on how active drug compounds enter and affect ecosystems rather than microplastics specifically.
Inviting Environmental Awareness Through Small, Sustainable Acts: Medical Students Impacting the Community
Medical students in a developing country initiated small environmental awareness projects in underserved communities, including waste management education. The paper documents how grassroots community engagement by students can drive local behavior change around plastic pollution.