Sustainable Procurement News

IN recognition of World Ocean Day, observed annually on 8 June, the Sea Harvest Group reaffirms its commitment to sustainable fishing practices and to preserving the health of the world’s oceans. As an organisation whose operations are intrinsically linked to the ocean, Sea Harvest is dedicated to ensuring that marine resources continue to benefit both South Africa and future generations.

Bupa has launched a new report designed to support the healthcare sector to reduce its environmental impact.

The report, a collaboration between Bupa Global, India & UK (BGIUK), The University of Manchester and The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, aims to tackle the issues faced by the healthcare sector, currently responsible for almost 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The report explores the financial, operational and logistical challenges of reducing organisations’ environmental footprints, plus opportunities to reduce emissions, update clinical practices to reduce environmental impact, engage employees and work with supply-chains.

Included is a showcase of best practice from hospital and technology providers, NHS trusts, insurers and industry and sustainability associations. It adds to a growing body of work and pulls together best practice examples with practical actions for healthcare providers.

In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, sustainability has emerged as a critical focal point, particularly in industries reliant on plastic packaging. With billions of pounds of healthcare plastics being produced annually, the environmental impact of single-use plastics in the medical sector is undeniable. As the global community shifts towards more sustainable practices, the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors are facing increasing pressure to address their environmental footprint. 

Revolutionizing Healthcare with AI
The healthcare sector is undergoing significant transformations, with technology at the forefront. Enbasekar D, Co-founder & CTO of MediBuddy, shares insights into how AI-powered tools are enhancing patient-centric care.

“Artificial Intelligence, particularly advanced language models like Llama and GPT-4, are revolutionizing healthcare interactions. These AI-powered tools can provide preliminary medical information, answer health-related questions, and offer preliminary guidance based on symptoms. While not replacing medical professionals, they serve as valuable first-line resources for health information and initial assessments.” says Enbasekar.

A new virtual laboratory, which will gather insights into the healthcare industry’s environmental footprint to accelerate sustainable solutions, was launched today.

The University of Melbourne-led Healthcare Carbon Lab, at Western Health, will measure the environmental impacts and costs of common single-use items and medical equipment compared to reusable alternatives.

Project lead and Associate Dean of Healthcare Sustainability in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Associate Professor Forbes McGain, said the lab will track and calculate the energy for the creation, use and disposal of medical equipment used in hospitals every day.

Associate Professor McGain, who is also an intensive care doctor at Western Health, said the lab will accelerate the long history of collaborating with University of Melbourne engineers to research and improve the efficiency of hospital energy use.

“It is well-documented Australia’s healthcare system contributes 7% of Australia’s carbon emissions, but what we need is more of the data to be able to understand how we can make better, more sustainable choices while keeping patient care front of mind,” Associate Professor McGain said.

Bupa is working to reduce the environmental impact of the healthcare sector by addressing the use of single-use items (SUIs).

The healthcare sector contributes 4.4% of global emissions and generates millions of tonnes of waste annually, a significant share of which comes from disposable medical products.

Diagnostic tests inform 70-80% of healthcare decisions. They also account for a significant portion of the sector’s waste and carbon footprint. With the environmental impact of healthcare facing greater scrutiny, there’s a strong case for enhancing R&D with sustainability considerations. Handled well, this can have a positive impact across both environmental and commercial performance.  

As the sector starts to consider sustainability alongside patient safety, there are new commercial opportunities for companies that can strike an effective balance.  

Ireland’s food industry could be part of the solution to the health and sustainability crisis in our food system, but are trailing international counterparts, according to a report published today by researchers at University College Cork’s (UCC) School of Public Health.

UCC researchers examined statements 35 companies make publicly, for example on their websites or in their annual reports, relating to product formulation, nutrition labelling, and marketing for the nutrition assessment. In the sustainability assessment, the focus is on statements relating to factors such as emissions, packaging, food waste, water use, and product portfolio. The results are contained in Ireland’s first ever report on Business Impact Assessment (BIA) on Obesity and Population-level Nutrition and Business Impact Assessment on Sustainability.

Manufacturers must also consider how the environmental impact of their food production is shaping consumer behaviour. Now more than ever, consumers are prioritising sustainability when purchasing: 85% of consumers globally say they are experiencing the disruptive impacts of climate change, and 46% say they buy more sustainable products to reduce environmental impact.⁵

One way that consumers are prioritising sustainability is by incorporating plant-based products into their diets. Research shows that a vegan diet can produce a carbon footprint that is up to 60% smaller than a meat-based diet.⁶

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that taste, health and sustainability are in conflict with each other. This is likely due to formulation challenges where one ingredient may offer a high source of protein, but could also produce undesirable off-flavours, compromising taste as a result.

Over the last decade, there has been altered disease patterns, with rising heat and air pollution-related illnesses and increased vector borne diseases among other issues. While the health professionals and the sector have had a ringside view of how these changes are impacting human health, the realisation of the impact of the healthcare sector on global emissions had never been this profound.

The pursuit of sustainability and decarbonization in healthcare is critical, requiring a deep understanding of emission sources within hospitals.

A recent report shows the global health sector contributes 5.2% of global emissions (2.7 GtCO2e) while representing 10% of global GDP. Its heavy use of anaesthetic gases, single-use plastics, biomedical waste generation, and slow shift to renewable energy worsen this issue. As health services expand globally, emissions are expected to rise, heightening the sector's environmental impact in the future.

In the ever-evolving realm of healthcare, the connection between human health and environmental health has emerged as a key concern. Across the Asia-Pacific region, where 70 per cent of the 6.5 million annual global deaths from air pollution occur, the impact of climate change on public health looms large. 

For instance, extreme weather events as well as rising temperatures and carbon dioxide levels increase cardiovascular risks and threaten vulnerable communities disproportionately. What’s more, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development reports that the healthcare sector contributes 4.4 per cent to global nett emissions, utilises 10 per cent of all extracted raw ma

Faced with ongoing staff shortages and growing patient demand, healthcare organizations around the world are being compelled to rethink how and where they deliver care. There is also a growing recognition of the importance of reducing the sector’s environmental impact. These 10 healthcare technology trends highlight the potential of innovation to help deliver better care to more people, in a sustainable way.

In this Q&A, Eastman’s Katherine Hofmann explores the vital connection between sustainability and healthcare. She highlights the importance of medical plastics in achieving sustainability goals, discussing challenges, regulations, and emerging solutions. Her insights offer a comprehensive overview of ongoing efforts to advance sustainability in healthcare, with a focus on medical packaging and patient safety. 

The healthcare industry has a responsibility to step up to address climate change, and the power to drive meaningful change. By collaborating with partners, together we can drive sustainable healthcare to benefit both the environment and the health of future generations. Leaders from several healthcare organizations share their firsthand experiences with sustainability.

The World Health Organization (WHO), through its Department of Regulation and Prequalification, has issued a call for action to drive sustainability in the pharmaceutical sector. Entitled “Greener pharmaceuticals’ regulatory highway,” this initiative underscores the urgent need for innovative regulatory practices to reduce the environmental footprint of medical products while maintaining high standards of safety and efficacy.

“Addressing the environmental impact of healthcare products is no longer optional – it is imperative,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products. “The transformation of regulatory practices will be pivotal in shaping a pharmaceutical industry that meets today’s health needs without compromising the planet’s future.”

As climate change continues to exacerbate health risks worldwide, modern health systems, contributing to approximately 5% of global carbon emissions, must prioritize sustainability. This call for action urges global regulatory bodies and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries to adopt innovative practices that prioritize sustainability and reduce environmental impact.

Imagine a future where every dollar invested in infrastructure not only generates economic value but also contributes directly to the health of our planet. Vossloh AG, a titan in the rail industry, is making this vision a reality. On February 22, 2024, the company announced a groundbreaking syndicated loan agreement that not only secures its financial future but also ties its fate to the company's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. This bold move could redefine how corporations approach financing, making sustainability a cornerstone of economic success.