From Single-Use to Multi-Use Instruments

The project aims to investigate the feasibility of replacing single-use instruments made of surgical steel and plastic with multi-use instruments. The project will assess the environmental and economic impacts of the transition, as well as workplace aspects related to the new approach.

Objectives

The project tests the replacement of single-use instruments with multi-use instruments in the Joint Emergency Department at Esbjerg Hospital. Subsequently, the goal is to disseminate knowledge and results to other departments in the hospital and across the region.

Using multi-use instruments requires adjustments to workflows and facilities, for example in relation to logistics, re-treatment, and sterilisation procedures. The project will involve all relevant hospital departments, gather user perspectives, and support modified workflows through change management initiatives.

The project will provide an overview of the requirements imposed by the transition to multi-use instruments, covering workflows and capacity in the hospital departments, as well as in logistics, the sterile depot, and the Central Sterilisation Unit.

There are both environmental and economic benefits to adopting multi-use instruments. Additionally, there are clinical advantages, as multi-use instruments are of higher quality and are often preferred by clinical staff.

Background

The project is part of Esbjerg and Grindsted Hospitals' green transition initiatives within clinical and patient-focused consumables, aimed at replacing single-use instruments with multi-use alternatives.

Each year, Esbjerg and Grindsted Hospitals use approximately 4,855 single-use instrument packs, including suture kits, dressing packs, and tweezers, amounting to 183 kg of metal waste. In 2023, the Joint Emergency Department alone consumed 1,106 instrument packs, corresponding to 85 kg of metal waste, which is disposed of as hazardous waste. Moreover, the packs also contribute additional waste from gauze, surgical drapes, and plastic trays.

The target for Region of Southern Denmark is to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 35% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels, through initiatives including sustainable procurement, circular consumption, and waste minimisation.

The transition from single-use to multi-use instruments will contribute to more sustainable operations by reducing CO2 emissions associated with the production, consumption, and disposal of single-use instruments. The decrease in single-use instruments may contribute to improved future supply security.

Expected Impact

Replacing single-use instruments with multi-use alternatives will contribute to the regional goals for reduced and circular consumption. The transition is expected to achieve the following:

Reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 90% per use.
Decrease consumption by about 800 single-use instrument packs, equivalent to 78 kg of waste.
Increase reuse of multi-use instruments within the Joint Emergency Department.

These figures are based on experience from the Central Denmark Region, which has already implemented similar changes by replacing single-use suture kits with multi-use alternatives in the emergency department in Randers, and their process insights and life cycle assessments (LCA) provide valuable input for this project.