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Saving Lives Shouldn’t Be This Costly
Increased medical waste poses a threat to public health & the future of our planet
When we think of climate change, we often point to industries such as energy, transportation, and agriculture as big contributors to global emissions. However, there is one player that is often overlooked: healthcare.
If healthcare were a country, it would be the fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet. That’s a carbon footprint the same as the emissions of 514 coal-fired power plants, equivalent to 4.4% of global net emissions.
When looking specifically at the US, the healthcare industry accounts for 10% of our carbon emissions and 9% of harmful non-greenhouse air pollutants. Of those emissions, over 80% come from the supply chain, such as pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
Especially during COVID, with single-use tests, disposable masks, and vaccine rollouts, it makes it evident that we need to find innovative ways to responsibly dispose of medical waste.
