In line with the MSF Environmental Pact commitments, the "Rethinking Single-Use Medical Items" project aims at mitigating the environmental impact of single-use medical items by orienting procurement towards more sustainable alternatives and rationalising consumption.
In the initial phase of this project, we explored the MSF catalogue for single-use medical items from the categories “Medical Equipment” and “Renewable Medical Supplies” and identified more than 4000 references (representing 2/3 of all medical devices ordered). We then analysed the single-use medical items most ordered, based on their impact on climate change, human health, and plastic pollution.
Of the 20 most impactful single-use medical items identified, the majority fell into two main categories: Personal Protective Equipment (including examination gloves, gowns, and masks) and Devices for Injection (such as IV infusion sets, syringes, catheters, and needles). The investigations for mitigation measures were then prioritised at the top of this list.
