Sharpsmart Reusables vs Single-Use Containing Recycled Polymer
Authors: T Grimmond, T Maris, A L Perry, G Wing, H Taylor
Summary:
What is the study?
The study compares the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of single-use sharps containers manufactured with 80% recycled polymer with Sharpsmart reusable sharps containers.
The setting for this theoretical conversion of Trusts from Sharpsmart Reusables to single-use containers containing polymer was conducted across 62 acute-care hospital Trusts in the UK based on a one-year period.
What did we learn?
To service the 62 NHS Trusts for one year in comparison to single-use sharps containers manufactured with 80% recycled polymer, Sharpsmart reusable sharps containers achieved:
- GWP reduction of 3,595 tonnes of CO2e (-86.3%)
- Elimination of production/disposal/recycling of 127.4 tonnes of cardboard
- A 45.7% reduction in labour required for sharps container exchanges
- A diversion of 1,004.5 tonnes of plastic from high-temperature incineration
‘Conversion to reusable sharps containers from single-use containers with 80% recycled polymer offers NHS Trusts an opportunity to markedly reduce the GWP of their sharps waste stream permanently and immediately, without behavioural change by users.’
Authors