Reducing plastic in the pandemic era
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 30th March 2022
For the last half a decade or so, the importance of limiting plastic waste has been a huge focus. In healthcare settings, however, the pandemic did put a spanner in the works. Where measures to reduce plastic were being considered before the outbreak of Covid-19, the necessity for enhanced infection control procedures, more regular cleaning and elevated levels of PPE meant that plastic waste generated in these settings increased during this time.
It’s only now becoming clear what the true impact of the plastic generated by the pandemic has been, with multiple reports painting a dire picture. One study suggests that almost 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste related to Covid-19 has entered our oceans over the last two years.[i] This huge amount is only comprised of items such as improperly discarded plastic gloves, face masks and other protective measures, which means this it is adding to the already huge amounts of plastic waste being generated and finding its way into natural environments.
The plastic pollution problem
In fact, one report suggested that the 8.4 million tonnes of plastic waste generated during the pandemic has elevated the situated of plastic pollution to breaking point, and that action really must be taken at this point to ensure that plastic waste doesn’t continue to increase.[ii]
Unfortunately, even though awareness of the plastic problem is growing, plastic pollution is still on course to double from now until 2030. One report from the UN that examined this problem even suggests that recycling, though helpful, is not enough, and that our main focus should be reducing plastic consumption.[iii]
So, how can dental professionals take this all-important step?
Set realistic goals
The first step towards lowering your plastic waste in practice is to ensure that any measures you consider are achievable. While we would all love to boast that we have reduced plastic waste to zero, in healthcare settings this simply isn’t possible, especially with the ongoing threat of the pandemic still demanding measures such as enhanced PPE.
As such, to reduce plastic waste within this time it pays to think outside the box – look beyond the essentials and think about all of the plastics in your practice and whether there are substitutions that can be made. Here are a few tips:
General plastics – make a switch
Whether it’s just grabbing a plastic bag when you pick up lunch at the supermarket or choosing to buy a drink in a plastic bottle, everyday work life can lead to you and your team to create plastic waste that could be avoided. There are other examples too – what about the water cups you provide in practice for patients?
These are the sort of plastics that can be easily swapped out for alternatives – whether that’s just taking your own reusable shopping bag with you when you nip out to lunch or investing in reusable glasses in waiting rooms.
Can we reduce plastic PPE?
As the most common single-use plastics used in a dental practice, PPE items can be difficult to switch out, especially as the constant stream of patients means that even some reusable alternatives may not be viable.
However, depending on the nature of the practice you work in, items such as reusable gowns could potentially be an option. During the beginning months of the pandemic, many manufacturers of reusable PPE items upped production and innovated their approach, meaning that if your set up is right, these solutions could be a viable option with significant waste reduction benefits.
What about the products you use?
Keeping a well-stocked product selection is always a top priority – but what about the packaging that products arrive in and the materials used in their production?
With an environmental focus still being held at the core of some brands, recent years have seen a further shift towards more environmentally friendly options for packaging, helping to reduce plastic waste. For example, 3M Oral Care has ensured that a number of its products are now more sustainable than ever, including 3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement which features a newly designed syringe that is more hygienic, aids accurate placement and cuts physical plastic waste by 50% compared to other leading cements on the market.*
Taking the first steps
Ultimately, while we can’t heavily reduce plastic waste in practice while the pandemic continues, that doesn’t mean that we can’t take some steps to help combat unnecessary plastic pollution. By evaluating the plastics in your practice and making a conscious effort to invest in eco-friendly alternatives where possible, you can do your bit in helping to reduce plastic consumption.
For more information, call 0845 873 4066 or visit 3M.co.uk/RelyX-Universal
*3M Internal Data
[i] The Guardian. About 26,000 Tonnes of Plastic Covid Waste Pollutes The World’s Oceans – Study. Link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/08/about-26000-tonnes-of-plastic-covid-waste-pollutes-worlds-oceans-study [Last accessed december 21].
[ii] Peng, Y. et al. Plastic Waste Release Caused by Covid-19 and Its Fate In The Global Oceans. PNAS November 23, 2021 118 (47) e2111530118; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2111530118
[iii] UN News. Plastic Pollution On Course To Double by 2030. Link: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1103692 [Last accessed December 21].
