Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Between Single-Use and Reprocessed IPC Sleeves

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Healthcare Sustainability
• Life Cycle Assessment

Background:

• Healthcare's substantial environmental footprint is partly due to single-use supplies.
• Reprocessing of medical devices is a regulated practice that can mitigate environmental harm.
• Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) sleeves are widely used medical supplies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the environmental footprint of single-use versus reprocessed IPC sleeves using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
• To quantify the environmental benefits, including carbon footprint reduction and waste disposal cost savings, associated with reprocessing IPC sleeves.

Main Methods:

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted per ISO 14044 standard, utilizing the Environmental Footprint 3.0 (EF) method.
• Data sourced from IPC sleeve manufacturers and the ecoinvent database.
• Functional unit: five hospital treatments. Sensitivity analyses included energy mix, ethylene oxide emissions, and transport distances.

Main Results:

• Reprocessed IPC sleeves demonstrated a reduced environmental footprint across all assessed categories compared to single-use devices, with a weighted normalized reduction of 43%.
• Carbon footprint was reduced by 40% (7 kg CO2eq for single-use vs. 4.2 kg CO2eq for reprocessed per five treatments).
• Waste disposal costs were reduced by 90% for reprocessed sleeves.

Conclusions:

• Reprocessing of IPC sleeves offers significant environmental advantages over single-use alternatives.
• The study confirms substantial economic benefits, primarily through reduced waste disposal costs.
• Reprocessing medical devices is a viable strategy for enhancing sustainability in healthcare settings.