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Sustainable repurposing of disposable SMS polypropylene gowns in dental education: a feasibility study on material
Franz Tito Coronel-Zubiate1, Jeanile Zuta-Rojas1, Oscar Pizarro-Salazar1
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Stomatology School, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodriguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, Chachapoyas, Peru.
Background:
The widespread use of disposable polypropylene-based personal protective equipment (PPE) in dentistry contributes significantly to healthcare waste. Sustainable approaches that promote responsible material use within educational clinical settings are increasingly needed to mitigate the environmental footprint of dental training.
Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility of a controlled, sustainability-oriented repurposing strategy for disposable SMS polypropylene surgical gowns in a university dental clinic, focusing on functional performance, user perception, and educational implications.
Materials And Methods:
A mixed-methods, quasi-experimental applied study was conducted between August and November 2025. Used SMS gowns underwent standardized inspection, cleaning, disinfection (0.1% sodium hypochlorite), terminal dry heat treatment (70-75 °C), and subsequent transformation into repurposed dental chair covers for use as non-critical barriers during non-aerosol-generating procedures. Functional performance was assessed via structured checklists. User perception and instrument reliability (α = 0.82) were evaluated through validated 5-point Likert-scale questionnaires administered to dental students (n = 148) and professionals (n = 25). This study does not aim to validate microbiological sterility or clinical repurposing of personal protective equipment, but rather to assess sustainability-oriented repurposing into non-critical barriers within an educational dental setting.
Results:
Of 286 gowns collected, 205 (71.7%) met eligibility criteria and were successfully repurposed. The transformed materials demonstrated adequate stability, resistance to displacement, and tolerance to routine surface disinfection. High acceptance was reported across both groups (Global Index: 3.89/5), with significantly stronger institutional adoption support among professionals (80%) compared to students (66.2%). Preliminary environmental estimation further indicated that the intervention diverted approximately 12.9 kg of SMS polypropylene from disposal, corresponding to an estimated reduction of 20.5 kg CO₂-equivalent emissions.
Conclusions:
Controlled repurposing of disposable SMS gowns into non-critical barriers is feasible and represents a practical strategy to reduce clinical waste while fostering sustainability competencies in dental education. By integrating functional assessment, stakeholder acceptance, and preliminary environmental impact estimation within a real-world academic workflow, this study provides a replicable systems-integration model that supports the implementation of circular economy principles in dental education.
