As the world grows more connected, there is a consciousness growing around environmental care. We all share the planet, and are responsible, for leaving it better than we found it.

This value of care for the environment is one that links directly to the care that doctors have for their patients.

As medical student Zoe Feld, writing for the InTraining eloquently states: “As physicians and physicians-to-be we have a powerful voice. We each have the ability to speak and be heard by our patients, our peers and our communities. We have struggled and sacrificed to join a profession that holds at its core a devotion to scientific truth and a love for the human race. It is time that our collective voice be used to educate the public on the health of our environment, as environmental health has monumental implications for the health of every one of our patients’ individual health.”

With that in mind, here are 4 ways that doctors, nurses and medical teams can become more eco-friendly.

1) Switch to Sustainable Materials

Its true that some medical materials simply can’t be replaced. You need latex gloves and other non-biodegradable materials to perform your daily duties. But some products like Styrofoam can easily be replaced with more earth-friendly materials. Consider using reusable kitchenware instead of plastic in your break rooms and cutting back on the amount of plastic you use in general. A doctor’s office naturally produces a lot of waste, but you can help your office become more eco-friendly by investing in more sustainable materials where possible.

2) Conscious Technology Use

According to BSM Consulting, adjusting the settings on your office’s thermostat by just a degree or two can save you about 10 percent on your electric bill. Using compact fluorescent lights will save you 75% more energy than you’re using to illuminate your space with incandescent bulbs, which is a change you’ll notice on your monthly bills.

The same goes when you use energy-saving settings on your computer and medical equipment when not in use. And if you’re really looking to save on energy costs, it can sometimes be a wiser choice to update older equipment in favor of newer, more energy-efficient hardware.

3) Reducing Office Waste

Some of the most common, low-cost sustainable measures being taken by environmentally conscious physician practices deal with garbage.

Among the strategies are going practically paperless, shredding and recycling the paper that is still used, replacing disposable cups and providing alternatives such as a tea service and cold, filtered water fountains to bottled water and canned soda.

Practice Greenhealth, a membership and networking organization for health care institutions that have made a commitment to eco-friendly practices, offers other tips: Re-evaluate your cleaning systems to make sure they don’t emit volatile organic compounds, reduce the use of pesticides, purchase plastic bags and tubing free of PVC, and recycle out-of-date electronic equipment.

Finally, you may like to try the range of cleaning products developed by EcoLab for the healthcare industry. The company has comprehensive environment policies, and have reduced consumption of non-renewable chemical feedstock by about 30% in the past decade and pioneered concentrated ‘solid’ detergent which resulted in up to 80% less packaging.

4) Reducing Medical waste

Like hospitals, many medical offices designate separate bins for regular trash, recyclables and medical waste. Educating staff on what constitutes medical waste can result in less material requiring incineration. Given that medical waste costs more to dispose of than office waste, there’s also a financial incentive to keep it to a minimum.

Physicians can also aim to eliminate all mercury from their practices, including thermometers, as mercury-free products are readily available and cost competitive.

Want to Read More?

Greening your practice: Cutting costs while conserving energy by American Medical News
Simple ways to be eco-friendly in your Medical Practice by MGMA