How to Reduce Plastic in Your Practice
Medical practices can significantly impact environmental and human health by reducing their reliance on plastics. While large-scale renovations may not be feasible for most practices, small, consistent actions—focused on materials, packaging, and daily operations—can lead to meaningful change.
The Impact of Plastics in Medical Spaces
Plastic materials are ubiquitous in medical settings, but they come with risks:
- Microplastics from Paints: Paints degrade into microplastics, contributing to the 18% of ocean microplastics linked to building coatings.
- Plastic Flooring: PVC (polyvinyl chloride; a synthetic thermoplastic material made by polymerizing vinyl chloride) and vinyl flooring emit harmful chemicals, affecting air quality and requiring frequent replacement.
- Plastic Packaging: Many medical supplies, from syringes to single-use instruments, come in plastic-heavy packaging, contributing to large volumes of waste.
By addressing plastic use in materials and packaging, practices can improve indoor air quality, reduce waste, and demonstrate environmental leadership.
Actions for Greener Practices: Short-term and Long-term Goals
There are so many solutions included in our MGD Environmental Sustainability Practice Management program to help you accelerate your sustainability journey! By following our step-by-step program in your practice with adding just 5-minutes per team meeting, you wil begin to save money and see results immediately.
Here are practical ways to reduce plastics:
- Reduce Plastics in Supplies and Packaging:
- Prioritize suppliers that offer reduced or eco-friendly packaging. Refer to our carefully curated list of certifications for all of your purchasing. (MGD reviewed more than one hundred organizations that certify the environmental sustainability and climate change impacts of products. We have chosen the best of them, these twenty-two certifying organizations).
- Request reusable or refillable options for office supplies like pens, markers, and cleaning products.
- For patient care items, explore compostable or recyclable alternatives for commonly used disposable products such as paper gowns or single-use trays.
- Waste Audits and Recycling:
- Conduct monthly waste audits to identify high-impact areas for plastic waste reduction.
- Implement recycling programs for non-contaminated plastics like office supply packaging.
- Engage Your Team and Patients:
- Educate staff about sustainable practices, such as properly disposing of recyclable materials.
- Share your sustainability goals with patients to encourage their support and participation.
Longer-term: Evaluate and Replace Materials (when it’s time to refresh or replace):
- Transition to non-plastic options for flooring, paints, and furnishings during maintenance.
- Use low-VOC paints (those with a reduced amount of volatile organic compounds) or lime-based alternatives for repainting projects.
- Opt for natural linoleum or cork flooring when replacing worn vinyl.
Establish measurable goals to reduce plastic use:
- Decrease reliance on single-use plastics by 30% within a year.
- Transition to non-plastic patient care products for at least 50% of disposable items.
- Partner with suppliers to source low-waste options.
Why It Matters
Plastic packaging is a significant contributor to medical waste. According to the EPA, 14.5 million tons of plastic packaging waste were generated in the U.S. in 2018 alone. The majority of this waste comes from healthcare and consumer goods sectors. Additionally, less than 9% of all plastics are recycled, making reduction efforts critical for sustainability (EPA, Habitable).
By reducing plastic use in materials, packaging, and operations, group practices create healthier spaces for patients and staff while contributing to global sustainability efforts.
Building a Healthier Future
In 2025, medical practices can lead the way in sustainability by making thoughtful, consistent choices. Whether it’s replacing single-use items, repainting with non-plastic options, or reducing packaging waste, every action contributes to a healthier environment and a better future for all.
Whether you are a practice manager, office staff members, or clinician, why not accelerate your environmental sustainability goals by contacting My Green Doctor for a free 15 minute chat? Email Heather Massey, Sustainability Programs Manager: [email protected] .
