1. Plastics
Aims
Why
Single-use plastics can be found in consumer waste streams and in clinical environments
The percentage of plastic waste in NHS streams is significantly higher than other industries – 22.7% total; 13.7% film and 9% hard plastic
The NHS gets rid of up to 133,000 tonnes of plastic each year
Only about 5% of plastic waste is currently recovered
Reduce health’s plastic footprint, targeting top 15 product groups contributing to plastic waste
Decouple health delivery from overreliance on single-use plastic
Support cost reduction by maximising usage and improving recycling of plastic
Continue to deliver health and care in a cost-efficient manner, without compromising patient safety or choice

2. How
Reduce need, recover and recycle waste and innovate for new products
Target action on the 15 product groups responsible for 69% estimated overall plastic content goods (almost all are also high carbon impact product groups). The top 5 are:
Single-use theatre protective clothing (including drapes): 9% of total plastic products
Examination gloves: 8% of total
Disposable wipes and cleaning cloth products: 7% of total
Catering products, tableware and light equipment: 5%
Polymer products (aprons and bags): 5%
Influence policy levers and contractual mechanisms to help effect change in operations and behaviours
Work with industry to develop meaningful reduction plans and trajectories for specific product groups

3. Examples
Switch from 4-6 single-use urethral catheters per patient per day, to 1 reusable. Could divert over 1,000 catheters per patient per year away from landfill, saving around £200m. Reduce the estimated 40-60% of unnecessary, inappropriate and possibly even hazardous use of gloves. A single trust may use 24m gloves per year. Switch from disposable surgical hats to washable. Switching in one theatre alone has already saved one hospital £17,000 per year.