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How 'Green' are your surgical drapes?

Over the past few years, there has been an increased awareness within veterinary practices regarding sustainability and reducing waste. I have always been active in doing my bit whilst working in practice and continue with that passion for implementing more sustainable procedures for veterinary practices and the industry.

Quite rightly, practices are looking at areas where they can reduce their non-recyclable waste and reduce their carbon footprint. Pioneer are actively working with practices and within the company to do the same. But how do we continue to reduce our carbon footprint in practice without compromising on best practice?

One area that causes a lot of discussions is disposable drapes. There is a common thought process that using disposable drapes will increase waste within the practice. However, several areas should be looked at when considering which drapes would work best for the practices.

During the last 30 to 40 years, there has been continued development in the fabrics used to manufacture disposable drapes. The emphasis has been on establishing effective barriers to reduce microbial transfer, leading to the development of non-woven fabrics. Non-woven fabrics are formed by a method that does not involve tufting or weaving, and typically such materials reduce the passage of microbes when wet or dry.

Since as early as the 1940s, sterile cotton drapes have been shown to be ineffective in preventing perioperative bacterial transfer. When Cotton gets wet, organisms can easily penetrate the material and contaminate the surgical site. After 50 uses, reusable drapes are rendered completely ineffective and should be replaced (McMillan, S. (2010). Maintaining Best Practice in the Operating Theatre. Vygon White Paper).

So, what should a practice look for in a drape? 

Modern drapes for use in veterinary practices should ideally possess:

  • An effective dry bacterial barrier
  • An effective fluid barrier
  • Low lint production
  • To conform easily over the item of equipment or patient
  • Be strong enough to resist tearing during a procedure
  • Absorb fluid without allowing strikethrough

So how does a practice use disposable drapes without feeling that they are increasing their carbon footprint? 

For this, we need to look at the processes involved with the use of cotton drapes and disposable drapes. The disposable drapes Pioneer stock are manufactured in Europe, which reduces the impact on the environment regarding transportation, especially compared to other brands produced in China and America. Most of the packaging is recyclable (as long as not contaminated), so overall waste is kept to a minimum. The cotton drapes are produced in America, so the transportation of these drapes has a more significant impact on the environment. 

When using a cotton drape, there are several processes involved in the sterilisation process:

  • Washing
  • Drying
  • Lint rolling
  • Repackaging
  • Sterilising

All these processes have a negative impact on the environment, and we haven't even considered the physical time these processes take staff to!

It is also worth bearing in mind that growing Cotton uses more herbicides than any other crop in the world. It is a pesticide heavy crop: it is grown on 2.5% of the world's agricultural land and consumes 16% of all the insecticides and 7% of all the herbicides used worldwide.

The production of Cotton is also water demanding; it takes ten tonnes of water to produce a single pair of jeans. The Aral Sea (that has effectively disappeared) is testimony to the heart-breaking impact of cotton production because the chemicals used in Cotton run off the fields and contaminates surrounding ecosystems and groundwater. (Emmanuelle Gammage – Save Money Cut Carbon.com)

Unfortunately, it is difficult to find a comparison between Cotton and disposable drapes in the veterinary sector. However, let's look outside of our industry and consider the comparison of using cotton bags against plastic bags. Numerous studies are looking into the environmental impact of the production of each. According to a UK government report, a cotton bag would have to be used 173 times to be more eco-friendly than a plastic bag. We already know that a cotton drape should not be used more than 50 times, so, unfortunately, the cotton drapes appear to impact the environment negatively. 

Another consideration for a clinic might also be the cost between the two. 

Using cotton drapes on initial inspection might appear cheaper than purchasing disposable drapes, but has the entire process required to clean, prepare and sterilise cloth drapes and space and staff required to perform these tasks ever been costed out by your practice? 

We have produced a costing sheet where your practice can objectively look at the time and finances involved in using reusable drapes. It might just surprise you, especially when disposable drapes start from as little as 38 pence!

To download your copy of our cost analysis sheet, visit the resources section in your myPlus web account (The book Icon in the top right-hand corner).