Sustainable healthcare practices: Pathways to a carbon-neutral future for the medical industry
The healthcare sector is essential for public health but contributes substantially to environmental pollution and carbon emissions, largely through energy-intensive operations, extensive waste generation, and resource-heavy pharmaceutical production. As climate change intensifies, there is a growing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Sustainable Futures |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825003491 |
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| author | David Bamidele Olawade Tunbosun Theophilus Popoola Eghosasere Egbon Aanuoluwapo Clement David-Olawade |
| author_facet | David Bamidele Olawade Tunbosun Theophilus Popoola Eghosasere Egbon Aanuoluwapo Clement David-Olawade |
| author_sort | David Bamidele Olawade |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The healthcare sector is essential for public health but contributes substantially to environmental pollution and carbon emissions, largely through energy-intensive operations, extensive waste generation, and resource-heavy pharmaceutical production. As climate change intensifies, there is a growing imperative for healthcare to adopt carbon-neutral practices that align with global sustainability goals. This narrative review explores the pathways through which healthcare can transition toward carbon neutrality, focusing on energy-efficient hospital designs, eco-friendly medical supplies, sustainable waste management, and low-carbon pharmaceutical manufacturing. Energy-efficient hospital design utilizes renewable energy, sustainable architecture, and AI-driven energy optimization to lower operational emissions. Environmentally sustainable medical supplies reduce single-use plastics by incorporating biodegradable and reusable materials, as well as sustainable procurement practices. Waste management strategies, including waste segregation, recycling, and energy recovery systems, help reduce healthcare’s environmental footprint, while green chemistry and renewable energy integration in pharmaceutical manufacturing further mitigate emissions. Although financial, regulatory, and operational challenges remain, advances in green technology and increasing awareness provide new opportunities for healthcare organizations to adopt sustainable practices. By prioritizing both environmental responsibility and patient care, the healthcare sector can contribute significantly to global climate objectives. This review highlights the importance of collaboration, policy support, and investment in sustainable healthcare to ensure a resilient, low-carbon future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-54c81b02aa8e4fe9bde1d207fac037b1 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-1888 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sustainable Futures |
| spelling | doaj-art-54c81b02aa8e4fe9bde1d207fac037b12025-08-20T02:06:43ZengElsevierSustainable Futures2666-18882025-06-01910078310.1016/j.sftr.2025.100783Sustainable healthcare practices: Pathways to a carbon-neutral future for the medical industryDavid Bamidele Olawade0Tunbosun Theophilus Popoola1Eghosasere Egbon2Aanuoluwapo Clement David-Olawade3Department of Allied and Public Health, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Research and Innovation, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Gillingham ME7 5NY, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, York St John University, London, United Kingdom; School of Health and Care Management, Arden University, Arden House, Middlemarch Park, Coventry, CV3 4FJ, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaDepartment of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Life Science Engineering, FH Technikum, Vienna, AustriaEndoscopy Unit, Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester, NHS Trust, Leicester, United KingdomThe healthcare sector is essential for public health but contributes substantially to environmental pollution and carbon emissions, largely through energy-intensive operations, extensive waste generation, and resource-heavy pharmaceutical production. As climate change intensifies, there is a growing imperative for healthcare to adopt carbon-neutral practices that align with global sustainability goals. This narrative review explores the pathways through which healthcare can transition toward carbon neutrality, focusing on energy-efficient hospital designs, eco-friendly medical supplies, sustainable waste management, and low-carbon pharmaceutical manufacturing. Energy-efficient hospital design utilizes renewable energy, sustainable architecture, and AI-driven energy optimization to lower operational emissions. Environmentally sustainable medical supplies reduce single-use plastics by incorporating biodegradable and reusable materials, as well as sustainable procurement practices. Waste management strategies, including waste segregation, recycling, and energy recovery systems, help reduce healthcare’s environmental footprint, while green chemistry and renewable energy integration in pharmaceutical manufacturing further mitigate emissions. Although financial, regulatory, and operational challenges remain, advances in green technology and increasing awareness provide new opportunities for healthcare organizations to adopt sustainable practices. By prioritizing both environmental responsibility and patient care, the healthcare sector can contribute significantly to global climate objectives. This review highlights the importance of collaboration, policy support, and investment in sustainable healthcare to ensure a resilient, low-carbon future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825003491Carbon-neutral healthcareSustainable medical industryEco-friendly medical suppliesLow-carbon pharmaceutical manufacturingSustainable waste management |
| spellingShingle | David Bamidele Olawade Tunbosun Theophilus Popoola Eghosasere Egbon Aanuoluwapo Clement David-Olawade Sustainable healthcare practices: Pathways to a carbon-neutral future for the medical industry Sustainable Futures Carbon-neutral healthcare Sustainable medical industry Eco-friendly medical supplies Low-carbon pharmaceutical manufacturing Sustainable waste management |
| title | Sustainable healthcare practices: Pathways to a carbon-neutral future for the medical industry |
| title_full | Sustainable healthcare practices: Pathways to a carbon-neutral future for the medical industry |
| title_fullStr | Sustainable healthcare practices: Pathways to a carbon-neutral future for the medical industry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sustainable healthcare practices: Pathways to a carbon-neutral future for the medical industry |
| title_short | Sustainable healthcare practices: Pathways to a carbon-neutral future for the medical industry |
| title_sort | sustainable healthcare practices pathways to a carbon neutral future for the medical industry |
| topic | Carbon-neutral healthcare Sustainable medical industry Eco-friendly medical supplies Low-carbon pharmaceutical manufacturing Sustainable waste management |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825003491 |
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