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Why healthcare has fallen behind on sustainability (and how it’s catching up)
Why healthcare has fallen behind on sustainability (and how it’s catching up)
Healthcare exists to protect human health, yet the sector has historically lagged behind others when it comes to sustainability. This isn’t for lack of intent; it is because safety always comes first.
Infection prevention, sterilisation, and patient safety standards have traditionally relied on single-use products, high volumes of disposables, and materials that are difficult to recycle. Until recently, sustainability improvements were largely seen as secondary to clinical risk mitigation.
But thankfully, this dynamic is changing.
New Zealand’s healthcare footprint is significant
Multiple international assessments show that health systems are major contributors to carbon emissions and waste. Sustainable healthcare in NZ is no longer just a goal; it is a necessity to address the sector's impact.
According to Southern Cross Healthcare, the health sector was estimated to contribute between 3% and 8% of New Zealand’s national greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, healthcare accounts for around 4–5% of total emissions, driven by energy use, travel, manufacture, and waste — and New Zealand’s patterns mirror this trend. This footprint comes not only from energy use but also from the massive volume of sustainable medical consumables essential for infection control — from gloves and masks to packaging and clinical disposables.
Why sustainability in healthcare matters
Reducing the environmental impact of health services isn’t just a "nice to have." It has direct human health implications. Climate change, pollution, and resource depletion contribute to:
- Respiratory illnesses
- Heat stress
- Infectious disease spread
- Inequity in health outcomes
These are the very conditions healthcare systems strive to prevent. Recognising this, New Zealand is beginning to prioritise sustainable healthcare — both to reduce emissions and to protect public wellbeing.
From reduction to responsibility: the shift towards circular solutions
While traditional waste minimisation (recycling, avoidance, and reduction) remains important, the concept of circular waste healthcare is gaining traction. Circular solutions look beyond simple disposal. They aim to keep materials in use longer, recover value after clinical use, and reduce reliance on virgin resources. Examples of these innovative approaches include:
- Remanufacturing devices: Extending the lifespan of tools rather than sending them to landfill (e.g., Medsalv).
- Product take-back schemes: Upcycling programmes that recover clinical plastics and reintegrate them into new products or infrastructure.
These approaches change the narrative from "use and throw away" to "design, recover, and reuse" — providing a pathway for healthcare to align safety with sustainability.
Healthcare is ready to catch up — safely
The challenge has always been ensuring sustainability does not compromise care. Today, product innovation and new models of waste recovery mean healthcare organisations can reduce environmental impact without sacrificing clinical performance or infection prevention standards.
At Capes Medical Supplies, we help New Zealand’s healthcare providers access sustainable medical consumables that are not only procurement-ready and clinically effective but also designed to reduce environmental impact.
What’s next in this series?
In the upcoming blogs, we’ll explore how sustainability works in practice across several everyday consumable categories:
The rise of recycled products
Biodegradable infection prevention solutions
Washroom solutions that make a difference
The journey to sustainable healthcare is urgent — and practical, realistic action starts with the products we choose every day.