Switching to reusable textiles: Reducing plastics safely and sustainably

Medical textiles, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gowns, aprons, and face masks, as well as sterilization materials, significantly contribute to plastic waste in healthcare. How can the healthcare sector identify single-use textiles that can be replaced with reusable alternatives? That was one of the driving questions behind the Reusable Textiles Revolution, a 2-year initiative by Health Care Without Harm in collaboration with the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund (NREF).

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As part of the project, Health Care Without Harm developed a free online course and textiles audit tool to evaluate opportunities to substitute textile products with more sustainable alternatives and to support institutions worldwide in reducing plastics in health care.

The new report provides a deep dive into the operational, environmental, and procedural aspects, as well as the challenges and impact, of implementing reusable textiles initiatives in four pilot hospitals:

• Dr. João Amorim Center for Studies and Research (CEJAM), Brazil
• Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia
• Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), United Kingdom
• Saint Paul’s Hospital of Iloilo, Philippines.

The findings show that high-quality reusable alternatives can deliver equal or better clinical performance while significantly improving economic outcomes. In multiple product categories, reusables reduce total cost per use, stabilize supply, and cut waste volumes that hospitals manage.