A reusables first approach to healthcare procurement

“Reusables first” is a sustainable approach to procurement that prioritizes the purchase of reusable products and devices over single-use disposables whenever possible and clinically safe to do so. This playbook provides background information, an overview of reusable opportunities in healthcare, as well as implementation resources and suggested strategies to adopt reusables at care sites. This playbook was developed in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). VCH, one of five regional health authorities in British Columbia, has prioritized planetary health within its strategic priorities to guide the authority’s vision and goals. As part of its efforts to address its environmental impact, VCH identified switching to reusable medical devices and clinical supplies as a key opportunity. With support from CASCADES, VCH is establishing a reusables first approach as part of a broader sustainable procurement program. Although still in development, this initiative has had broader implications to healthcare procurement in BC due to the collaboration between VCH and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) which acts a central procurement body for all health organizations in BC.