Saving the planet, one glove at a time
Glove Awareness Week took place this year during the first week of May and this year, we decided to add a sustainability angle to the campaign.
Health care has a significant carbon footprint as it is, being responsible for 4-5% of greenhouse gases globally. In the UK, the NHS creates 6.3% of England’s carbon emissions alone.
Gloves are one of the most common items of plastic used in healthcare, with 1.4 billion gloves used across the NHS each year. This compares to 1.7 billion in 2019 (pre-pandemic levels!), so the figure is coming down at least. During the pandemic, a staggering 12.7 billion gloves were sent for use in the NHS and social care in England alone between 25 February 2020 to 31 March 2022!!
When used in the right circumstances, and correctly, gloves are a valuable part of the personal protective equipment (PPE) available to protect staff. But overuse of gloves carries its own risk, not only of infection but also damage to the hands.
In addition to this, the plastic these gloves are made from is derived from oil, the production of which contributes to climate change and environmental pollution. They are often produced outside of the UK and travel thousands of miles to reach health care staff.
Therefore, cutting glove use will not only help protect against damage to the hands caused by overuse of gloves but also cut plastic waste and protect the environment.
By thinking about if a glove is necessary before every procedure, nursing staff can contribute to making healthcare more sustainable and reduce the impact on our environment. They will also be reducing the chance of reducing potentially debilitating damage to their hands.
