The Environmental and Health Impacts of Packaging and Disposable Medical Equipment

by Amanda E. Dilger, MD, and Duncan A. Meiklejohn, MD •

Practical Recommendations

We believe it’s the responsibility of every otolaryngologist to help reduce the use of single-use devices and plastic peel packs for reusable items. We encourage all otolaryngologists to:

  • Streamline surgical trays to eliminate unnecessary and redundant items.
  • Opt for reusable, durable alternatives (i.e., metal basins and Yankauer suctions instead of plastic ones) and techniques that minimize cost and disposable items while maximizing patient safety.
  • Consider field sterility in clean–contaminated cases with low infectious risk.
  • Engage in research that better defines the necessary level of sterility to deliver safe care and explores the economic co-benefits of avoiding SUDs in otolaryngology.
  • Engage with important stakeholders, including device companies and infection control teams, at a local and national (e.g., Joint Commission) level to emphasize the importance of including environmental impact on device and policy development.
  • Encourage corporate partners to facilitate reuse and reprocessing of single-use devices where there is no reusable alternative.