PackTalk is a blog for the Healthcare Packaging Industry

One Doctor’s Request for Sustainable Change in Asia


Published on September 14, 2021

152 kilograms. 4500 tonnes. 134 hectares. No matter how you say it, it’s not positive or sustainable. These numbers reflect the amount of medical waste from just one surgery, in a study from four hospitals over three months in New Zealand. 152 kilograms is equivalent to the weight of an empty refrigerator, a small piano, and even a baby elephant! Let that sink in. Perhaps even more alarming is the fact this is just a small percentage of the medical waste generated in New Zealand and a drop in the bucket of the medical waste collected around the world each year.  

For many years, hospitals and healthcare facilities have considered or started recycling programs and other sustainability programs, but these are often in areas outside the operating room. Now, with COVID-19 and the exponential increase in medical waste, Asia has implemented a new medical waste challenge. This culture shift will be difficult, but many argue that the shift is necessary for a sustainable future.  

Read more about Asia’s Medical Waste Challenge and one doctor’s request for change.  


Comments (0)

Related Articles

How One Patient’s Experience Became a Profession

September 24, 2023

It was 12 years ago this past summer, but I can remember it all like it was yesterday. I was getting headaches that were a stinging pain in the back of my head. They would come and go, and often with a quick movement the pain would change. I was also...

Learn More

The History of DuPont™ Tyvek®

September 24, 2023

As a material that took 15 years to fully develop and another 15 years to hit the mainstream market, the story of DuPont™ Tyvek® is one of humble beginnings. Fast forward to today, Tyvek® is recognized as a global leader in sterile packaging and shows no...

Learn More

How to Measure and Select the Best Medical Packaging Materials

September 24, 2023

When facing customer inquiries about packaging materials, some of the most common questions we encounter are: What is the thickness of the film material; how do you convert mil and ga; and, how thick is X ga material? When selecting packaging materials,...

Learn More

Stay Informed

To stay up to date on innovative technology and products, as well as industry trends, subscribe to Oliver’s PackTalk blog below.