UK | It's no secret that air pollution is a major concern for seniors' health, but by limiting plastic waste, providers can do their bit too.
In the care sector, where protecting health and wellbeing is paramount, environmental responsibilities are just as significant. Air pollution is now recognised as the single biggest environmental threat to UK citizens, contributing to millions of premature deaths globally each year. While the causes are varied, one invisible but significant contributor comes from how the industry handles and disposes of waste, particularly plastics.
Air pollution affects human health, the environment, and the economy. In 2019, exposure to air pollution was linked to 6.7 million premature deaths worldwide. It is a driver of respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, stroke, and is increasingly linked to cognitive decline and dementia. Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions are most vulnerable.
Environmentally, pollutants from burning fossil fuels and waste contribute to climate change, acid rain, and smog, impacting ecosystems, agricultural yields, and even infrastructure. The economic burden is also heavy: reduced worker productivity, increased healthcare costs, and damage to buildings all add to the bill.
In England alone, approximately 156,000 tonnes of clinical waste are disposed of annually, with around a third incinerated. At an estimated GBP 617 per tonne, that’s over GBP 32 million spent each year, the equivalent of over 400 jumbo jets of waste. NHS England has committed to net zero for direct carbon emissions by 2040 and indirect emissions by 2045, with a target to reduce clinical waste-related carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2026 and 80 percent by 2028.
Despite these goals, NHS waste is projected to grow three percent annually. This presents a pressing need, and an opportunity, for care homes and providers to make sustainable choices in the products they buy and the waste they create.
When plastics are incinerated, they release a cocktail of harmful chemicals, including dioxins, furans, mercury, and PCBs, many of which are linked to cancer and other serious health conditions. Plastic combustion also produces greenhouse gases and fine particulate matter, contributing to smog and poor air quality.
By contrast, cardboard, while not emission-free, releases fewer toxins, generates less CO2, and is far easier to recycle or compost. Even if incineration is unavoidable, burning cardboard is significantly less damaging than burning plastic.
Care providers are in a unique position: not only do they look after people’s health directly, but they can also reduce health risks in the wider community through environmental stewardship. By committing to reduced or zero-plastic policies, care homes can help lower air pollution, support national carbon reduction goals, and set a powerful example for residents, staff, and the wider public.
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