Today, the first ESCH-R Webinar took place, featuring Jan Carel Diehl as the keynote speaker! Titled “Welcome into the World of Sustainable Hospitals: A Multi-Level Perspective on Sustainability at the Erasmus MC.” The session provided valuable insights into sustainability and circularity in healthcare.

The webinar explored how various environmental assessment methods can be applied when initiating research on the use of medical equipment in hospitals. The findings were eye-opening: on average, hospitals use approximately 108 gloves, 57 gauze pads, 24 syringes, 16 disposable gowns and many more equipment per patient per day.

Jan Carel Diehl also highlighted the importance of collaboration with partners and companies across the supply chain. Questions such as “How are these items produced and can production processes be adapted to be more sustainable or circular?” are vital to driving meaningful change. This cooperative approach is essential to rethinking the lifecycle of medical supplies and fostering circular innovation.

The webinar served as an inspiring starting point for further discussions and actions within the ESCH-R consortium!

Upcoming Webinars

• January 15: Tamara Hoveling on Circular Strategies
• February 12: Erik van Raaij on Sustainable Procurement

These webinars are just meant for the ESCH-R PhD’s and postdocs.