Sustainability and Green Surgery

Surgery saves lives—but the way we operate can also impact the planet. This session shows how to reduce the environmental footprint of perioperative care while safeguarding quality, safety, equity, and cost. We translate life-cycle assessment, waste audits, and energy data into practical choices for theatres, clinics, and sterile processing—so greener care becomes routine care. We compare reusable vs. single-use devices with evidence on infection control, ergonomics, and cost; outline anesthesia strategies that cut greenhouse gas emissions without compromising physiology; and design procurement policies that reward durability, repairability, and low-waste packaging. If you are exploring Sustainability & Green Surgery, planning to attend a Surgery Conference, or building programs around green operating rooms, this page turns climate intent into everyday reliability—less waste, lower energy, and smarter logistics across the perioperative pathway.

We connect facilities, anesthesia, nursing, and supply-chain teams via simple dashboards that track waste streams, volatile anesthetic equivalents, power use, and tray utilization. Practical tactics include right-sizing preference cards, rationalizing instrument sets, standardizing reusables where safe, and segregating waste to prevent red-bag overflow. Anesthesia sections compare low-flow techniques and agent selection; nursing content embeds smoke evacuation, linen optimization, and device reprocessing with clear instructions that protect sterility. Engineering partners help recalibrate HVAC, pressure differentials, and lighting to meet safety standards at lower energy cost. Equity remains central: green practices must not raise patient costs or reduce access; we highlight cost-neutral swaps, vendor negotiations, and education that empowers teams to act. Finally, we align sustainability with outcomes—maintaining normothermia, glycemic control, infection prevention, and count integrity—so environmental gains never come at clinical expense. Attendees leave with a sequenced playbook: quick wins, medium-term projects, and strategic procurement that add up to measurable, reportable impact.