Sustainability in action: ‘To Glove or Not to Glove’ Campaign delivers significant carbon and clinical benefits
First Community's 'To Glove or Not to Glove' campaign is delivering measurable impact, with reductions in carbon emissions and clinical waste across its sites. The campaign promotes appropriate nonsterile glove use, encouraging staff to wear gloves only when clinically necessary and in line with national infection prevention and control guidance.
The progress was tracked by measuring glove usage volumes before and after the campaign's implementation and calculated the associated carbon savings (kgCO e) and clinical waste weight reductions. The results are very positive:
Minor Injury Unit
Carbon reduction: 534.56 kgCO e (59.9% reduction)
Weight reduction: 71.96 kg
That's equivalent to:
- 8 passengers flying from London to Paris
- 4 car trips from London to Edinburgh
- 15 operations in hospital
- 39 Emergency Department visits
- 14 inpatient bed days
- The weight of a fallow deer, Ganges dolphin, or 36 wheeled walking frames.
Caterham Dene Hospital Ward
Carbon reduction: 2240.42 kgCO e (79.5% reduction)
Weight reduction: 301.60 kg
That's equivalent to:
- 35 passengers flying from London to Paris
- 16 car trips from London to Edinburgh
- 64 operations in hospital
- 162 Emergency Department visits
- 59 inpatient bed days
- The weight of a zebra, humpbacked dolphin, or 151 wheeled walking frames.
Claire Poustie, Infection Prevention and Control and Patient Safety Lead commented, "This change not only reduces environmental impact but also supports better clinical practice. Unnecessary glove use can compromise hand hygiene and increase the risk of cross-contamination. By focusing on appropriate glove use, the campaign enhances infection control while reducing waste and resource use.
"By reducing unnecessary glove use, we are cutting carbon, conserving resources, supporting safer care, embedding sustainability in everyday clinical practice and it is a positive step forward in First Community's Green Plan ."
A huge thank you to staff at both the Minor Injury Unit and Caterham Dene Hospital Ward for leading the way in delivering greener and safer healthcare.