Plastic Free July: How one department is doing its bit for the environment

A sexual health team is doing its bit for the environment by ditching one of its single-use plastic instruments and reverting back to the metal equivalent.

Like many areas of healthcare, the Department of Sexual Health (DoSH) switched to using single-use plastic specula for vaginal examinations several decades ago because of a perceived reduction in infection risk and cost.

However, plastic devices such as this are now known to increase greenhouse gas emissions and have a negative impact on the environment. In the department, based at Cardiff Royal Infirmary, as many as 3,500 plastic specula were being used once and being thrown away every year.

In July 2022, DoSH had a bid approved through the Welsh Government Health and Social Care Climate Emergency National Programme Fund to buy 100 metal specula – and in March 2023 they were distributed among the examination and procedure trolleys.

Dr Rachel Drayton, the Clinical Director of DoSH, said the switch from plastic back to metal has been well-received by patients and colleagues alike.

“Patients and staff have been really receptive to the change. Most of the staff find the metal specula as easy or easier to use, and patient feedback has been either positive or indifferent,” she explained.

“About five weeks after the initial rollout, we were using the metal specula for about 30% of our examinations. We are probably up to about 40% now, but I’d like to get it much higher than that. We just need to boost the availability and staff familiarity.”

If this level of usage continues, the department is expected to save more than 500kg Co2e in the first year. “If we can get up to maximum usage, then we’ll save up to two tonnes of carbon a year as an estimate,” Dr Drayton added.

“It’s also likely to be a cost-neutral move. Once we’ve paid for the upfront costs of the new metal specula, the savings we’re making on the plastic ones is roughly equivalent to the cost of sterilisation of the metal ones.

“There’s really good evidence that there is a significant carbon saving by sterilisation of reusable instruments when compared with the manufacture of items that you’re only going to use once and incinerate.”

Dr Drayton spoke about the project to coincide with Plastic Free July, a global movement that encourages people to make small reductions in their plastic use so we can have cleaner streets, oceans and communities.

For more information on Plastic Free July and how to take part, please go here.