An alliance in the Northern Netherlands has launched a €6 million project called Care2Change to reduce the environmental impact of the healthcare sector. The initiative aims to achieve this by fostering circular production methods and stimulating the regional economy.

The project seeks to minimize waste and carbon emissions from healthcare operations through the increased reuse and recycling of medical products. A key strategy involves relocating the production of these items to the Northern Netherlands region, creating local economic benefits along with environmental improvements.

The Northern Netherlands Alliance (SNN) is backing the initiative with a €3 million grant. The remaining costs will be covered by participating organizations and external funders.

Femke van der Zant of the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG), the project lead, stated that healthcare providers have a responsibility to protect both patients and their environment. She emphasized that global warming exacerbates the risk of disease and strains the supply of medical products, ultimately impacting healthcare’s ability to provide adequate care. Van der Zant stressed the ethical obligation of healthcare professionals to minimize harm to patients by adopting sustainable practices.

Care2Change unites major institutions in the region. The University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, UMCG, and nearly every hospital in the Northern Netherlands are participating in the project. The consortium will investigate ways to replace single-use medical items with sustainable alternatives and ensure their adoption by healthcare staff.

The University of Groningen will conduct life cycle assessments of medical products. Engineers will test advanced recycling technologies such as pyrolysis for hospital plastic waste in laboratory settings. Environmental psychologists from Campus Fryslân will study how to promote behavior changes among healthcare professionals to integrate sustainable practices into their daily routines. This multifaceted approach, encompassing research, technological innovation, and behavioral science, underscores the project’s commitment to comprehensive and lasting change within the healthcare sector.