IADR Abstract Archives
Infection Prevention and Control and Sustainable Dentistry: a Comparative Life Cycle Analysis of Reusable and Single-use Dental Personal Protective Clothing (Gowns)
Objectives: While disposable gowns are thought to be advantageous from an infection prevention and control perspective, the manufacture, use, disposal and associated transport of disposable gowns have been found to have increased greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental impact should be considered during the procurement process, and life-cycle analysis is the most effective method used to evaluate this. The aim of this study is to use an attributional Life Cycle Assessment tool to compare the environmental burdens of disposable and reusable gowns.
Methods: Open Life Cycle Analysis software was used to conduct a life cycle analysis, including cost analysis on both reusable and disposable gowns. This life cycle analysis compares costs, social indicators, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and waste generation of both modalities.
Results: With regards to climate change, the manufacture, use and disposal of a reusable gown released 0.138913 kg CO2 eq, while the 100 disposable gowns related 0.641447 CO2 eq – more than four times than reusable gown. The manufacturing process is the highest contributor to climate change for both gowns, 27% for reusable gowns and 87% for disposable gowns. The lifecycle of reusable and disposable gowns also contributes to freshwater ecotoxicity, ionizing radiation, and acidification of both terrestrial and freshwater. Manufacturing was the main contributor to environmental impact in all categories for disposable gowns and eight of the fourteen categories for reusable gowns. The process of incineration as the final disposal method of the gowns increased the disposal effects on climate change for both reusable (58%) and disposable gowns (8%). Electricity use in the manufacturing of disposable gowns released 7708% more CO2 than reusable gowns.
Conclusions: The LCA showed that reusable gowns are less environmentally harmful than disposable gowns. For both reusable and disposable gowns, the manufacturing process is the most significant contributor in the majority of the impact categories. Finding alternative gown production methods to reduce electricity usage would considerably decrease the impact gowns have on the environment. In the spirit of a circular economy, an “ideal” gown would be made using renewable energy and use older gowns to produce new ones.
Methods: Open Life Cycle Analysis software was used to conduct a life cycle analysis, including cost analysis on both reusable and disposable gowns. This life cycle analysis compares costs, social indicators, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and waste generation of both modalities.
Results: With regards to climate change, the manufacture, use and disposal of a reusable gown released 0.138913 kg CO2 eq, while the 100 disposable gowns related 0.641447 CO2 eq – more than four times than reusable gown. The manufacturing process is the highest contributor to climate change for both gowns, 27% for reusable gowns and 87% for disposable gowns. The lifecycle of reusable and disposable gowns also contributes to freshwater ecotoxicity, ionizing radiation, and acidification of both terrestrial and freshwater. Manufacturing was the main contributor to environmental impact in all categories for disposable gowns and eight of the fourteen categories for reusable gowns. The process of incineration as the final disposal method of the gowns increased the disposal effects on climate change for both reusable (58%) and disposable gowns (8%). Electricity use in the manufacturing of disposable gowns released 7708% more CO2 than reusable gowns.
Conclusions: The LCA showed that reusable gowns are less environmentally harmful than disposable gowns. For both reusable and disposable gowns, the manufacturing process is the most significant contributor in the majority of the impact categories. Finding alternative gown production methods to reduce electricity usage would considerably decrease the impact gowns have on the environment. In the spirit of a circular economy, an “ideal” gown would be made using renewable energy and use older gowns to produce new ones.