The Pathologist
  • Explore Pathology

    Explore

    • Latest
    • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • Opinion & Personal Narratives
    • Research & Innovations
    • Product Profiles

    Featured Topics

    • Molecular Pathology
    • Infectious Disease
    • Digital Pathology

    Issues

    • Latest Issue
    • Archive
  • Subspecialties
    • Oncology
    • Histology
    • Cytology
    • Hematology
    • Endocrinology
    • Neurology
    • Microbiology & Immunology
    • Forensics
    • Pathologists' Assistants
  • Training & Education

    Career Development

    • Professional Development
    • Career Pathways
    • Workforce Trends

    Educational Resources

    • Guidelines & Recommendations
    • App Notes
    • eBooks

    Events

    • Webinars
    • Live Events
  • Events
    • Live Events
    • Webinars
  • Profiles & Community

    People & Profiles

    • Power List
    • Voices in the Community
    • Authors & Contributors
  • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Pathology Captures
Subscribe
Subscribe

False

The Pathologist / Issues / 2023 / Jun / Lab Sustainability: The Need for Green
Laboratory management Profession Quality assurance and quality control Regulation and standards Insights

Lab Sustainability: The Need for Green

A practical deep dive into the world of lab sustainability – and answers to one crucial question: How do we go green?

By Sheri Scott 06/08/2023 Discussion 11 min read
  • Full Article
  • Summary
  • Poll

Share

Objective:

To explore the role of healthcare science professionals in reducing the carbon footprint of clinical laboratory practice in the context of climate change as a significant global health threat.

Approach:
  • Circular Economy: The article emphasizes the need for healthcare to adopt a circular economy to minimize waste and reduce environmental impact, highlighting the importance of effective waste management strategies.
Key Findings:
  • Climate change is a significant global health threat, with healthcare contributing 4-5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as reported by the Lancet Countdown.
  • The number of extreme weather events is increasing, with health impacts such as heat-related deaths rising by 68% over the last 20 years, according to the Lancet report.
  • A circular economy approach can help reduce healthcare waste and its environmental impact, as highlighted in the article.
Interpretation:

The healthcare sector must take responsibility for its emissions and adopt sustainable practices to mitigate climate change.

Limitations:
  • The article does not provide specific quantitative data on the effectiveness of proposed sustainability measures, which limits the assessment of their impact.
  • Challenges in implementing waste management policies in healthcare are acknowledged, including budget constraints and workforce skill gaps.
Conclusion:

Healthcare professionals can play a crucial role in promoting sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of clinical laboratories through advocacy and practical actions.

Sources:
  • Lancet Countdown
  • World Health Organization

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.

Newsletters

Receive the latest pathologist news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.

Newsletter Signup Image

References

  1. M Romanello et al., “The 2022 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: health at the mercy of fossil fuels,” Lancet, 400, 1619 (2022). PMID: 36306815.
  2. N Watts et al., “The 2019 report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: ensuring that the health of a child born today is not defined by a changing climate,” Lancet, 394, 1836, (2019). PMID: 31733928.
  3. M Ranjbari et al., “Mapping healthcare waste management research: Past evolution, current challenges, and future perspectives towards a circular economy transition,” J Hazard Mater, 433, 126724 (2022). PMID: 34399217.
  4. G Daú et al., “The healthcare sustainable supply chain 4.0: The circular economy transition conceptual framework with the corporate social responsibility mirror,” Sustain, 11, 3259, (2019).
  5. Public Health England, “Reducing the use of natural resources in health and social care 2018 report” (2018). Available at: https://bit.ly/42CEGof.
  6. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, “Reducing Healthcare Carbon Emissions” (2022 Available at: https://bit.ly/3Id4oaK.
  7. J Boucher et al., “Review of plastic footprint methodologies,” ( 2019). Available at: https://bit.ly/3Bp6GQz.
  8. TM Boere et al., “Effect of C reactive protein point-of-care testing on antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory tract infections in nursing home residents: cluster randomised controlled trial,” BMJ, 375:n2198, (2021). PMID: 34548288.
  9. S Scott, “Embedding education into clinical laboratory professional training to foster sustainable development and greener practice,” Clin Chem Lab Med (2022). PMID: 36537086.
  10. JC Alcantara et al., “Analysis of preanalytical errors in a clinical chemistry laboratory: A 2-year study,” Med, 101, 29853 (2022). PMID: 35801773.

About the Author(s)

Sheri Scott

Senior Lecturer and Biomedical Scientist at Nottingham Trent University and Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science

More Articles by Sheri Scott

Explore More in Pathology

Dive deeper into the world of pathology. Explore the latest articles, case studies, expert insights, and groundbreaking research.

False

Advertisement

Recommended

False

Related Content

Medicare Pathology Payments in 2021
Laboratory management
Medicare Pathology Payments in 2021

January 26, 2024

1 min read

A national Medicare report extract for pathologists reveals where payments went in the US in 2021

R-Tracker: The First of Its Kind
Laboratory management
R-Tracker: The First of Its Kind

December 29, 2021

1 min read

Milestone is committed to enhancing patient safety with a new disruptive technology

The Pathologist’s 2016 Power List
Laboratory management
The Pathologist’s 2016 Power List

October 18, 2016

1 min read

Let’s celebrate the successes of our field by shining a spotlight on the next generation.

The Times They Are A-Changin’
Laboratory management
The Times They Are A-Changin’

October 21, 2016

1 min read

Or at least I hope they are, but I need your help…

Affiliations:

Specialties:

Areas of Expertise:

Contributions:

False

The Pathologist
Subscribe

About

  • About Us
  • Work at Conexiant Europe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2026 Texere Publishing Limited (trading as Conexiant), with registered number 08113419 whose registered office is at Booths No. 1, Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, England, WA16 8GS.