Institutional Sustainability in Health Units

Scientific basis, economic and environmental impact of IHCARE's ecological solutions

Institutional Sustainability in healthcare facilities has gone from being a peripheral issue to a key indicator of clinical, financial, and reputational performance. Global estimates indicate that the healthcare sector is responsible for 4.4 to 5.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a figure comparable to that of commercial aviation.¹ It's not just about the energy consumed: according to the World Health Organization, 15% of the waste generated in hospitals is hazardous (infectious, toxic, or radioactive) and requires expensive and potentially polluting treatment.²

One of the most effective ways to simultaneously reduce emissions and costs is to replace disposable consumables with reusable, eco-friendly products. A Life Cycle Assessment study conducted in France showed that reusable surgical gowns reduce climate impact by 31% compared to single-use alternatives, and this can reach 62% when considering the actual frequency of changes.³ IHCare's Shellty® Pro Care linen range, made with highly durable fibers and a stable antimicrobial finish, was designed with this evidence in mind: fewer wash cycles, lower water and energy consumption, and a significant reduction in textile waste.

The second critical axis is smart waste management. Data from the Greek hospital system reveals that sterilizing infectious waste costs, on average, €0.7/kg, while incinerating toxic waste can reach €1.7/kg—a difference that nearly doubles the annual bill when segregation is poor.⁴ The adoption of collection systems based on the Internet of Things (IoT) helps close this gap: containers equipped with ultrasonic sensors, automatic sorting cameras, and GSM ( Global System for Mobile Communications ) alerts have reduced spills and emergency collection calls in pilot projects in India and Southeast Asia.⁴

The European regulatory framework is evolving in the same direction. The European Commission's Green Public Procurement Guidelines (GPP), updated in 2025, encourage public buyers to require lifecycle criteria for textiles, internal cleaning products, and clinical equipment, opening up space for products with a smaller environmental footprint and higher recyclable content.⁵ Institutions that align their specifications with these criteria not only gain an advantage in EU-funded tenders but also gain leverage to negotiate more favorable prices thanks to the proven reduction in operating costs.

In short, investing in reusable eco-friendly products, IoT waste management systems, and structured recycling programs allows healthcare institutions to preserve the environment and generate significant savings. IHCARE's experience shows that using Shellty® sheets reduces linen changes by approximately 33%, generating savings of approximately €350/bed/year (energy, water, CO₂) compared to traditional cotton sheets. This savings accelerates hospitals' Net Zero trajectory through a simple, quick measure that requires no additional CAPEX in machinery.

Today, Institutional Sustainability is synonymous with clinical efficiency and competitive advantage — and every hospital, clinic, or nursing home can make it their new standard of excellence.

Complete bibliography :
- Dutchen, S. (2023). Confronting Health Care's Carbon Footprint . Harvard Medicine Magazine, Fall 2023 issue.
- World Health Organization. (2024, Oct. 24) Health-care waste: Key facts . World Health Organization. Accessed on July 28, 2025.
- Burguburu, A., Tanné, C., Bosc, K., Laplaud, J., Roth, M., & Czyrnek-Deletre, M. (2021). Comparative life cycle assessment of reusable and disposable scrub suits used in hospital operating rooms. Cleaner Environmental Systems , 4, 100068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2021.100068
- Vimalathithan, S., Shanmugam, V., Susindhiran, S., & Geetha, K. (2024). Intelligent IoT Systems for Managing Hazardous Medical Waste. International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology , 11(7), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.17148/IARJSET.2024.11707
- European Commission. (2025). Green Public Procurement – ​​Criteria and Requirements . Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission. Accessed on 28 July 2025.