in Education
Education Series | Green Sustainability
In a fast-paced world, demanding fast solutions, it is essential that we all remain aware of our Ethical duty to deliver in our Corporate Social Responsibility.
In a world of manufacturing, and constant supply and demand, we must all take a moment to look at the bigger picture, and find ways to enhance a brighter, healthier, more resourceful future for our world and those living in it. It is our duty as a company within the Healthcare Provider industry, to assess our best practices in preserving the future planet and monitoring our environmental impact.
What is CSR?
First of all- Let’s establish what CSR means. It’s all well knowing the official business abbreviation but it’s important to fully understand what it really is all about before we can begin putting our best intentions into practice.
Corporate social responsibility is a self-regulating business model that helps a company to be socially accountable. Accountable to itself, its stakeholders, customers, and the public.
By practicing corporate social responsibility, companies can be conscious of the kind of impact they are having on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental sectors.
To engage in CSR means that a company is operating in ways that enhance society and is actively conscious of their positive contribution, limiting any negative impacts to the surrounding environment.
So what do we need to concern ourselves with?
The answer to that… is unnecessary Stainless-Steel Wastage.
There is just too much detrimental dumping of ‘suspected end of life’ instruments. It is a big concern for healthcare professionals, and it is clear to see why.
Shocking Image of Stainless steel scissor wastage.
The Science
Most of the world’s discarded instruments and accompanying accessories, such as mesh wire baskets, are made of stainless steel. Stainless Steel represents iron (Fe)-based alloys containing a percentage of Chromium (Cr) and Nickel (Ni).
It typically contains alloying elements such as Molybdenum (Mo), manganese, carbon, nitrogen (N), phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon, which has mechanical properties and corrosion resistance that can be enhanced when alloying with Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Molybdenum (Mo), and nitrogen.
Most of the medical waste that is abandoned in landfills contains these valuable materials that can be reused; having good resistance against corrosion or having titanium alloys and even ceramic and polymeric materials, we must drive forward with our CSR and identify ways that we can reduce the amount of permanent wastage.
Did you know?
- Most surgical instruments end up in landfill causing soil contamination
- Stainless steel is not biodegradable so once dumped; they stay there forever…
- It requires 50% less energy to refurbish a surgical instrument than replace it
What is the way forward?
Introducing, the Circular Economy model!
The Circular Economy model is best described as being an economic system in which waste is prevented, minimised, or even completely reused. It actively promotes recycling, reselling, repurposing, repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing of stainless-steel products.
How does Surgical Holdings deliver on CSR?
It’s simple.
We encourage the Refurbishment and Repair of Surgical Instruments, instead of throwing them away.
At Surgical Holdings, we offer a complete refurbishment service at a fraction of the price of manufacturing new instrumentation. In our very specialised experience, every single instrument on every single tray can be entirely refurbished to an ‘as new’ condition, instead of replaced.
We are very proud of our Surgifix dashboard. A customer managed platform that our client’s control and access, maintaining their inventory of processed instruments, as their status’ are logged in real time. We make it possible for our customers to be involved, reassured, and satisfied with the service we provide, whilst upkeeping an environmentally friendly initiative.
It can’t get greener than that.
Credits
Science Direct | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550920313701
Investopedia | https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corp-social-responsibility.asp