Why Care Providers Should Reduce or Eliminate Plastic Use

By Jess Efford, Waterless (Nilaqua)

In the care sector, where protecting health and wellbeing is paramount, our environmental responsibilities are just as significant. Air pollution is now recognised as the single biggest environmental threat to UK citizens, contributing to millions of premature deaths globally each year. While the causes are varied, one invisible but significant contributor comes from how we handle and dispose of waste, particularly plastics.

The True Cost of Air Pollution

Air pollution affects human health, the environment, and the economy. In 2019, exposure to air pollution was linked to 6.7 million premature deaths worldwide. It is a driver of respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, stroke, and is increasingly linked to cognitive decline and dementia. Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions are most vulnerable.

Environmentally, pollutants from burning fossil fuels and waste contribute to climate change, acid rain, and smog, impacting ecosystems, agricultural yields, and even infrastructure. The economic burden is also heavy: reduced worker productivity, increased healthcare costs, and damage to buildings all add to the bill.

The Care Sector’s Contribution – and Opportunity

In England alone, approximately 156,000 tonnes of clinical waste are disposed of annually, with around a third incinerated. At an estimated £617 per tonne, that’s over £32 million spent each year, the equivalent of over 400 jumbo jets of waste. NHS England has committed to net zero for direct carbon emissions by 2040 and indirect emissions by 2045, with a target to reduce clinical waste-related carbon emissions by 50% by 2026 and 80% by 2028.

Despite these goals, NHS waste is projected to grow 3% annually. This presents a pressing need, and an opportunity, for care homes and providers to make sustainable choices in the products they buy and the waste they create.

Why Plastics Are a Problem

When plastics are incinerated, they release a cocktail of harmful chemicals, including dioxins, furans, mercury, and PCBs, many of which are linked to cancer and other serious health conditions. Plastic combustion also produces greenhouse gases and fine particulate matter, contributing to smog and poor air quality.

By contrast, cardboard, while not emission-free, releases fewer toxins, generates less CO2, and is far easier to recycle or compost. Even if incineration is unavoidable, burning cardboard is significantly less damaging than burning plastic.

Practical Steps Towards a Low-Plastic Future

At Waterless (Nilaqua), we are working to eliminate plastic packaging wherever possible, replacing it with options that can be broken down and composted OR REFILLED. For example, switching from single-use plastic flow packs and soft plastics to wood-pulp-based or compostable alternatives can greatly reduce both the volume and toxicity of waste.

Other actions care providers can take include:
• Choosing suppliers who prioritise sustainable packaging.
• Consolidating orders to reduce packaging waste.
• Recycling wherever possible and setting up clear internal waste streams.
• Educating staff and residents on the environmental impact of plastics.
• Exploring local composting or recycling schemes for cardboard and other biodegradable materials.

Why This Matters for Care Providers

Care providers are in a unique position: not only do they look after people’s health directly, but they can also reduce health risks in the wider community through environmental stewardship. By committing to reduced or zero-plastic policies, care homes can help lower air pollution, support national carbon reduction goals, and set a powerful example for residents, staff, and the wider public.

Final Thought

Air pollution is not a distant or abstract threat, it’s here, now, and affecting the health of the very people we care for. Every choice we make as providers, from the products we purchase to the waste we generate, has an impact. By switching away from plastics wherever possible, we not only protect the planet, but we also take tangible steps towards safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our residents and future generations.

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