Green dialysis survey: Establishing a baseline for environmental sustainability across dialysis facilities in Victoria, Australia

Barraclough, Katherine A.; Gleeson, A.; Holt, Stephen; Agar, John

doi:10.1111/nep.13191

Cited by 25 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Shifting from the concept of eco-dialysis to the concept of green nephrology is not only semantic: green nephrology involves re-thinking all daily activities. Furthermore, it involves rethinking dialysis machines with a cradle-tocradle philosophy, building planet-friendly facilities and choosing renewable energies [16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

Section: Dialysis In the Global Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green nephrology and eco-dialysis: a position statement by the Italian Society of Nephrology

et al. 2020

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High-technology medicine saves lives and produces waste; this is the case of dialysis. The increasing amounts of waste products can be biologically dangerous in different ways: some represent a direct infectious or toxic danger for other living creatures (potentially contaminated or hazardous waste), while others are harmful for the planet (plastic and non-recycled waste). With the aim of increasing awareness, proposing joint actions and coordinating industrial and social interactions, the Italian Society of Nephrology is presenting this position statement on ways in which the environmental impact of caring for patients with kidney diseases can be reduced. Due to the particular relevance in waste management of dialysis, which produces up to 2 kg of potentially contaminated waste per session and about the same weight of potentially recyclable materials, together with technological waste (dialysis machines), and involves high water and electricity consumption, the position statement mainly focuses on dialysis management, identifying ten first affordable actions: (1) reducing the burden of dialysis (whenever possible adopting an intent to delay strategy, with wide use of incremental schedules); (2) limiting drugs and favouring "natural" medicine focussing on lifestyle and diet; (3) encouraging the reuse of "household" hospital material; (4) recycling paper and glass; (5) recycling non-contaminated plastic; (6) reducing water consumption; (7) reducing energy consumption; (8) introducing environmental-impact criteria in checklists for evaluating dialysis machines and supplies; (9) encouraging well-planned triage of contaminated and non-contaminated materials; (10) demanding planet-friendly approaches in the building of new facilities.

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Section: Dialysis In the Global Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green nephrology and eco-dialysis: a position statement by the Italian Society of Nephrology

et al. 2020

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“…A recent survey of dialysis services in the Australian state of Victoria--a state where environmental issues seem better known than in most-confirmed little real appreciation of the environmental impact of dialysis. 19 Carbon footprint studies in nephrology are scarce. Only two studies from the United Kingdom 20,21 and one study from Australia 22 have attempted to calculate the carbon cost of HD, while only one study from China has documented the carbon footprint of PD.…”

Section: Dialysis and The Environment: Seeking A More Sustainable Futurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even an appreciation of the issues––in trained dialysis staff––appears rudimentary. A recent survey of dialysis services in the Australian state of Victoria––a state where environmental issues seem better known than in most––confirmed little real appreciation of the environmental impact of dialysis …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dialysis and the environment: Seeking a more sustainable future

Agar

2019

Artificial Organs

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“…In Australia, a recent survey of 71 public dialysis facilities in the state of Victoria showed that only 10% of the units used renewable sources of energy, solar in these cases, and 25% recycled reverse osmosis reject water for use elsewhere, such as to water gardens or flush toilets. 20 Although these countries are likely much 'greener' than other countries for which we do not have this baseline data yet, there is still much to be improved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A call-to-action for sustainability in dialysis in Brazil

Moura-Neto¹,

Barraclough

Agar

2019

Braz. J. Nephrol.

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Human-induced climate change has been an increasing concern in recent years. Nephrology, especially in the dialysis setting, has significant negative environmental impact worldwide, as it uses large amounts of water and energy and generates thousands of tons of waste. While our activities make us responsible agents, there are also several opportunities to change the game, both individually and as a society. This call-to-action intends to raise awareness about environmentally sustainable practices in dialysis and encourages this important discussion in Brazil.

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Green dialysis survey: Establishing a baseline for environmental sustainability across dialysis facilities in Victoria, Australia

Abstract: This survey provides a baseline for practices that potentially impact the environmental sustainability of dialysis units in Victoria, Australia. It also identifies achievable targets for attention.

Cited by 25 publications

References 15 publications

Green nephrology and eco-dialysis: a position statement by the Italian Society of Nephrology

Green nephrology and eco-dialysis: a position statement by the Italian Society of Nephrology

Dialysis and the environment: Seeking a more sustainable future

A call-to-action for sustainability in dialysis in Brazil

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