Have you ever wondered about the environmental impact of the use of plastic in the dental sector? Today, it is a problem that concerns us all, and that is why today it is our main focus. We tell you all about the plastic footprint and why it is vitally important to reduce it in your dental practice. Caring for the planet is everyone's job!
Author: Alfredo Blasquez
We know that plastic consumption has been very high in recent decades, which is synonymous with a serious problem affecting our environment. Why?:
- Plastic is a very hazardous waste due to its long decomposition process and its slow degradability (from 100 to 1,000 years in some cases).
- Plastic waste damages the oceans and their marine ecosystem severely through toxic chemicals. In addition, it is also likely to be ingested by marine wildlife.
- As a consequence, plastic has a negative environmental impact, damaging also the health of human beings.
A plastic cup takes more than 450 years to decompose and a plastic toothbrush takes more than 500 years to decompose. Keep in mind! Because plastics account for 80% of the waste from the seas and oceans. This is a great indicator of the magnitude of the problem.
Now, you have asked yourself, how much plastic is consumed in a dental clinic? We can tell you that a dental clinic spends more than 2,000 units of disposable materials per year (such as glasses, suction cannulas or napkins and patient wipes) and a minimum average of 22.3 grams of plastic for each patient. Imagine this large amount for every single cabinet in the dental practice or, even worse, multiply this amount by all the cabinets in all the dental practices.
Scared? No wonder, so today we are going to tell you what the plastic footprint is and why it is so important to reduce it in dental clinics. Let's get started!
What is the plastic footprint?
The plastic footprint is the total amount of plastic and microplastic consumed in a year (or a given period) by a person, company or entity. In other words, it is the amount of plastic products and packaging that pollute ecosystems. The plastic footprint can be used to measure the total amount of plastic consumed per person or at more general levels, such as in a dental clinic.
Knowing the amount of plastic we use is very important to start reducing its consumption as soon as possible and to become aware of the negative consequences we cause if we do not manage this waste properly.
A relevant fact is that it is estimated that only 7% of the almost 8.3 billion tonnes of virgin plastic produced from 1950 to 2015 has been recycled, and more than half of it has ended up in landfills or in the middle of nature.
Do you want to know how much plastic you consume and how to reduce it? To make it easier for you, here is the link to the free Gravity Wave Plastic Footprint Calculator so you can start calculating your annual plastic footprint and it will help you to calculate how much plastic you consume in a year in your dental practice. It will be the perfect tool to find new solutions and alternatives to plastic.
Calculate your plastic footprint!
How to reduce your plastic footprint in the dental practice?
The dentistry sector has a significant environmental impact due to the large amount of waste generated. We are going to tell you how you can reduce the plastic footprint in your dental practice and how you can add greener alternatives to your daily routine: remember that every small step counts.
- Eliminate single-use plastics or replace them with biodegradable materials or materials that can be reused again.
- Eco-friendly paper cups
- Disposable Protective Bibs
- Disposable saliva ejectors
- Self-adhesive Sterilization Bags for Dental Instruments
- Toothbrushes with sustainable materials and say goodbye to plastic toothbrushes: Bamboo toothbrushes being biodegradable offer the great advantage of being much more environmentally friendly than plastic toothbrushes. On the other hand, it should be noted that due to their bristles, they need to be changed more often.
- It is the plant that grows the most on earth
- It grows naturally and recovers very quickly after cutting
- It does not need pesticides or fertilisers
- Use products that do not contain plastic packaging: this will help reduce plastic consumption and waste. VIDU encourages and supports this alternative in its products.
- Opt for recycled paper bags and replace plastic bags: paper is the material that takes the least time to decompose and plastic takes the longest.It is highly advisable to use recycled paper bags or cloth bags that can be reused for much longer.
- Collaborate with companies and suppliers who are aware of caring for the planet: for example, at Dentaltix, among other actions, virgin plastic shipping bags will be replaced by recycled plastic bags and recyclable plastic bags.
To start reducing the amount of plastic generated in the dental clinic, you should stop using single-use plastic. How? By replacing some of the dental products you use every day, with others that are much more sustainable and environmentally friendly:
In addition to these products, at Dentaltix we also have eco-friendly dental products such as VIDU, Naturbrush or Euronda with a wide variety of more sustainable products: you will find from bamboo toothbrushes, biodegradable cups, recycled paper napkins or also products where manufacturers care about environmentally friendly manufacturing and transportation and support green initiatives.
Bamboo toothbrushes are the best options from an environmentally sustainable point of view (source: study published in British Dental Journal 2020) but the needs of each individual patient must be taken into account.
Did you know that...? Bamboo is one of the most environmentally friendly materials because:
In short, it is very important in the dental sector to be aware of the large amount of plastic that we use and the importance of knowing our plastic footprint in order to reduce it and contribute to the environment.
There is no doubt that carrying out the above initiatives to reduce plastic will be a great start. Together we can fight plastic pollution from dental clinics. Every small action we take to reduce our footprint is a big step towards protecting the future of our planet and our nature.
If you have any questions, share them with us and we will be happy to help. Don't forget to share this blog about the plastic footprint on your social networks: the more people who see it and join the change the better!
Saving the planet IS IN OUR HANDS!
