Environmentally friendly solution to essential consumable

Healthcare company Haines Medical Australia has designed and developed an environmentally friendlier alternative to the traditional ‘bluey’ underpad — an essential, high-volume healthcare consumable.

Each year, around 75 million bluey underpads are discarded, contributing up to 1950 tonnes of plastic waste to landfill. Haines product development specialists were determined to find a solution. 

“From the launch of our first compostable kidney dish, it was clear that healthcare workers, at all levels, care deeply about the industry’s environmental impact. For most, it’s not just about meeting environmental KPIs, it’s about caring enough to make a better choice, if and where one is available,” said Laura de Lacy, National Product Manager, Haines Medical Australia.

Certified compostable and packed in recyclable packaging, the Greeny Compostable Underpad will be available to hospitals and healthcare facilities from November 2022. Early adopters of the Greeny were drawn to its environmental friendliness but have noted potential increases to both hospital efficiencies and patient comfort, thanks to the Greeny’s high-quality, robust materials.

“While a truly sustainable healthcare system is a long way off, it is possible, and changing from blueys to Greenys is another way that facilities can help steer Australian health care in a more sustainable direction.

“We appreciate this will challenge the industry as there are often barriers to better environmental options.  We look forward to working with the healthcare sector on these barriers and forging ahead with the development of more sustainable products, to help reduce avoidable medical waste,” de Lacy said.

“A compostable underpad is a monumental step for the Australian healthcare system. We hope it inspires healthcare workers to demand other, more sustainable medical consumables.”

Image: Supplied