Sustainable practices in academic programs in a healthcare setting: A case study

INTRODUCTION

Academic programs like conferences and continuing medical education programs keep healthcare professionals updated about newer developments in protocols, management, diagnosis, and skills. However, such conferences generate a huge amount of waste through food and beverage counters, registration counters, registration kits and giveaways, marketing materials, posters, and exhibits, to name a few.¹ Though conferences have been conducted sustainably and their impact on climate change and waste generation has been addressed,^2–4 waste generated at smaller-scale academic gatherings, which are more frequent, has not been addressed. Journal clubs, seminars, workshops, viva-voice, and case discussions are small-scale gatherings. Despite their smaller scale, their contribution to landfills could be higher as they occur more frequently than large-scale events like conferences. Organizers are often unaware or do not realize the impact of waste; the environmental impact negatively affects human health.

With increasing environmental concerns, dangers of global warming, and climate change looming over us, the organizers of such events need to be mindful of waste generation and its environmental impact. They should explore ways to be more sustainable, eco-friendly, and try to adopt these concepts in scientific gatherings. As Berkowitz and Delacour put it, ‘We need to achieve sustainable academia.’ They further elaborated that ‘By sustainable academia, we mean individual, collective, and institutional practices and behaviors that contribute to train researchers and produce scientific knowledge in a manner that is responsive to current and future generation needs, in a collective commitment to care for the “Other,’ whether it be human or nonhuman.’⁵

We detail the zero-waste measures adopted in a workshop for medical researchers; the measures and practices adopted can easily be replicated in other settings.

METHODS

The steps taken to conduct this zero-waste workshop are described below. Papers were judiciously used at all stages. Brochures, posters, or prints, normally used for promotion, were avoided; this workshop was promoted only via the institute’s website and social media. Registration was completely online. Workshop coordinators used Google Drive, Dropbox, and digital documents for discussions, thus consciously avoiding paper during the planning stage. Only essential documents, such as requests for administrative approval, were printed.

The workshop was evaluated online; both pre- and post-tests were administered online through Google Forms. After the pre-test, course materials were shared through email or Google Drive. A completely paperless workshop was not practical; hence, a ‘less paper’ approach was adopted. Only the feedback forms, questions for the practical session, and course certificates were printed, about 4 pages per delegate. Stage and room decorations were avoided. Banners and standees were made without mentioning the dates so that they could be reused yearly. Signages printed on paper were saved for reuse.

Commonly used disposable plastic items in a workshop are pens, lanyards, water bottles, tea cups, water cups, plates, dessert bowls, and cutlery. Efforts were made to reduce or avoid the use of disposable or single-use plastic items; instead, more eco-friendly or zero-waste products were considered. Plastic pens were replaced by paper pens that are 90% less plastic and are plantable. Seed paper pens made by persons with disability (PwDs) were added to the workshop kit. Plastic lanyards were replaced with fabric covers, and these covers could be reused as tags for luggage. Recycled papers were used in the lanyards.

Plastic water bottles are commonly distributed at most gatherings; this workshop did not use plastic water bottles. Water glasses were arranged on the dais, and the delegates were requested to carry their water bottles. The workshop brochure had mentioned the Carry Your Own Bottle concept. A plastic or steel bottle or cup in the workshop kit would eventually add to the waste, hence it was not attempted. A week before the workshop, delegates were sent instructions, details on city transportation and workshop venue layout, and information about the measures taken to make it a zero-waste workshop. Delegates were requested not to print shared materials and were reminded to carry their water bottles.

Efforts were made to ensure that the workshop kits contained products made by PwDs or women self-help groups (SHGs). Eco-friendly (i.e. cotton, reusable) bags made by SHGs were chosen. Note pads made from recycled paper were slightly beyond the budget of this workshop; hence, regular note pads made by rehabilitated PwDs were used. Calendars made from recycled paper or gift items made by PwDs were included as a New Year gift, since the workshop is usually conducted in January. So, in addition to being a zero-waste workshop, this workshop also supported social causes.

Food was arranged from local catering services to ensure less fuel expenditure and fewer carbon emissions. The menu was thoughtfully planned with an accurate count estimate to prevent food waste. Caterers were informed about the zero-waste nature of the workshop and instructed to avoid using disposable items for meals and snacks. Items made from bamboo, leaves, fibres, or papers were also avoided, despite being eco-friendly, as the usage of such single-use items would still generate waste and take years to disintegrate. Steel water glasses for common use were available near water dispensers.

Shared accommodations were offered on the campus. Since sharing resources and energy is an environmentally good practice, this was preferred. Chief guests and faculty were felicitated with plants or handcrafted items. Gifts were not wrapped using paper or non-biodegradable sheets; they were presented in recycled paper bags. Plants were presented without wrapping.

The table below gives an idea of the amount of waste that could have been generated during this 4-day workshop (Table 1).

It is alarming that a single workshop edition with just 45 delegates could generate this much waste. However, since adequate measures were taken to eliminate single-use items, this workshop did not add any waste to the landfill.

RESULTS

Efforts were made to reduce paper usage at all stages; hence, less paper wastage was achieved. Also, this workshop did not add non-biodegradable or single-use items to the landfill. Stage and room decorations were avoided. This workshop also supported social causes by supporting women’s SHGs and PwDs. Table 2 shows a summary of the measures taken.

DISCUSSION

Steps for the conduct of eco-friendly medical conferences have been reported.^2,6–8 Most of these steps had been adopted in this workshop. Kim et al. have pointed out steps like online evaluation forms, reusable lanyards, participants carrying their water bottles, reusable cutlery, and plates to reduce waste at medical conferences.⁶ A blog titled “Eco-Friendly Practices for Modern Conferences” has mentioned online registration, use of eco-friendly materials, reuse of signage, and nearby catering services as some measures to be adopted in conferences. It also stated that educating the participants is an important aspect that is usually overlooked, even at eco-friendly conferences.⁷ Delegates of this workshop were informed about the zero-waste measures before the workshop. They were further briefed about the measures and the items in the workshop kit, for example, planting of seed pens during the introductory session. McDermott-Levy outlined resources for conducting green meetings and advocated for elimination of single-use plastic bottles, reducing the amount of solid waste generated, and support of local charities as ways of holding environmentally friendly meetings. These had been adopted at the workshop.⁸ Disposable items can be sourced easily, as markets are inundated with them. However, the organizers chose to make a difference and made conscious efforts to make this a zero-waste workshop through consistent and modest measures. The sustainable measures taken at this workshop can be replicated in any scientific or academic program. Delegates greatly appreciated the zero-waste aspect of the workshop. We hope that this workshop inspired some delegates to embrace sustainability as a life choice and to organize zero-waste events in professional and personal spaces.