The Problem
According to the American Medical Association (AMA) Journal of Ethics, United States healthcare facilities produce approximately 3,500 tons of plastic waste every day, 91% of which will never be recycled, predominantly ending up in either landfills or the environment1.
Common sources of plastic waste found in hospitals include single-use items like syringes, IV tubing and PPE, but many are unaware that the majority of disinfectant wipes used in North American healthcare facilities are also made of plastic2. Disinfectant wipes are an easy, convenient solution to keep equipment and the environment clean to help reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infection (HAIs), but the substrate or wipe itself, is commonly made entirely, or in part, of synthetic plastic fibers. It is estimated that North American healthcare facilities use enough plastic disinfectant wipes to wrap around the globe 58 times every year2.
While it’s well known that plastics have helped to improve patient care and infection prevention measures, plastics have also been shown to cause significant harm to the environment and human health3. Disinfectant wipes can take hundreds of years to decompose or disintegrate, contributing to the growing global plastic pollution problem. Plastic pollution has also been linked to having a dramatic impact on food and water streams4. What’s less commonly known is that the majority of the plastic waste generated by disinfectant wipes in North American health care facilities, comes from the wipes themselves, not the canister, with approximately 58% of the plastic coming from the wipe and 42% of the plastic generated coming by way of the canister5.
The Solution
Introducing the first Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered 1-minute hospital disinfection wipe6 that is 100% plastic free7 and readily degradable - Ecolab® Disinfectant 1 Wipe – made with substrate derived 100% from wood pulp fibers. This first of its kind solution provides a 90%+ reduction in plastic8 with the combined impact of a plastic-free wipe substrate and soft-pack packaging.
The Evidence
- Readily degradable – Third party testing was conducted following ASTM D5511, a high-solids, anaerobic biodegradation test, that models accelerated landfill conditions. With that test methodology, the Ecolab® Disinfectant 1 Wipe demonstrated 94.3% relative biodegradation by Day 15 compared to 0.6% relative biodegradation of a competitive wipe using a plastic based substrate by Day 759.
- Maintains wetness – Unlike traditional plastic based disinfectant wipes, which are produced by extracting non-renewable resources like crude oil, the Ecolab® Disinfectant 1 Wipe is made from responsibly sourced and renewable cellulose fibers derived 100% from wood pulp. These cellulose fibers allow the wipe to hold more liquid and have greater absorbency. The Ecolab® Disinfectant 1 Wipe maintains 4 times the surface area wetness when compared to the leading alcohol based plastic disinfectant wipe10.
- Reduces wipe utilization - Not only does the Ecolab® Disinfectant 1 Wipe help to reduce the impact of plastic waste on the environment, but it also helps reduce operating expenses by allowing end users to use fewer wipes. The unique combination of chemistry and substrate derived from wood pulp fibers, in conjunction with the increased wipe absorbency, allows for one wipe to cover more surface area. During a 4-week study in the OR, one facility was able to reduce their total disinfectant wipe consumption by 60%11.
- Broad-spectrum disinfectant - The active ingredient in the Ecolab® Disinfectant 1 Wipe is dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DDBSA). It has a 1-minute contact time for over 40 organisms and is designed to be compatible with the most common hospital surfaces.
Conclusions: Call to Action
The plastic-free movement starts now. Wipe away waste by stepping up and helping fight to reduce consumption of single-use plastics in healthcare.
With substrate 100% derived from wood pulp fibers, more disinfectant liquid on each wipe, decreased wipe usage, and broad-spectrum disinfection capabilities, the Ecolab® Disinfectant 1 Wipe is an innovative solution that embodies the essential shift towards enhanced sustainable practices in healthcare.
Order your samples now, by visiting Ecolab.com/offerings/disinfectant-wipes
1. AMA J Ethics. 2022;24(10):E986-993. DOI: 10.1001/amajethics.2022.986.
2. 2023 DRG data & internal calculations used to determine total wipe volume.
3. Smith M, Singh H, Sherman JD. Infection Prevention, Planetary Health, and Single-Use Plastics. JAMA. 2023;330(20):1947–1948. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.20550
4. Clean Water. (n.d.). Problem of marine plastic pollution. Retrieved October 6, 2023, from https://cleanwater.org/
5. Based on product specifications of a 6” x 6.7” wipe, with 34 gsm substrate, 160 wipes per canister and combined canister and lid mass of 100 g.
6. Refer to product label for use directions, EPA Reg. No. 1677-263.
7. Wipe substrate is 100% plastic-free. Soft pack packaging comprised of plastic. Represents a 90%+ reduction in total plastic compared to the total plastic mass of a wipe canister containing 160 plastic wipes.
8. Based on product specifications of a 6” x 6.7” wipe, with 34 gsm substrate, 160 wipes per canister and combined canister and lid mass of 100 g.
9. ASTM D5511 quantitative laboratory tests performed have demonstrated 94.3% relative biodegradation in 15 days of accelerated landfill testing, for the Ecolab Disinfectant 1 Wipe, made with substrate derived 100% from wood pulp fibers and 0.6% relative biodegradation for a standard plastic-based wipe under the same test conditions. Actual rates of degradation will vary based on landfill conditions.
10. Laboratory tests performed have demonstrated that the Ecolab Disinfectant 1 Wipe, made with substrate derived 100% from wood pulp fibers, maintains 4x surface area wetness, for the respective recommended EPA registered contact times, when compared to the market leading alcohol based disinfectant wipe. Dry times will vary based upon actual conditions, including temperature, relative humidity, and air flow.
11. Research conducted over a 4-week period in the OR of an ambulatory surgery center demonstrated a reduction in wipes used when compared to the market leading alcohol-based wipe. Actual results will vary based on operating conditions. Ecolab research available upon request.