Environmental sustainability has become a foremost priority in global interests due to its significant environmental, technical, and health implications, proven effective through widespread experiences. In this context, the CES 2023 exhibition in the United States highlighted the exhibitors’ focus on unveiling green innovations poised to transform various industries, including the healthcare and environmental conservation sector. These events emphasize the nature of sustainable supply chains in the construction and maintenance of green hospitals, where sourcing environmental materials and employing renewable energy technologies are fundamental. High-quality healthcare and sustainable practices are an integral part of ensuring humanity’s survival, with green hospitals capable of achieving both objectives simultaneously.
The amount of medical and non-medical waste generated by hospitals and medical centers is astounding. For instance, hospitals in the United States alone produce over 7000 tons of waste daily, considered hazardous and environmentally harmful. This waste volume is increasing globally due to rising population and healthcare demands, highlighting the clear need for greening hospital systems. Thus, green practices must guide every aspect of the healthcare system, from sourcing eco-friendly materials to waste management and energy use. Recent research and practices show companies’ commitment to making technology more environmentally friendly and supply chains more sustainable. As this technology becomes more widespread, so too will the proliferation of green hospitals and environmentally-conscious robots.
For health and environmental experts, this reality is no longer a luxury or a mere adaptation to administrative systems but a necessity and requirement increasingly enforced by laws. This collective awareness underscores the importance of focusing on environmental safety and the green hospital industry, considered a cornerstone of future hospitals. Green hospitals are an integral part of creating a sustainable future for the world, with technology being a key partner in this qualitative shift. Hospitals have increasingly relied on technology, especially robots, for managing and executing various medical procedures, especially after the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and its global impact. The significant amount of environmentally harmful waste produced by hospitals has prompted healthcare sector leaders and sustainability enthusiasts to accelerate technological solutions. Healthcare facilities, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and mobile centers, account for 5% of total greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the urgency of this transformation. Fortunately, the number of sustainable hospitals is on the rise, with BCC Research predicting a 6.1% increase in the total green hospital market over the next few years, reaching a value of $14 billion by 2027.
From Planning to Implementation
Robots were not traditionally viewed as “eco-friendly,” but their use in achieving sustainability is becoming a reality, thanks to green robots. Climate change, rising levels of harmful waste, and greenhouse gases have become more pressing than ever. The world is already benefiting from technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to combat climate change. Green robots can support the global fight against climate change, with a variety of robots being developed to help preserve the environment in different ways, from waste management to cleaning oceans and other water bodies, extending to hospitals and medical centers. This trend is not confined to specific countries but is gradually expanding worldwide, albeit at varying levels of technology adoption and development. The idea has taken off, and the awareness of environmental protection is no longer wishful thinking, with hospitals leading this movement due to their role and philosophy inherently focused on community protection.
Outside the medical service sphere, robots also expand their role in environmental protection by contributing to forest fire extinguishing, helping to avoid risking firefighters’ lives. Robots equipped with fire extinguishers and water propulsion can contain forest fires, fitted with GPS, heat sensors, and AI technologies. These technologies enable remote control of the robot, efficiently detecting and extinguishing fires. Additionally, robots are used in waste management and hazardous waste treatment. Humans consume resources and produce significant waste, requiring eco-friendly management and disposal. Advanced use of robots in waste management includes sorting and recycling waste. Automating waste management processes can reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with these operations.
In hospitals, there are substantial financial, environmental, and logistical benefits in not having to “dress” robots in personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves, and protective gowns, as they are not susceptible to infection from patients. This allows doctors to communicate with patients remotely without risking exposure. However, it is essential to emphasize that the relationship between healthcare workers and patients remains at the heart of everything; this relationship is here to stay. Robots like Italy’s Tommy in the healthcare sector are prime examples of this automated integration in the workplace.
Health Measures for a Better Environment
A notable example of technology’s contribution to green hospital management is the use of “TUGs” robots at Stanford Hospital in California. These robots assist the Environmental Services (EVS) teams with various physically demanding and repetitive tasks, including transporting supplies and waste removal. With 23 sets of TUGs at Stanford Hospital and five at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, the EVS teams at both facilities have more time and energy to continue focusing on patient care and clinical assistance. These robots move swiftly and can pull large amounts of waste daily, designed to conserve resources through labor savings. This does not mean replacing any workers but allows for more effective and beneficial use of human resources. Notably, these robots stop moving upon touch to avoid obstructing the medical team’s work. If a fire alarm is triggered, they immediately move to the side of the hallway to clear the walkway.
The question then is, how can robots and automation help create a more sustainable, cleaner, and healthier future? According to a BCC Research report, several steps are essential for implementing green practices in healthcare:
- Increasing investments in technology and green practices by hospital management, with internal hospital teams also needing to take the lead.
- When structing or renovating and maintaining a hospital, eco-friendly resources and materials must be considered.
- Hospitals are energy-intensive buildings operating around the clock and year, requiring high cleanliness standards. Energy is a major contributor to pollution and environmental damage, making its management crucial for green hospitals.
- The enormous amount of waste produced by hospitals must be managed accordingly. According to the World Health Organization, 75% to 90% of hospital waste is non-hazardous, while the remainder is hazardous.
- Sustainable food waste management is a critical step for green hospitals, as 29% of meals are consumed less than half, with the rest turning into waste.
- Cleanliness is vital for safe hospital conditions, but maintaining high cleanliness standards requires effective management, now better secured thanks to robots.
Material management is a core part of any green initiative, including planning, purchasing, storage, inventory control, care, preservation, issuance, accounting, and scrap disposal. These collectively form the main factors for adopting modern hospital management methods, with the use of robots for environmental sustainability and modern hospitals being a notable achievement.
