Study
Resource ManagementHigh ImpactStrong effect

Healthcare's Hidden Environmental Footprint Exceeds Direct Emissions

The U.S. healthcare sector's environmental impact, when considering its entire supply chain, is significantly larger than its direct operational emissions, contributing substantially to national pollution and public health burdens.

PLoS ONE · 2016

01

Key Findings

  • 01In 2013, the healthcare sector was responsible for significant fractions of national air pollution emissions, including 12% of acid rain precursors, 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, and 10% of smog-forming pollutants.
  • 02The environmental impacts of the healthcare sector led to an estimated 470,000 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost due to pollution-related diseases.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Integrate a comprehensive life cycle assessment approach into design decisions for healthcare products and systems, focusing on reducing upstream and downstream environmental burdens.

How to apply

When designing medical devices or healthcare facilities, analyze the environmental impact of all components and services, from raw material extraction to manufacturing and transportation, not just the final product's use and disposal.

Project actions

  • 01When researching a product, look beyond its immediate function to understand its material sourcing and manufacturing processes.
  • 02Consider the environmental impact of different material choices for your design project.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo quantify the total environmental and public health impacts attributable to the U.S. healthcare sector, including indirect emissions from its supply chain.
MethodEconomic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIOLCA)
ProcedureThe study used National Health Expenditures (NHE) data from 2003-2013 to model emissions and environmental impacts across the healthcare sector's supply chain using EIOLCA. These impacts were compared to national totals, and associated health damages were estimated.
ContextU.S. Healthcare Sector

Variables

IVHealthcare sector activities (economic expenditures)
DVEnvironmental emissions (air pollution, greenhouse gases), Public health impacts (DALYs lost)
CVNational Health Expenditures (NHE) data, Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIOLCA) model parameters
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Provides a comprehensive, system-level view of the healthcare sector's environmental impact.
  • +Quantifies health damages associated with environmental pollution, linking environmental and public health outcomes.

Limitations

It can be challenging to gather precise data on the entire supply chain for complex products.

Reliability & validity

The study's reliability is supported by the use of established EIOLCA methodologies and national expenditure data. Validity is enhanced by comparing findings to national totals and estimating direct health consequences.

Think critically

How can designers effectively advocate for and implement sustainable practices within the complex and often cost-driven healthcare industry, given the findings on hidden environmental impacts?

05

Design Principles

"Design for Systemic Sustainability: Consider the entire value chain and its environmental consequences, not just direct operational impacts."

This highlights a critical blind spot in sustainability efforts within healthcare. Designers and engineers must look beyond immediate operational waste and energy use to address the embodied impacts within the supply chain, influencing material choices, manufacturing processes, and logistics.

06

What This Means for Your Design

The study shows that the healthcare industry pollutes a lot, not just from its hospitals, but also from all the things it buys and uses. This pollution makes people sick.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use this research to justify the selection of sustainable materials or processes in your design project, citing the broader environmental impact of alternatives.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

(2016). Environmental Impacts of the U.S. Health Care System and Effects on Public Health. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157014 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/46d3afe2-6310-41a6-a3a6-4be45ff908f1/healthcare-s-hidden-environmental-footprint-exceeds-direct-emissions

Paragraph starter

The environmental impact of the U.S. healthcare sector is substantial, extending beyond direct operational emissions to encompass its entire supply chain. Research indicates that this sector contributes significantly to national pollution, leading to adverse public health outcomes. Therefore, design choices must consider the embodied environmental costs of materials and manufacturing processes to mitigate these broader impacts.

09

Source

PLoS ONE

Environmental Impacts of the U.S. Health Care System and Effects on Public Health

journal · 2016

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about healthcare's hidden environmental footprint exceeds direct emissions?
Integrate a comprehensive life cycle assessment approach into design decisions for healthcare products and systems, focusing on reducing upstream and downstream environmental burdens. Evidence: PLoS ONE (2016).
Why does "Healthcare's Hidden Environmental Footprint Exceeds Direct Emissions" matter for design?
This highlights a critical blind spot in sustainability efforts within healthcare. Designers and engineers must look beyond immediate operational waste and energy use to address the embodied impacts within the supply chain, influencing material choices, manufacturing processes, and logistics.
How can designers apply this research?
Integrate a comprehensive life cycle assessment approach into design decisions for healthcare products and systems, focusing on reducing upstream and downstream environmental burdens.
What were the main findings?
In 2013, the healthcare sector was responsible for significant fractions of national air pollution emissions, including 12% of acid rain precursors, 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, and 10% of smog-forming pollutants.. The environmental impacts of the healthcare sector led to an estimated 470,000 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost due to pollution-related diseases.
What research method was used?
Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIOLCA).
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2016 journal from PLoS ONE.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing medical devices or healthcare facilities, analyze the environmental impact of all components and services, from raw material extraction to manufacturing and transportation, not just the final product's use and disposal.
What are the limitations?
The study relies on economic input-output models, which can have limitations in capturing specific technological details and material flows. Emission factors may not perfectly reflect the most current technologies.
Is there evidence that environmental footprint affects design outcomes?
The healthcare industry's environmental footprint extends far beyond its own facilities, significantly contributing to national pollution levels and causing substantial harm to public health through its extensive supply chain. This highlights a critical blind spot in sustainability efforts within healthcare. Designers Source: PLoS ONE (2016).
Where does this public health research apply?
U.S. Healthcare Sector It sits within resource management research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

environmental footprint design research · evidence on environmental footprint · does environmental footprint improve design outcomes · public health studies for designers · environmental footprint and public health findings · resource management research evidence