Manieren om de CO2-voetafdruk van de OK te verlagen

• The healthcare sector contributes significantly to global warming due to carbon emissions; this sector is, therefore, partially responsible for the negative effects of climate change on public health.
• Carbon emissions by the healthcare sector amount to 7% of the total carbon footprint of the Netherlands.
• It is anticipated that measures to reduce carbon emissions in the operating room (OR) can make an important contribution to reducing carbonemissions in the hospital as a whole.
• The most important elements contributing to the carbon footprint of the OR are: energy consumption for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); the emission of inhalation anaesthetics; the purchase of materials and equipment; and waste production.
• Direct carbon emissions by the OR can be reduced through the use of sustainable energy and setback of the HVAC outside office hours.
• Anaesthetists can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of the OR by choosing for intravenous anaesthetics instead of inhalation anaesthetics.
• Indirect carbon emissions and waste production by the OR can be reduced through circular procurement, choosing reusable over disposable products and recycling.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.