FP573PLASTIC WASTE REDUCTION IN DIFFERENT PERITONEAL DIALYSIS STRATEGIES: THE IMPACT OF DISPOSABLE CHOICE ON CARBON FOOTPRINT

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is known to have a major impact on the carbon footprint and environmental sustainability. Thus, a reduction of plastic disposable material is a worldwide necessity. This study evaluated the amount of yearly-generated plastic waste for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) per patient. METHOD(S): The weight of yearly-produced waste per patient of different PD modalities was measured using a laboratory scale after they were emptied and dried for 48 hours from residual solution (solution bags only). The disposables of different PD modalities were considered: (i) balance and (ii) bicaVera (both Fresenius Medical Care) versus (iii) PHYSIONEAL (Baxter) 2. Reduction of yearly-generated waste. Scenario I: -88.48 kg (balance vs PHYSIONEAL); -84.24 kg (bicaVera vs PHYSIONEAL) Scenario II: -27.85 kg (balance vs PHYSIONEAL); -29.60 kg (bicaVera vs PHYSIONEAL) CONCLUSION(S): It is shown that using the balance or bicaVera disposable set generates less plastic waste compared to the PHYSIONEAL sets, even if an Icodextrine bag is added to the treatment. Extrapolating the difference from a single CAPD patient (balance vs PHYSIONEAL: 88.48 kg/year reduction) to the CAPD population in the UK (~1,838 patients), ~162,626 kg less waste would be produced annually, and the respective costs for recycling saved. Thus, even small differences have a significant impact on the overall waste as they accrue over time, particularly, considering the chronic nature of kidney disease. Wasteminimizing dialysis is a responsibility of the community to move towards a green dialysis concept.