Feel free to take a deep dive into the science behind reusable surgical textiles, their properties, LCA's and LCC's, comparisons to single-use textiles, in the downloads section below
There is no evidence to support a difference between reusable or disposable drapes to reduce the risk of SSI in orthopaedic and spinal surgery. (Journal of Orthopaedics, 2018, 15(2), 566-570)
Sterile drapes and gowns should be used, whether disposable or reusable (January 2016)
Multicentre non-inferiority cluster randomised trial testing Disposable versus Reusable drApes and Gowns for green OperatiNg theatres (NIHR Global Surgery Unit; 2026)
Besides reusables being more beneficial than single-use when measured by LCA, taking life cycle costing (LCC) into account, reusables are >20% more economical vs single-use (Ambiente Italia / ebli / Assosistema; November 2025)
Besides reusables being more beneficial than single-use when measured by LCA, taking life cycle costing (LCC) into account, reusables are >20% more economical vs single-use (Ambiente Italia / ebli / Assosistema; November 2025)
Reusables are (significantly) better to single-use in 15 of 18 categories concerning environment and sustainability; CO2-footprint of reusables is >60% lower vs single-use (c7-consult / Roland Fehringer; June 2024)
Reusable gowns resulted in lower environmental burden vs single-use gowns (AORN; March 2020)
Switching to reusable instruments and textiles is the 2nd largest contributor to reduce CO2-footprint of surgeries (Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine / Chantelle Rizan et.al.; March 2023)
Reusable OR-textiles reduce emissions by 30-50% compared to single use (Technische Universitat Hamburg; May 2023)
Top10 actions to reduce CO2-footprint; Reusable surgical gowns #3 and drapes #7 (Landelijk Netwerk de Groene OK; April 2024)
Technically reusable OR-textiles are in all aspects superior to single use, plus the environmental aspects weigh in benefit of reusables (Das Krankenhaus; prof.dr. Wilfrief von Eiff; September 2016)
Environmental indicators: 38% less energy, 62% less blue water, 80% less solid waste, per use, by using reusable surgical textiles. Concerning environmental impacts, reusable surgical textiles are superior to single-use surgical alternatives in 10 out of 11 aspects (Environmental Clarity / Chainge Group; October 2018)
Reusable surgical textiles reduce solid waste generation by 70% (AORN; June 2010)
Complete LCA study with relevant background, data, tables and conculsions. Reusable surgical textiles remains superior in all aspects versus single-se alternatives (Environmental Clarity; September 2018)
Reusable isolation gowns can reduce medical waste as much as 80% and reduce costs as much as 25% to 50% (ARTA; June 2009)
Universitat Muenster; prof.dr. von Eiff; September 2007
The results of the overall scores of the reusable gown are scored as ‘very good’ (mean 4.3, SD ± 0.5) by its users. Regarding comparison of the gowns, more than 79% (lowest score 79%, highest score 95%) of the participants scored the reusable gown equal or higher on six of seven topics. The topic ‘ease of use’ was scored equal or higher by 59% of the participants. Subjective comments provided information on possible improvements. (BJOG; September 2023)
Various articles, both scientific and industrial, about benefits of reusables vs single use (compiled by Lac-Mac; published January 2013)
Major source of carbon footprint in operating theatres are the disposable products, amongst which surgical covering materials and surgical gowns (Annals of Surgery; December 2020)
Published by ARTA; October 2018
Summary of LCA