Project Objective
A newly launched project, of the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care (Coalition), Reducing Health Care-Related PPE and Medical Single Use Plastic Waste Through Circular Economy Principles, will demonstrate that hospital-generated PPE and mSUP materials can be successfully managed by applying the principles of a circular economy: reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible before the materials are disposed of. This project will explore and identify reuse and reduction opportunities for PPE and selected mSUPs, which will complement and enable resource conservation.
This project helps address several Government of Canada initiatives such as the following:
- In November 2018, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment adopted Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste Strategy to reduce the environmental impact of plastics and promote a circular economy [1].
- Canada supports the premise that the world needs a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and will be joining the Finnish and the Netherlands to host three high-level events to address the important role circularity plays in the economies of the future as well as in the fight against climate change and the nature crisis [2].
- To reduce the environmental impact of PPE in Canada, the Government of Canada is supporting the development of solutions that will lead to more sustainable PPE, including reusability, alternative materials, improved recyclability, novel recycling technologies and compostability [3].
- The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act delivers on the Government of Canada’s commitment to legislate Canada’s target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Act will establish a legally binding process to set five-year national emissions-reduction targets for 2030, 2035, 2040, and 2045, as well as develop credible, science-based emissions-reduction plans to achieve each target. [4].
- The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change is Canada's plan – developed with the provinces and territories and in consultation with Indigenous peoples – to meet Canada's emissions reduction targets, grow the economy, and build resilience to a changing climate. [5]
Linear Economy vs. Circular Economy
This is an interactive graphic! Click on the icons below to learn more about each element.

Adapted from "CleanMed Europe, Collaborating to Achieve Healthcare Circularity," by Health Care Without Harm Europe and Philips, 2020. Copyright 2020 by Philips. Adapted with permission.
Idealized circular economy system with a future focus on reusable personal protective equipment. Copyright 2022 by Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care.
Project Components
- Engaging health sector and stakeholder experts on PPE and medical SUPs reduction and reuse
- Determining PPE and medical SUPs purchased in hospitals and opportunities for reduction, and reuse
- Designing the scenarios to reduce and reuse PPE
- Knowledge generation and translation deliverables will be provided in English and French and will be designed to enable the hospital sector across Canada to reduce and reuse PPE/SUPs following the completion of this project.
Resources
Read the CCGHC's literature review - A circular economy model for hospital generated PPE ad medical single use plastic waste: Demonstrating opportunities for reduction and reuse.
Article for Canadian Healthcare Facilities - COVID-19 and PPE Waste: A catalyst for a reusable personal protective equipment health system
Checklist for health care workers - Circular Economy Best Practices Checklist: For PPE use in health care facilities
Infographic - Benefits of a reusable PPE system in health care
Webinars & Events
Webinar 1: What to do with hospital PPE and medical single-use plastic waste?
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
9 am PDT/ 12 pm EDT/ 1 pm ADT
Presentation 1: Reducing Hospital-Related PPE and Medical Single-Use Plastic Waste Through Circular Economy Practices
Presented to the Federal-Provincial/Territorial Sub Working Group on Reducing PPE Waste
July 20, 2021
Presentation: The Changing Landscape of PPE in Canada
Presented to CleanMed Europe in 2021, by Kady Cowan and Ozora Amin
Towards a Safe, Secure and Sustainable Reusable PPE System in Canadian Health Care
The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care demonstrates how transitioning to a reusable PPE system can result in environmental benefits, cost savings, and stability for health care facilities without sacrificing the safety of patients and health care workers.
Presented May 26th, 2022 at 9am PT/12m ET/1pm AT
Watch the webinar en français.
Case Studies Map
Video Project
The Way Forward is Reusable: Demonstrating Canadian opportunities for safe, secure and sustainable PPE
The Coalition hopes this video will break down misconceptions regarding reusable PPE, incite discussion on sustainability and waste reduction in health care, and inspire health care workers to advocate for reusable PPE systems in their facilities.
This video could not be possible without the support and collaboration of health care workers across Canada. Thank you for your participation.
Community Engagement
Community engagement is a crucial part of this project. We have a dedicated Google Groups forum for project communication and regular community engagement.
See the instructions below to join the PPE-mSUP Reducing, Reusing, Recycling Project group:
- If you have a Google account, click HERE to request access to the Google Group
- If you do not have a Google account, email ppe-msup-project@googlegroups.com to request access to the Google group
CCGHC Team and Associates

Neil Ritchie
Executive Lead

Linda Varangu
Project Lead

Kent Waddington
Communications Advisor

Kady Cowan
Project Technical Lead

Ozora Amin
Project Coordinator

Mia Sarrazin
Bilingual Environmental Health Care Coordinator
Autumn Sypus
Marketing and Outreach Coordinator
Steering Committee

Kady Cowan
Project Technical Lead
Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care

Linda Varangu
Project Advisor
Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care

Fiona Miller
Professor of Health Policy
University of Toronto

Marianne Dawson
Sustainability Consultant - Recycling and Waste Reduction
British Columbia GreenCare

Patricia Trbovich
Badeau Family Research Chair in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement, North York General Hospital
Associate Professor, University of Toronto

Ozora Amin
Project Coordinator
Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care

Edward Rubinstein
Director, Environmental Compliance, Energy & Sustainability
University Health Network

Lesley Anne Hirst
Director,
IPAC Lead Ontario Health
Project Partners
University Health Network (UHN) | University of Toronto | BC GreenCare
External Evaluator

Cameron D. Norman
Principal & President
Cense Ltd.
Project Funder

References:
[1] Zero plastic waste: Canada’s actions. March 24, 2021.
[2] Government of Canada launches new COVID-19-related challenges to help reduce environmental impact of PPE in Canada. Oct 12, 2020.
[3] Finland, Canada and the Netherlands join forces to advance the circular economy as key to a sustainable recovery. June 25, 2020.
[4] Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.
[5] Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.
[6] World Health Organization. (2018). Circle economy and health: Opportunities and risks.