Project Status: Ongoing
Purpose and Scope
The impact of healthcare extends beyond the clinic. Studies suggest that 30% of all health care waste consists of plastics—synthetic polymers that can remain dormant in landfills for decades (1)(2). As a step towards Canada’s vision for a zero plastic waste future, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is supporting the unique Single-Use Plastics Reduction Project by the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care (3).
The three-year project aims to reduce single-use plastic (SUP) usage within Canadian health care facilities by advising on reduction, reuse, recycling, and storage options tailored to facility needs. This project begins with a pilot at Hamilton Health Sciences to build on their existing
sustainable procurement initiatives and identify national capacity for solutions. Resources will be developed to guide altered procurement practices, support onsite SUP reduction, and build stronger staff engagement in sustainable practices.
A national campaign will follow the pilot to implement similar initiatives and reduce SUP waste across Canadian hospitals. Participating facilities can access resources developed through the pilot and build a network of individuals leading the evolution to more sustainable health care practices.
Key Project Goals and Deliverables
- Key areas of SUP use identified
- Defined reduction/reuse initiatives with implementation plans
- Completed key analysis and assessment of procurement/ operations for business case
- Key staff identified and invited to complete interviews
- Fact sheets for leadership supports and structures
- Process of collecting metric data defined
- SUP reduction targets established
- Feedback collected before, during, and after completion
- Education sessions held with HCW to reduce SUP in their work
- Educational materials are designed and distributed
- Social media campaign created + shared with partners
- Knowledge translation materials + distribution planned
- Recruitment plan created + initiated
- Materials shared with CCGHC Sustainable Procurement Working Group
- Three (3) QI projects completed
Webinars
Introduction to Circular Clinical Care: A Campaign to Reduce Single Use Plastic in Health Care
This webinar introduces the Circular Clinical Care: Reducing Single-Use Plastics in Health Care project, made possible with an investment from Environment and Climate Change Canada. This webinar dives into the work being done at the pilot site, Hamilton Health Sciences, and explore how individuals/organizations can participate in the national campaign 
In November 2025 the Circular Clinical Care team hosted the Coalition’s first Plastics Reduction Week! This event featured a series of five webinars providing education on how to reduce single-use plastics in areas related to Perioperative Care, Textiles, Pharmacy Packaging, and Food and Cafeteria Services. All webinars are available on our YouTube channel.
Get Involved
If you are a health care leader, clinical professional, or university student interested in being involved with the project, please contact Sandra Alexander, Program Manager at sandra@greenhealthcare.ca.
Partners
Funders
This project is made possible with an investment from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
