{
  "abstract": "Objectives Ecological transition has become an increasing concern among healthcare professionals, prompting interest in pro-environmental practices. This study aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations to guide healthcare professionals in selecting between single- and double-packaged sterile medical devices (SMD) based on their perceptions and practices.Methods A survey was co-constructed by the French Pharmaceutical Society of Medical Devices (SPFDM), the French Society for Sterilisation Sciences (SF2S), the French Society for Hospital Hygiene (SF2H), and the National Association of State-Certified Operating Room Nurses (UNAIBODE). The questionnaire was distributed electronically to healthcare professionals working in operating theatres across France.Results A total of 130 respondents completed the survey, including 72 operating room and registered nurses (55.5%), 30 pharmacists (23%), 20 managers (15.5%) and eight others (6%). Most participants worked in public health establishments (80.8%) with established waste sorting systems (83.1%), mainly for paper/cardboard, metal and plastic. Daily use of single-pack SMD was reported by 61.5% of respondents, although only 11.3% applied this to implantable MD. Packaging was considered an environmental criterion by 71.5% of participants, mainly based on the number of packages. Safety concerns were prevalent, with 66.9% indicating that single packaging alone was insufficient for SMD. A majority (70.8%) supported transitioning to single-pack MD where appropriate, whereas the trend reversed for implantable SMD, with 60.0% opposing single packaging. Most respondents (75.4%) favoured wider availability of dematerialised records, and 97% supported a pictogram indicating recyclability of SMD packaging.Conclusion This national survey provides valuable insights into SMD packaging practices in French operating theatres. While safety remains the primary concern—particularly for implantable SMD—there is strong environmental awareness and willingness to adapt practices when clinical safety is not compromised. Based on these findings, professional societies plan to develop recommendations promoting single-pack SMD where clinically appropriate, while maintaining double packaging for high-risk implantable SMD.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospital Centre Nimes, Nimes, France",
        "Institute Desbrest of Epidemiology and Public Health, INSERM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France"
      ],
      "name": "Virginie Chasseigne"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "SPFDM Euro-Pharmat, Toulouse, France"
      ],
      "name": "Dominique Thiveaud"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pôle Biospharm, University Hospital Centre Poitiers, Poitiers, France",
        "University hospital of Poitiers, INSERM, Centre d’Investigation Clinique CIC1402, Axe Santé Environnementale, Poitiers, France",
        "University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France"
      ],
      "name": "Sarah Ayraud-Thevenot"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "CH métropole savoie, Chambéry, France"
      ],
      "name": "Christophe Lambert"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospital Centre Rouen, Rouen, France"
      ],
      "name": "Marc Laurent"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, Nantes, France"
      ],
      "name": "Fabien Nativel"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Reducing packaging waste in care units: a national survey",
  "uid": "e76e8a5a-b286-5728-b168-4ddf91accff4"
}