Greening the Supply Chain Series: Incorporating Reusable Packaging to Reduce Waste

Session Description 

Packaging waste is one the highest contributors to a hospital’s total waste volume. While of course necessary, packaging – especially secondary and tertiary packaging - costs the hospital money in several ways. Novation and StopWaste.Org piloted a program to assist Novation-served members in instituting reusable packaging alternatives with select distributors and suppliers. Through this effort, they identified success factors for working with suppliers and distributors as well as developed a set of tools for hospitals to use in embarking on this environmentally friendly and cost saving practice. This webinar will present an overview of packaging waste in hospitals, review the possibilities of reusable packaging in hospitals, provide a step-by-step method for achieving success, identify pitfalls to avoid and hear from two of the pilot facilities, New Haven Hospital and University of Missouri Health Care.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify areas best suited for reusable packaging
  • Recognize potential obstacles and how to overcome them
  • Understand financial implications of both disposable and reusable packaging
  • Be able to formulate an action plan to implement reusable packaging

Presenters

Jennifer Waddell, Novation, LLC
Jennifer Waddell, R.N. has 25 years healthcare experience ranging from OR circulating and scrubbing to materials management to medical device marketing. She holds a Bachelors degree in Nursing and an MBA. In her role as Senior Clinical Manager, Jennifer focuses on promoting high impact contract launches. She leads Novation’s sustainability program, developing tools and resources for alliance members, ensuring environmental criteria are met in the bid process and advocating for sustainable practices across the supply chain spectrum.

Eric Fredrickson, Consultant to StopWaste.Org
Eric Fredrickson is currently the president of Thor Consulting, Inc., a business dedicated to advancing the use of reusable plastic containers and pallets in North America. Eric has been an active participant in the RPA (Reusable Packaging Association) since the first open membership meeting in early 1999 and represented IPL as a Regular Member from May of 1999 until September of 2005. Since re-joining RPA in 2007 representing Arena Products, Eric has also been involved in Alameda County’s StopWaste Partnership promotion of reusable containers and pallets.

Cristina DeVito, Sustainability Coordinator, Yale-New Haven Hospital
Cristina DeVito, MS, serves as the Sustainability Coordinator for Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) in New Haven, Connecticut. Under Cristina’s direction, YNHH is supported in the development of ongoing sustainability initiatives, assessment and data collection, goal setting and creating a culture of environmental excellence. Cristina’s expertise lies in the areas of implementing sustainable operations, overseeing the waste management program and ensuring regulatory readiness. Cristina is a member of the Environmental Advisory Council for VHA and recently earned her M.S. at Georgetown University.

Rob Hollinger, Contracts Specialist, University of Missouri Health Care
Rob is a member of University of Missouri Health Care's Energy Savings and Sustainability Committee who's current key areas of work include the following: Reduction in product packaging and cardboard. Evaluating the potential for our Moving Team to use hard shell reusable containers to transport supplies, equipment and office products to our new Patient Care Tower. Energy/HVAC savings due to the installation of new energy efficient windows, room sensors and controls. Healthy food alternatives served at hospital restaurants, cafés and vending machines. Food container reduction and use of compostable containers and utensils in hospital restaurants and cafes. Paper reduction initiative which includes standardized printer settings, multi-function equipment and paperless meetings. Member of and has served as the 2012 Chair of Novation's Environmental Advisory Group.

Pricing

Member: $0  Non-member: $29

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