First publications from ZEE PhD researchers
PhD researchers Ceyda Izci and Britt Vegting from the Zero Emission Endoscopy (ZEE) consortium recently published their first scientific articles in Endoscopy, providing new insights into the environmental footprint of gastrointestinal endoscopy and opportunities for more sustainable healthcare.
The studies were conducted within the ZEE Sustainable Health Program of Convergence Health & Technology, in which researchers from Erasmus MC, TU Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam collaborate on reducing the ecological footprint of endoscopy care.
Understanding where environmental impact occurs – Ceyda Izci
In the first study, Ceyda Izci and colleagues performed a detailed material flow analysis of diagnostic colonoscopy procedures at Erasmus MC. The study showed that a single diagnostic colonoscopy generates on average 0.58 kg of solid waste and involves around 46 single-use products per procedure. Plastic-based materials accounted for 57% of the total product weight.
The researchers also identified where during the procedure most waste is generated. A visual mapping approach showed that the largest amount of waste occurs during the preparation stage of the endoscopy room, helping identify concrete opportunities for targeted interventions and redesign of products and workflows.
The study highlights several opportunities for more sustainable endoscopy practice, including:
- reducing unnecessary packaging,
- increasing transparency about material composition,
- exploring reusable components and more sustainable materials,
- and improving waste separation and recycling practices.
Read the full publication:
Opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of endoscopy: a detailed material flow analysis of diagnostic colonoscopy
Building the evidence base for sustainable endoscopy – Britt Vegting
In a second publication, Britt Vegting and colleagues conducted a systematic review of 28 international studies assessing the environmental footprint of gastrointestinal endoscopy services.
The review identified three major contributors to emissions across endoscopy care:
- patient travel,
- energy use,
- and procedure-related single-use products.
At the same time, the researchers found that current evidence remains fragmented and methodologically inconsistent, underlining the need for more standardized and comprehensive environmental assessment methods in healthcare.
Read the full publication:
Environmental footprint of gastrointestinal endoscopy services: a systematic review
From measurement to implementation
Together, these first publications from Ceyda Izci and Britt Vegting provide an important evidence base for the next phase of the ZEE program: developing and implementing practical strategies to reduce emissions and waste in endoscopy care.
The ZEE consortium aims to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable healthcare by combining expertise in gastroenterology, sustainability, health policy, operations research and design for sustainability.