IVC Evidensia has launched a pioneering trial of reusable surgical gowns across 35 of its UK practices, in a move that could significantly reduce clinical waste and the environmental impacts associated with veterinary care.
The initiative, part of the group’s Positive Pawprint sustainability strategy, is being delivered in collaboration with Revolution Zero, a disruptive human healthcare start-up, and supported by MSD.
The partnership aims to demonstrate that Revolutions Zero’s reusable gowns, made from an innovative polymer, offer a more sustainably responsible alternative to single-use surgical gowns, with no compromise on hygiene or patient safety.
The gowns, originally developed by Revolution Zero for human healthcare, meet all EN13795-1 standards for surgical use and are devised to be sterilised and reused multiple times with their design fully grounded in circular economy principles. With a robust evidence-based approach to their product development both clinically and environmentally, a Life Cycle Assessment conducted with University College London found that the gowns dramatically reduce carbon footprint, water usage and chemical pollution compared to disposable alternatives.
Across the 35 participating trial veterinary practices, it’s estimated that around 14,000 disposable gowns are used each year, equating to 2.7 tonnes of waste. By switching to reusable gowns in those 35 practices alone, IVC Evidensia expects to eliminate that waste and reduce carbon emissions by 2.8 tonnes carbon dioxide annually. If the trial goes well, the plan is to begin rolling out the gowns across the IVC Evidensia network globally and expand to using their drapes.
“By addressing the challenge of single-use medical textiles, we hope this trial will support a new standard for healthcare textiles – one that balances safety, hygiene, social and environmental responsibility,” said Sarah Heath, Group Sustainability Director at IVC Evidensia. “It’s not just an exciting step forward for our own practices, but one that, if successful, could offer meaningful benefits for the wider veterinary profession too.”
Craig Paterson, RVN and Nursing Lead at MBM, an IVC Evidensia practice in Scotland who took part in the trial said: “Our teams took to the change to the reusables really easily. The veterinary team have enjoyed wearing them, and are finding them more breathable than single-use ones. Everyone also feels it is a really important step in our journey to be a more sustainable practice and it’s been an incredibly positive step for our team, patients and our planet.”
Revolution Zero’s mission is to displace single-use medical textiles and create a better system that works environmentally, socially and clinically. Their gowns, masks, drapes and other products are already being used in several NHS Trusts and private hospitals across the UK.
Dr Tom Dawson, Founder of Revolution-ZERO and Honorary Professor, Circular Health Economics, University of Exeter, said: "We are thrilled to partner with IVC Evidensia on this groundbreaking trial. Our reusable surgical gowns are designed to meet the highest standards of safety and hygiene while significantly reducing environmental impact. This collaboration is a significant step towards creating a more sustainable future for healthcare textiles, and we are excited to see the positive outcomes it will bring to the veterinary profession."
The trial is being run in partnership with IVC Evidensia’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team, ensuring that clinical safety remains paramount. Feedback from participating practices will help shape future rollout plans and inform wider sustainability policies across the group.
Sarah added: “This trial is a brilliant example of how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. We’re proud to be leading the way in exploring practical, scalable solutions that reduce our environmental footprint while maintaining the highest standards of care.”
The results of the trial will be reviewed later this year, with findings and plans published and made available for the veterinary sector.
