Stryker’s Sustainability Solutions division donated over 9,000 trees in 2018 to the Coconino National Forest in Arizona, thanks to customer collection efforts that help keep single-use devices (SUDs) out of landfills. In 2018, more than 450 health systems participated in the “Pulse Ox for the Planet” program, which offered donations to the National Forest Foundation (NFF) as an incentive for increasing SUD collection rates. Thanks to this program, collections totaled to 782,105 pulse oximetry devices—nearly a 22 percent increase over 2017.

As a result of its success, Stryker is expanding the program to “Products for the Planet,” and broadening the number of SUD product categories that count toward the donations. Newly-added categories include pressure infusion bags, fall alarms, ECG leads and cables and the Sage Prevalon mobile air transfer system—some of the highest-volume patient care devices that can be reprocessed. Each participating facility can earn up to 150 planted trees in 2019.

“Reprocessing programs deliver immense value to U.S. hospitals, but maximizing the benefit day-in and day-out starts with device collections. Engaged hospital staff are key to growing device collections, and this program shows the tangible value of their commitment to getting more devices in the bins.” said Erin Broeske, Senior Director of Marketing, Stryker’s Sustainability Solutions division. “This program boosts the greater environmental mission of reprocessing.”

Stryker customers collectively saved $340 million in supply costs and diverted 13.2 million pounds of waste from landfills in 2018 through Stryker’s SUD reprocessing program.

The NFF chooses the tree planting location, prioritizing areas that are in greatest need and of environmental concern.

Together, NFF and Stryker continue to grow in their commitment to smart, sustainable healthcare and facilitate positive environmental impacts through the advancement of the “Products for the Planet” program. Check out Stryker’s new video to learn more about the journey of a single-use reprocessed catheter after it lands in one of their collection containers. For more information about how your organization can get involved, visit sustainability.stryker.com.