Sutton firm urges NHS staff to wear reusable PPE to save environment

Anze manufactures reusable gowns for doctors, nurses and patients, along with drapes and scrub suits.

The firm insists their reusable gowns are more versatile, more environmentally friendly, more comfortable to wear – and have the potential to save the NHS hundreds of millions of pounds.

Historically, the NHS focus has been on single use products, which hospitals have to scrap afterwards.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the disposal of one-off personal protective equipment (PPE) has created millions of tons of waste.

Anze is part of a growing national campaign to try to persuade the Government and NHS to move away from a throw-away culture.

Anze’s managing director Richard Lamb has welcomed news that the Department for Health and Social Care has now produced a strategy document for the cabinet office about the introduction of reusable PPE.

He said: “It’s good to see that reusable products and their benefits are now on the Government’s radar.

“No hotel guest would expect their sheets to be thrown away after one night, so why does this happen with the gowns worn by doctors, nurses and care workers?"

"There’s a real opportunity for the NHS as a whole to embrace a tried and tested approach, which is green and has a resilient supply chain."