ESCH-R: Evidence-based Strategies to create Circular Hospitals
The healthcare sector is one of the most carbon-intensive sectors. In response, the Dutch government has called for more environmentally sustainable healthcare. The project ESCH-R addresses this challenge with its mission to accelerate the adoption of circular interventions in hospitals and thereby lower the ecological footprint of the healthcare sector.
The ESCH-R project seeks to drive the transition from a linear to a circular healthcare system. Hospitals generate significant waste, especially through single-use medical consumables, contributing to pollution, resource depletion, and greenhouse gas emissions. To tackle this, the project focuses on developing and implementing circular interventions, such as product redesigns, new business models, and changes in clinical practices. These interventions will be tested in three Dutch hospitals, particularly in high-waste departments like operating theatres and intensive care units. By 2028, ESCH-R seeks to establish evidence-based solutions that will set a new standard for sustainable healthcare in the Netherlands. The project aligns with the national goal of achieving a fully circular economy by 2050, aiming to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high-quality care.
The project is funded by NWO and runs from 2024 to 2029.
Lead researcher at Utrecht University
Involved researchers at the Copernicus Institute
Involved researchers from outside Utrecht University
- Project PI, hospital pharmacist and staff member of Intensive Care Adults at Erasmus MC.
Nicole leads the ESCH-R consortium.