NewGen Surgical Signs HHS Pledge to Mobilize Healthcare Sector to Reduce Emissions
Company offers plant-based products that can help all healthcare signatories achieve their emissions commitments in their pledge to reduce emissions.
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San Rafael, California, June 14, 2022 – NewGen Surgical has signed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) climate pledge initiative NewGen in partnership with the White House to mobilize the healthcare sector to reduce carbon emissions. On April 22, 2022, the HHS issued a call to action for healthcare stakeholders to commit to tackling the climate crisis through a new initiative aimed at reducing emissions across the healthcare sector. This new initiative challenges private health systems to match or exceed emission reduction goals set under the Biden Administration and to build climate considerations into the future of healthcare.
U.S. hospitals, health systems, suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, and other industry stakeholders have been invited to submit pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase their climate resilience. The voluntary pledge asks signees to, at a minimum, commit to (1) reducing their organization’s emissions (by 50% by 2030 and to net-zero by 2050) and publicly reporting on their progress; (2) completing an inventory of Scope 3 (supply chain) emissions; and (3) developing climate resilience plans for their facilities and communities. It also asks all signees to designate an executive lead for this work.
“NewGen Surgical is proud to announce our commitment to this climate initiative of the HHS and the White House,” said Kimberlee Luedee-Chase, CMO and Co-founder at NewGen Surgical. “Emission reduction through upcycled plant-based product choices is clearly the additional benefit to eliminating chemicals of concern and plastic . With plastic set to outpace coal as a climate-change driver by 2030, our own company, along with our customers, will have a significant emissions impact throughout the healthcare sector. Our company is founded on a mission to provide healthier product choices for healthcare.”
It is estimated that plastics make up 85% of all medical equipment, and those purchased products carry embedded energy and carbon in their production, use and disposal – up to 71% of healthcare CO2 total. To date, NewGen Surgical customers have eliminated over 50 tons of plastic and 50 metric tons of CO2e in the healthcare supply chain with our plant-based products that are essential to surgical procedures. “ It’s a win-win with a simple product change – we are one of the few companies signed on to the pledge that can help all signatories achieve their emissions commitments in number 1 and Scope 3 in their pledge to reduce emissions”
About NewGen Surgical Inc.
NewGen Surgical, Inc. develops and manufactures sustainably designed, plant-based, single use medical devices and products. The company’s mission is to offer clinically effective product solutions to measurably reduce plastic and Scope 3 CO2 emissions. NewGen Surgical products are California Prop 65 compliant; free of intentionally added BPA or BPA derived plastics, mercury, phthalates, PFAs and PVC. Currently the company offers 6 product lines, available direct or through major national distributors and internationally with approved CE mark.
Founded in 2012 in the San Francisco Bay Area, NewGen Surgical was commended in the 2015 Circular Economy Awards of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum and recipient of the California Product Stewardship Council 2018 Green Arrow Award for circular economy innovation. NewGen Surgical is a member of the American Sustainable Business Council, a supporter of Practice Greenhealth, and a recipient of the California Product Stewardship Council 2018 Green Arrow Award for circular economy innovation.
Resources:
The New Coal; Plastic and Climate Change
Plastic and Health: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet
The Link Between Fossil Fuels, Single-Use Plastics and Climate Change
