A German research project focused on developing reusable operating theatre textiles that are more comfortable to wear and, at the same time, more durable because they can be cleaned in a gentler process, is being sponsored by the Alliance for Industrial Research. With this project, which will run until the start of 2016, both the wfk – Cleaning Technology Institute e.V. and the Hohenstein Institute are complying with the requirements of the European Commission’s Closed Cycle and Waste Management Act (KrWG).
The KrWG, as implemented in the Waste Framework Directive RL 2008/98/EC, has been part of German law since 2012. The reform states that to avoid waste, materials should remain in the production cycle for as long as possible. However, in the healthcare sector, and especially in hospitals, the trend is in the opposite direction. In the interests of ease of handling, guaranteed sterility at all times and – apparently – cost considerations, the proportion of disposable operating theatre clothing used in hospitals is increasing all the time.
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