Climate change has a negative impact on the environment, which in turn affects human health. According to the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, health consequences linked to climate change include respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, vector-borne diseases such as Ross River virus and dengue fever, water- and food-related illnesses, along with injuries and deaths from extreme weather events.
It has been increasingly recognised that healthcare organisations themselves contribute to climate change. A significant percentage of greenhouse gas emissions come from the healthcare industry. In Australia, the healthcare sector is responsible for about 7% of the country’s total carbon emissions, according to a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health. These emissions contribute to global warming, which leads to a rising number of health issues in the population. The cycle perpetuates itself as health systems must provide more patient care, adding to their environmental impact.
Suppliers to healthcare organisations can contribute to a more sustainable world by supporting their customers’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, at the same time, reducing their own environmental impact. Helmer Scientific is committed to preserving the environment through all aspects of the business. This includes managing their sustainability practices to make a meaningful difference.
Helmer Scientific’s environmental commitment does not stop with advances in business practices inside the facility. Helmer promotes activities that will reduce the burden on the environment throughout all our processes, including design, procurement, production, sales, distribution, recycling, and disposal.
Their portfolio of environmentally conscious temperature-controlled devices supports hospitals and clinical labs in their sustainability initiatives. These products support compliance with environmental regulations and adherence to the provisions of official agreements and commitments.
Developing energy efficient refrigeration technologies such as OptiCool™ and AdvanceCore™ reduces customers’ energy consumption and lowers the cost of ownership. These technologies also reduce heat output, decrease the carbon footprint, and meet energy standards such as the Australian Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act, New Zealand’s Climate Change Response Act, and international agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement and Montreal Protocol.
Additionally, these systems use natural refrigerants which are environmentally friendly, having no impact on ozone depletion and a very low Global Warming Potential (GWP) grade.
Sources
Australian Department of Health and Aged Care. “Health impacts of climate change.” Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/environmental-health/climate-change
Malik, A., Lenzen, M., McAlister, S., & McGain, F. (2018). The carbon footprint of Australian health care. The Lancet Planetary Health, 2(1), e27-e35. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(17)30180-8/fulltext
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. “Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989.” Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/ozone/legislation
New Zealand Ministry for the Environment. “Climate Change Response Act 2002.” Available at: https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/acts/climate-change-response-act-2002/
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “The Paris Agreement.” Available at: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement
United Nations Environment Programme. “The Montreal Protocol.” Available at: https://www.unep.org/ozonaction/who-we-are/about-montreal-protocol