Background and Importance Healthcare sector contributes 8% of the country’s carbon footprint, with 50% attributed to healthcare product supply. Plasma-Derived Medicinal Products (PDMP) represent a significant portion of this product supply. An improvement project was initiated in early 2023 in our University Hospital (UH) to reduce the frequency of weekly orders to monthly orders.

Aim and Objectives Evaluate the Environmental Impact (EI) of a 6-month reduction in PDMP orders.

Material and Methods A query of the number of all PDMP orders was carried out using Pharma® software (Computer-engineering, V5.9). The results from February to July in 2022 and 2023 were compared. Suppliers’ ability to communicate the EI of orders is compared to an estimate on literature data and the Empreinte® database of the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME). Results are in CO₂ equivalents (eq. CO₂).

Results Among the 189 listed PDMPs from 17 suppliers, reductions were applied to three major suppliers (32% of 2022 orders). Their orders dropped from 99 (2022) to 73 (2023), representing a 26% decrease. The number remained stable for others and PDMP consumption were comparable between two periods. Suppliers could not estimate the orders’ EI. Using the Empreinte® database, transporting products in fully loaded vehicles is ecologically favourable. According to the Shift Project, a 20–30% truck load increase saves 14% to 21% fuel. The average 400km distance to suppliers and a 20m³ truck using 10L/100km of diesel B7 would save 5.6L of fuel per round trip. One litre emits 3.10kg.eq.CO₂, saving 451.kg.eq.CO₂ over 6-months. However, the number of PDMPs receipts has not decreased as much as the number of orders. The calculated CO₂ savings are estimates, if the ratio orders/receipts tend towards 1.

Conclusion and Relevance Reducing orders can optimise vehicle filling and lower delivery-related fuel consumption. Coordinating routes with other centres could further reduce EI. Route sharing could be considered by cohabitating flows with other centres. Larger orders require additional storage space, but it is not a concern in our establishment. Fewer orders also ease the workload for logistics staff. However, tensions in healthcare supply can lead to sporadic receptions independent of our reduction policy, making an exact order-receipt match challenging.

Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest.