Sustainable ultrasound
To put this into perspective, reducing usage by 100,000 gloves equates to the saving of around 1 tonne of CO2
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As a result, there are some very easy opportunities for change. Assessing the clinical necessity of gloves in low-risk, non- invasive scans would be an easy win. A national behavioural “nudge” using studies like the Royal College of Nursing Glove awareness campaign, would promote appropriate glove use. As well as exploring possible compostable or biodegradable alternatives where feasible.
Ultrasound gel: Gel bottles account for the largest single disposable category. Simple strategies like recycling empty gel bottles, would be a great start. Alternate technologies that use bottles made of recycled plastics or other more sustainable materials, could also be an option. Minimising gel waste through careful dispensing and exploring refill models or “dry gel” formulations reconstituted on site. Innovations in gel packaging and technology is something that will continue and will require further investigation of its benefits, over traditional solutions.
Couch roll: Couch or blue roll is a high-volume single-use paper that often adds environmental burden without improving infection control when couches are properly cleaned between patients. NHS infection prevention guidance requires decontamination of examination couches regardless of whether couch roll is used, and several Trusts now advise reducing or removing routine use except for specific indications (e.g., risk of body-fluid contamination or privacy needs). Paper hand towels/blue roll are typically not recyclable once used, so they flow to general
waste, increasing Scope 3 emissions and disposal costs. NHS waste guidance and the HTM 07-01 framework emphasis prevention and reduction at the top of the hierarchy—supporting initiatives to curb unnecessary single-use items like routine couch roll. Reducing default use has seen some significant results in test case like at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, who spent approx. £100k per annum and 41 tonnes of waste a year. From introduction of their couch roll poster, they managed to see a 41% reduction in its use in their outpatients alone.7
Digital collaboration to cut travel emissions The evolution of digital collaboration tools is transforming how ultrasound services are delivered and supported across the NHS. Traditionally, clinical training, troubleshooting, and multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussions, required staff and trainers to travel frequently between sites — a pattern that carried both time and environmental costs. Today, however, secure remote collaboration platforms allow real-time image sharing, live training sessions, and clinical case reviews to take place without the need for physical presence. For ultrasound teams, this shift offers clear sustainability and operational benefits. New staff can be onboarded more efficiently through virtual mentorship, reducing delays in service delivery. Experienced clinicians can provide second opinions instantly through remote access to images and live-streamed scans, improving diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. Technical experts can support equipment remotely, resolving performance issues without the need for on-site visits — further cutting travel emissions.
This digital approach aligns directly with the NHS’s broader digital transformation and Net Zero agendas. According to Delivering a Net Zero NHS (2020), staff travel accounts for approximately 4% of the NHS carbon footprint, with clinical support travel a significant contributor. By embedding virtual collaboration into everyday ultrasound practice, Trusts can reduce carbon emissions, improve service resilience, and enhance knowledge sharing across regions. In essence, digital collaboration doesn’t just connect clinicians — it connects sustainability with smarter, faster, and more equitable care. The result is a model of ultrasound delivery that supports both clinical excellence and the NHS ambition to build a greener, more digitally integrated health system.
Policy alignment and NHS drivers The NHS’ Fit for the Future 10-Year Plan emphasises three shifts: hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention. Sustainable ultrasound supports all three: Hospital to community: Innovations like Philips Lumify are portable, lightweight, low energy ultrasound and are ideal for mobile and community diagnostics hubs. The technology brings hospital-grade imaging to the point of injury, when access to real-time imaging is of critical importance – all less than the size and weight of most modern mobile phones.
Analogue to digital: Digital innovations now mean you have the ability to share sharp images using live ultrasound streaming from a device to a remote colleague on a mobile device, tablet or computer. This allows both parties to simultaneously view the live ultrasound image, as well as the webcam video stream, and provide real-time feedback – not only aiding patient diagnosis, but also reducing the need for carbon intensive travel requirements.
Sickness to prevention: Wider access to ultrasound aids early detection and monitoring, preventing more resource-intensive interventions. Furthermore, embedding circular procurement in ultrasound supports government priorities under the Net Zero Supplier Roadmap, Evergreen Supplier Assessment, and public value frameworks. As we move towards a more circular economy, we also need to look at the move away from business-as-usual capital purchase models, adopting initiatives like pay per use, or even “as a service” based agreements. This will allow suppliers to limit their reliance on new raw material extraction, as well as eliminate products ending up in landfill.
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