Sustainability Impact Calculator for installing Central Acid Delivery System

This project was completed as part of Sustainable Kidney Care Scholar programme funded by the UK Kidney Association (UKKA).

Setting/Patient Group: Dialysis Unit

Issue to be addressed:

Acid used for dialysis is currently provided in 5litre cans however a centralised system could save acid and packaging wastage.

Intervention:

1. Estimate carbon emissions associated with supply of acid concentrate via 5 litre cannisters and Central Acid Delivery (CAD) system to identify hotspots for intervention.
2. Development of a Sustainability Calculator for services to use to demonstrate the benefits of installing a Central Acid Delivery (CAD) system.

Outcome:

Quantification of carbon savings (from reducing the huge volume of residual concentrate that is routinely wasted as well as avoiding the need to dispose of plastic canisters) but also financial and social savings.

Social

• Improved staff health and wellbeing due to avoided lifting (approximately 391 tonnes/year) and saved time (approximately 663 hours/year)

Environmental

• Volume of HDPE plastic packaging waste avoided – 119,340 litres/year
• Estimated carbon saving 28,632 kgCO₂e/year

Economic

• Estimated cost saving of £18,116/year

Key learning point

Setting up a Central Acid Delivery system in Dialysis units offers triple bottom line benefits: Carbon footprint reduction opportunity and waste minimisation; Financial savings through acid wastage reduction and improved employee wellbeing/productivity.