Sponge Transition

BETTER FOR YOU.
BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

212 Tonnes less greenhouse gas emissions and improved clinical performance — that's why we've transitioned our Australian customers to Fluro-Tec® composite sponges.

212 Tonnes less greenhouse gas emissions and improved clinical performance — that's why we've transitioned our Australian customers to Fluro-Tec® composite sponges.

Make an enquiry

BENEFITS

Transitioning to Fluro-Tec® Composite Sponges

POSITIVE CHANGE

A review of our sponge portfolios identified that a simple product change can deliver significant environmental and other clinical performance benefits. As a result, we phased out our cotton sponges and have transitioned our customers across to Fluro-Tec® composite sponge range.

Up to 25% reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, 44% reduction in water usage is based on End of Life (EOL) clinical waste disposal method 100% disinfect and landfill being used. Savings from using EOL 100% incineration is 17% and 44% respectively.

Blood-soaked Fluro-Tec® 9.5x more visible claim is based on the luminance contrast performance of Fluro-Tec® compared to a standard swab or sponge, independently verified under a control study "Multigate Fluro-Tec® Luminance Contrast Assessment", Ergonomie Pty Ltd, 04/07/2019

General disclaimer: Multigate LCA's

Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) information provided is from an internal Multigate study commissioned by Multigate and produced by Lifecycles (https://www.lifecycles.com.au). The information is protected by copyright and cannot be replicated without written permission from Multigate. These LCA results are not comparable with other LCA results unless they were created by Lifecycles using the same methodology, database reference source and version, assumptions etc. to ensure consistency in approach.

Multigate is committed to providing customers with as accurate, up-to-date LCA information on our products as possible so they can make better informed purchasing decisions. The LCA figures used in this report were generated on 7 June 2022, utilising the latest external LCA database information (ecoinvent V3.8 and AusLCI used), product data and other information available to us at the time. We intend to review and update our LCA data annually, or as required, to reflect any changes to the product, new/better information that becomes available, improvements to our LCA modelling, reference databases version updates etc. to help maintain the currency of the information presented.

SMALL CHANGE BIG IMPACT

Environmental benefits — when you choose a 30x30cm composite sponge instead of a 30x30cm cotton sponge, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and lifecycle water usage.

UP TO

25

%

REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS*

UP TO

44

%

REDUCTION IN LIFE CYCLE WATER USE#

Benefits to healthcare — abdominal sponges are a frequently used surgical consumable. The cumulative environmental benefit of making this simple change at scale is not big... it's huge!

Disclaimer: Benefits to Australian healthcare section

The End of Life (EOL) used is a mix of 50% disinfect & landfill, 50% incineration. This mix attempts to reflect varying clinical waste disposal methods used by different hospitals.

* Based on an average New Zealand petrol passenger car that uses 11.1L/100km and travels 14,000km year (autolife.co.nz) and Petrol EF of 2.38 kgCO2e/L (industry.gov.au 2021), we calculate emission generated at 0.26418 kgCO2e/km travelled and 3,669 kgCO2e per car/per year.

# Based on Olympic swimming pool volume of 2,500,500L based on official minimum dimensions of 50m long x 25m wide by 2m deep (phinizycentre.org). Average shower = 55L. Based on a 7 minute shower using 7.857 litres per minute (mdba.gov.au).

BENEFITS

Clinical Performance

In addition to the environmental benefits, switching to Fluro-Tec® composite sponges also has clinical performance benefits. Fluro-Tec® composite sponges feel and perform very similar as the outer cotton layer is identical to the 100% cotton sponge, and there is no change to clinical practice or cost. 

Watch video

Visibility

The fluorescent thread makes a blood soaked Fluro-Tec® sponge 9.5x more visible to the naked eye than a traditional sponge.

Intra-operative Detection

Improved intra-operative detection helps reduce the chance of retention and avoidable post-operative complications for patients.

Absorbency

Polyester Viscose layers provide a small improvement in absorbency.

#COMMITTOCHANGE

Small Change, Big Impact

Small Change, Big Impact

Small Change Big Impact is a philosophy we apply when reviewing our products, services and supply arrangements. We evaluate potential changes against a multi-criteria framework to ensure that they are well considered, balanced and capable of making a big impact. 

Learn more

MEASURING YOUR IMPACT

Get Your Report

Get Your Report

Want to know more? We can provide you with a detailed report which quantifies the annual offsetted impact of your Procedure Pack portfolio and savings from our impact reduction initiatives. Reports are available to new and existing procedure pack customers. 

Request a report