afredac.net | HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community | Activity

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: We introduced sustainability as a way of understanding […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:47:33 +0300

We introduced sustainability as a way of understanding how our decisions, activities and systems affect the environment, society and the economy, both now and in the future.

We began by exploring what sustainability means and why it goes beyond environmental protection. We looked at how economic stability, social wellbeing and…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Planetary boundaries help us understand the […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:42:25 +0300

Planetary boundaries help us understand the environmental limits within which human activities need to operate. Externalities help us understand how the costs and benefits of those activities are distributed across people, institutions, communities, and the environment.

Together, they give healthcare professionals a stronger way to…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Medicines are essential to healthcare. However, […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:30:15 +0300

Medicines are essential to healthcare. However, their environmental journey does not necessarily end when a patient finishes treatment or a healthcare facility disposes of unused stock.

Pharmaceutical substances can enter wastewater through manufacturing discharges, human and animal excretion, inappropriate disposal, and other…

unep.org

Pharmaceuticals in the Environment

Pharmaceuticals play a critical role in maintaining human and animal health, enhancing food production, and driving economic prosperity. However, their release into the environment—whether during manufacturing, use, or end of life — may pose significant risks. These include contributing to … Continue reading

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: A healthcare facility may pay a contractor to collect […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:27:47 +0300

A healthcare facility may pay a contractor to collect and dispose of its waste. However, the cost of waste management recorded in its accounts may not capture every consequence of that disposal.

What happens if waste is poorly segregated, transported unsafely, openly burned, or disposed of where it contaminates water or soil?

The consequences…

who.int

Health-care waste

WHO fact sheet on healthcare waste, including key facts, types of waste, health risks, environmental impact and WHO response.

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: A hospital’s environmental impact does not begin at its […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:26:13 +0300

A hospital’s environmental impact does not begin at its gates.

Many of the resources used in healthcare have already passed through extraction, manufacturing, processing, packaging, and transportation before reaching a healthcare facility.

This means procurement decisions can influence environmental pressures far beyond the facility…

who.int

Decarbonizing the healthcare supply chain strategic actions for health systems

The focus of the report is on actions driven by health system leaders, but the suggested approaches rely on collaborative work with broader stakeholders, such as government departments beyond healthcare, suppliers, trade associations, regulators, standard bodies and health system users.

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Laboratories and pharmacies are essential to […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:24:28 +0300

Laboratories and pharmacies are essential to healthcare delivery. They also handle a wide range of chemicals, reagents, medicines, plastics, and other materials.

Some of these substances can enter the environment through manufacturing, use, wastewater, spills, or inappropriate disposal.

This connects healthcare to the planetary boundary known as…

unep.org

Pharmaceuticals in the Environment

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: A hospital exists to protect human health. However, […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:13:04 +0300

A hospital exists to protect human health. However, its operations depend on resources and systems that are also under pressure from human activity.

Consider the electricity required to operate medical equipment, the water needed for sanitation, the materials used in construction, the fuel used for transportation, and the products consumed…

phg.rcpe.ac.uk

Planetary boundaries | Planetary Health Glossary

Mizinga started the discussion Externalities in the forum HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:49:17 +0300

Externalities

Can you identify a product or service whose market price excludes an important environmental or social cost? Who ultimately bears that cost?

Mizinga started the discussion Planetary Boundaries in the forum HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:48:19 +0300

Planetary Boundaries

Which planetary boundary do you think receives too little attention in economic and development planning, and why?

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Economic growth has improved living standards in many […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:47:34 +0300

Economic growth has improved living standards in many parts of the world. It has also increased demand for energy, land, water, minerals and other resources.

The scientific question is how human activity affects the Earth system’s capacity to remain within conditions that support stable societies.

The planetary boundaries framework, developed by…

stockholmresilience.org

Planetary boundaries - Stockholm Resilience Centre

The planetary boundaries framework highlights the rising risks from human pressure on nine critical global processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the Earth

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: A product can be inexpensive for the buyer while […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:44:02 +0300

A product can be inexpensive for the buyer while generating substantial costs elsewhere.

Imagine a factory that sells a product at a competitive price but releases pollutants into a river. The company receives revenue from its sales, while nearby communities may face water treatment costs, environmental damage or increased health risks.

These…

Mizinga started the discussion Ecosystem Services in the forum HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:41:04 +0300

Ecosystem Services

What ecosystem near you provides an important service that people benefit from but rarely account for when making economic decisions?

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: A forest can be recorded as an area of land. A wetland […]

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:37:36 +0300

A forest can be recorded as an area of land. A wetland can appear as undeveloped space. A river can be viewed as a source of water.

Yet these ecosystems perform functions that support economic activity and human wellbeing.

Forests can store carbon, regulate local water cycles and provide habitat. Wetlands can retain floodwater, filter pollutants…

unep.org

UNEP - UN Environment Programme

The global authority for the environment with programmes focusing on climate, nature, pollution, sustainable development and more.

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Welcome to the HealthCycle Africa's […]

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 20:33:46 +0300

Welcome to the HealthCycle Africa’s Sustainability Community of Practice, once again.

Our goal is to build a community of healthcare sustainability practitioners who move from learning concepts to applying them, testing solutions and developing practical approaches that can improve healthcare systems.

To make this journey easier to navigate,…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: This is a question we often get asked. Our response […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:16:29 +0300

This is a question we often get asked. Our response has always been, yes. And why not?

Another question follows. Is this only for procurement?

No. Procurement is an important part of the team, but sustainability extends far beyond purchasing decisions.

A sustainability team needs leaders with sustainability knowledge, supported by…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Here is how you will use it : The International […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:07:55 +0300

Here is how you will use it :

The International Resource Panel (IRP), hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme, is more than a source of sustainability reports. It is a resource for building your knowledge, strengthening your research, and informing practical decisions.

Here are five ways to use it.

1. Global Resources…

resourcepanel.org

Resource Panel

The International Resource Panel was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2007 to build and share the knowledge needed to improve our use of resources worldwide.

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Research teams need to manage resources […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:03:05 +0300

Research teams need to manage resources carefully, especially where funding, laboratory materials, and equipment access are limited.

Resource efficiency can begin with experimental design.

Better planning may reduce unnecessary repeat experiments, avoid excess reagent preparation, improve equipment scheduling, and limit the use of consumables…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: When medicines expire before they are used, the loss […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:01:38 +0300

When medicines expire before they are used, the loss extends beyond the purchase price.

The resources used in manufacturing, packaging, transporting, storing, and distributing those medicines have also been consumed. The facility may then incur additional costs for compliant disposal and replacement stock.

Pharmacy resource efficiency…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Laboratories depend on equipment that may […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:00:31 +0300

Laboratories depend on equipment that may operate continuously, including analyzers, refrigerators, freezers, ventilation systems, and other specialized instruments.

Reducing electricity consumption is important. But to understand efficiency, we should also consider how much diagnostic work the laboratory delivers.

Consider an…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: A hospital can reduce its monthly water bill and still […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:56:31 +0300

A hospital can reduce its monthly water bill and still fail to understand whether it has become more resource efficient.

Why? Because total water consumption alone does not account for changes in activity.

Consider an illustrative facility that uses 500,000 litres of water each month to support 10,000 patient visits.

Its water intensity is 50…

who.int

Health product and policy standards

Safe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene are crucial to human health and well-being. Safe WASH is not only a prerequisite to health, but contributes to livelihoods, school attendance and dignity and helps to create resilient communities living in healthy environments.

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Every organization uses resources to deliver […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:49:50 +0300

Every organization uses resources to deliver something. Businesses use materials and energy to produce goods. Hospitals use water, electricity, medicines, and equipment to provide care. Researchers use consumables and laboratory infrastructure to generate knowledge.

Resource efficiency examines how effectively these resources are used to produce…

resourcepanel.org

Resource Panel

The International Resource Panel was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2007 to build and share the knowledge needed to improve our use of resources worldwide.

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Scientific research generates knowledge, but […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:46:06 +0300

Scientific research generates knowledge, but conducting experiments also requires materials, equipment, energy, water, transport, and waste management.

A laboratory experiment may involve plastic consumables, reagents, refrigeration, specialist instruments, repeated runs, and the disposal of hazardous materials.

A life cycle assessment can…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: A medicine’s environmental footprint does not begin when […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:45:05 +0300

A medicine’s environmental footprint does not begin when it reaches a pharmacy shelf.

It can include the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, packaging, manufacturing energy, transport, temperature controlled storage, dispensing, and end of life management.

Different medicines have different production requirements, so…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Hospitals regularly make decisions about reusable and […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:43:22 +0300

Hospitals regularly make decisions about reusable and single use products. These decisions affect clinical safety, waste generation, procurement costs, and environmental impact.

It may seem obvious that a reusable product is always the more sustainable choice. However, that conclusion requires evidence.

Consider two products that serve the…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Research depends on reliable equipment, materials, […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:39:52 +0300

Research depends on reliable equipment, materials, energy, and well designed experiments. Improvements in efficiency can help research teams use these resources more effectively.

Consider a research laboratory that adopts a method requiring fewer materials per experiment. The team can now conduct experiments at a lower cost and with less…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Imagine a pharmacy or health facility improves […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:35:37 +0300

Imagine a pharmacy or health facility improves its procurement and delivery arrangements. Better route planning and consolidated shipments reduce the cost of delivering each order.

That is a resource efficiency opportunity.

But lower delivery costs can also change ordering behaviour. A facility might place more frequent orders, purchase…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: A laboratory introduces more efficient diagnostic […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:32:08 +0300

A laboratory introduces more efficient diagnostic equipment. Electricity consumption per test falls, and the laboratory can process samples more quickly.

This is progress. But what happens next matters.

Suppose a laboratory initially performs 10,000 tests per month, consuming 6,000 kWh of electricity. Its energy intensity is 0.6 kWh per…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Consider a hospital that replaces older air […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:26:04 +0300

Consider a hospital that replaces older air conditioning units with more efficient models.

For illustration, assume the old equipment consumes 10,000 kWh per month. The new equipment uses 25% less electricity for the same operating conditions, reducing consumption to 7,500 kWh.

That is a genuine efficiency improvement.

However, the hospital may…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Imagine a business invests in more energy […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:22:35 +0300

Imagine a business invests in more energy efficient equipment. The equipment uses less electricity per hour of operation, and the business expects its energy costs and environmental impact to fall.

But the lower operating cost makes it possible to run the equipment for longer. Total electricity consumption falls less than expected, stays the…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: If you have made it this far and understood the […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:14:22 +0300

If you have made it this far and understood the basic concepts we have been exploring, this is a moment to check in with yourself.

Would you like to start applying sustainability concepts and tools in your own line of work, business, research, or community?

If yes, I invite you to make a pledge to become an Implementer, a Scholar, and a…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Our discussion of life cycle thinking introduced a set […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:08:02 +0300

Our discussion of life cycle thinking introduced a set of concepts used to examine the environmental consequences of products and materials.

1. Life cycle

The stages associated with a product or service, from resource extraction through production and use to end-of-life management.

Example: The stages involved in manufacturing, distributing,…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: When we evaluate a product, we often focus on its […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:05:09 +0300

When we evaluate a product, we often focus on its visible features, price, packaging or disposal method.

But what if most of its environmental impact occurred before it reached the consumer?

Consider a smartphone.

Its life cycle includes mineral extraction, material processing, component manufacturing, assembly, transportation, use and…

ecochain.com

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - Complete Beginner's Guide

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) calculates the environmental impact of products or services throughout their entire lifecycle. How does it work?

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: What happens when a technology becomes more […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:59:11 +0300

What happens when a technology becomes more efficient, cheaper to operate and easier to use?

We might expect total resource consumption to fall. Sometimes it does. In other cases, part of the expected saving disappears because people or organizations increase their use of the technology.

This is known as the rebound effect.

Consider a business…

link.springer.com

Client Challenge

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: In our hospital and laboratory examples, we used […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:49:02 +0300

In our hospital and laboratory examples, we used several terms to distinguish reduced resource consumption from improved efficiency.

Here are five important definitions.

1. Absolute consumption

The total quantity of a resource used within a defined period.

Example: A laboratory consumes 10,200 kWh of electricity in one month.

2. Resource…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: As we explore how sustainability can be measured […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:47:30 +0300

As we explore how sustainability can be measured in different settings, we will encounter terms that help us move from general claims to evidence-based decisions.

Here are the first five terms to know.

1. Baseline

The starting point against which future performance is compared.

Example: A hospital’s average monthly water consumption before…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Sustainability is an opportunity for Africa, and it is […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:44:50 +0300

Sustainability is an opportunity for Africa, and it is an opportunity we can build ourselves.

It can strengthen businesses, reduce operating costs, create jobs, improve resource management, support innovation, and open new markets. It has many dimensions, from how we use materials and energy to how we finance, design, and grow our economies.But…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Imagine a research institution wants to reduce […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:39:03 +0300

Imagine a research institution wants to reduce the environmental footprint of its laboratory studies.

It introduces better experimental planning, reduces unnecessary repeat experiments, improves reagent management and reviews the use of energy-intensive equipment.

At the end of the year, the research team reports that it has reduced laboratory…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Imagine a pharmacy regularly disposes of medicines […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:36:27 +0300

Imagine a pharmacy regularly disposes of medicines because they expire before they can be dispensed.

The pharmacy introduces improved stock rotation, reviews ordering patterns and uses demand data to improve inventory management.

Three months later, the pharmacy reports that medicine wastage has decreased.

How do we know whether the intervention…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Imagine a diagnostic laboratory wants to reduce […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:33:30 +0300

Imagine a diagnostic laboratory wants to reduce the environmental footprint of its testing services.

It introduces better equipment scheduling, switches off eligible equipment when appropriate, improves cold storage management and reviews avoidable energy consumption.

The laboratory subsequently reports a 15% reduction in electricity use.

But…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: Imagine a hospital introduces a water […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:28:09 +0300

Imagine a hospital introduces a water conservation programme.

Staff are trained to report leaks, maintenance teams repair faulty taps, and the facility installs water efficient fittings.

Six months later, the hospital announces that it has reduced water consumption by 20%.

That sounds like progress. But how do we establish what actually…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: A country can achieve economic growth while degrading […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:10:45 +0300

A country can achieve economic growth while degrading its natural resources.

A company can reduce its environmental footprint while making its products unaffordable.

A conservation programme can protect an ecosystem while restricting the livelihoods of communities that depend on it.

These are examples of sustainability trade-offs.

The 3…

commons.wikimedia.org

File:Three Pillars model of Sustainability.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: One of the biggest lessons sustainability teaches us is […]

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 16:54:31 +0300

One of the biggest lessons sustainability teaches us is that very few problems exist in isolation.

Food affects health. Health affects productivity. Productivity affects the economy. The economy influences education. Education shapes innovation. And innovation changes how we use natural resources.

Every decision creates ripple effects…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: When people hear the word sustainability, they […]

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:48:13 +0300

When people hear the word sustainability, they picture forests, wildlife, solar panels, or recycling bins.

The environment is an important part of sustainability, but it is only one part.

Imagine a company that protects the environment but underplays its employees. Is that sustainable ?

Or a business that makes large profits while polluting…

Mizinga posted an update in the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community: If I asked 10 people to define sustainability, I […]

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:38:30 +0300

If I asked 10 people to define sustainability, I would probably get 10 different answers.

Some would say recycling …

Some would say climate change …

Some might think of renewable energy or planting trees….

Some might think saving money or being a business that survives any economic climate …

None of these are wrong, but none of them…

Athumani created the group HealthCycle Africa Sustainability Community

Thu, 21 May 2026 09:48:51 +0300