United for sustainability: 700 tonnes less CO2 by banning laughing gas

We see sustainability as both a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute to a better environment. Many of our healthcare professionals work every day to improve our processes, choose sustainable equipment and materials and minimise our impact on the environment. The Anaesthesia Department is a good practical example. The use of anaesthetic gases on this department was a major source of CO2 emissions. Laughing gas (i.e. ‘nitrous oxide’) in particular is highly polluting and it depletes the ozone layer.

Our organisation is actively seeking ways to contribute to a healthier environment.

Henk Vanoverschelde, head of the Anaesthesia Department

Recently, both our operating facilities switched to laughing gas alternatives (e.g. total intravenous anaesthesia, low or minimal fresh gas flow anaesthesia). Laughing gas has recently been discontinued in the A&E and Paediatric Department of St Vincent General Hospital in Deinze. Laughing gas is no longer used at our medical centres in Ghent-Bruges and Aalter.

For comparison

• 1 kg of laughing gas = 298 kg of CO2 emissions
• 1 tonne of CO2 corresponds roughly to 6,000 km of driving with an average diesel car.
• A mature tree takes about 50 years to filter 1 tonne of CO2 from the air.