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Our shared responsibility

Green Dialysis: Our shared responsibility

Hemodialysis is a life-sustaining therapy.[1] At the same time,

the environmental impact of dialysis therapy seems to be particularly​ high.[2] It consumes a significant amount of water and energy and produces a high amount of waste and CO2 emissions.[3]

  • Approx.

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    million m3 of fresh water annually are consumed by hemodialysis treatments in Europe.[4] To put this into perspective, this is roughly equivalent to 4,958 Olympic pools/year or 13.5 Olympic pools/day.

  • Approx.

    0

    MWh per year is the estimated European energy consumption for hemodialysis.[4]​ This amount of energy could power a city of approximately 74,847 Dutch families (average Dutch family of five people consumes 4,371 kWh/year).

  • Approx.

    0

    tons of waste annually is generated by hemodialysis in Europe.[4] This is the weight equivalent of 10,458 elephants (adult male elephant 6,000 kg).

Two medical professionals,a dialysis nurse and a nephrologist, in white coats are standing in a bright dialysis treatment room, examining a bicarbonate cartridge Sol-Cart B, taken from an open cardboard box filled with similar cartridges. They are talking about the residual poweder waste in the cartridges. The background features dialysis machines and large windows.

Toward more sustainable kidney care

Decreasing the environmental impact of hemodialysis in daily clinical practice

2025-04-16-Grafik_EDTNA-Litauen_1000x563px-jkr
Illustration of a B. Braun Renal Care Center surrounded by labeled elements: Building & Infrastructure, Transport & Logistic, Medical Technology, Standardized Processes, Consumables, and Individual Behavior. The scene includes healthcare professionals, patients, medical equipment, and a transport vehicle.
A tablet on a light green surface with a white pencil placed above it. The screen of the tablet displays an image of two hands holding a small tree, symbolizing care and growth. The text on the screen reads: "GREEN EXCELLENCE IN DIALYSIS - RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE KIDNEY CARE - EXPERT". At the bottom left corner, there are logos for "EDTNA/ERCA" and "Sponsored by B. Braun Avitum".

Green Excellence in Dialysis*

Are you interested in learning more about technological and practical ideas and recommendations for more sustainable kidney care?​
*a collaborative project between B. Braun and EDTNA/ERCA organization
chevron_rightDownload the Green Excellence in Dialysis booklet

Contact our Green Dialysis Experts

The responsible organization is B. Braun Avitum AG

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Thank you for your interest!

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References

  1. Lenzen M, Malik A, Li M, Fry J, Weisz H, Pichler PP, Chaves LSM, Capon A, Pencheon D. The environmental footprint of health care: a global assessment. Lancet Planet Health. 2020 Jul;4(7):e271-e279. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30121-2. PMID: 32681898.​
  2. Barraclough KA, Agar JWM. Green nephrology. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2020 May;16(5):257-268. doi: 10.1038/s41581-019-0245-1. Epub 2020 Feb 7. PMID: 32034297.​
  3. Agar JW. Personal viewpoint: hemodialysis--water, power, and waste disposal: rethinking our environmental responsibilities. Hemodial Int. 2012 Jan;16(1):6-10. doi: 10.1111/j.1542-4758.2011.00639.x. PMID: 22098705.​
  4. Jiménez MDA, Audije-Gil J, Martínez R, Martín Vaquero N, Gómez M, Portillo J, Pereda G, Gascueña DH, Duane B, Sanjuan M, Martín JLF, Dapena F, Ortiz A, Arias M. How to improve the environmental impact in haemodialysis: small actions, big changes. Clin Kidney J. 2024 Dec 20;18(2):sfae407. doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfae407. PMID: 39927256; PMCID: PMC11806634.​
  5. Karliner J, Slotterback S, Boyd R, Ashby B, Steele K. Hesalth care’s climate footfrint: How the health sector contributes to the global climate crisis and opportunities for action.  Health Care Without Harm (HCWH). 2019 Sept; https://global.noharm.org/sites/default/files/documents-files/5961/HealthCaresClimateFootprint_092319.pdf. Accessed 2025 May 8th
  6. Wieliczko M, Zawierucha J, Covic A, Prystacki T, Marcinkowski W, Małyszko J. Eco-dialysis: fashion or necessity. Int Urol Nephrol. 2020 Mar;52(3):519-523. doi: 10.1007/s11255-020-02393-2. Epub 2020 Feb 1. PMID: 32008203; PMCID: PMC7060957​
  7. Noruisiene E, Pancirova J, Meier M, Golland J, Hueso X, Hoehle V, Corti V. Green Excellence in dialysis. European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Associa tion/European Renal Care Association (EDTNA/ERCA). Sept 2022. ISBN: 978-84-09-42876-2. https://www.edtnaerca.org/resource/edtna/files/apps/APP-EN-green-excellence-in-dialysis.pdf. Accessed 2025-09-08​
  8. Piccoli GB, Cupisti A, Aucella F, Regolisti G, Lomonte C, Ferraresi M, D’Alessandro C, Ferraresi C, Russo R, La Milia V, Covella B, Rossi L, Chatrenet A, Cabiddu G, Brunori G; on behalf of the Conservative Treatment, Physical Activity and Peritoneal Dialysis Project Groups of the Italian Society of Nephrology.​Green nephrology and eco-dialysis: a position statement by the Italian Society of Nephrology. J Nephrol. 2020;33:681–698.​
  9. Pruijm M, Rho E, Woywodt A, Segerer S.​Ten tips from the Swiss Working Group on Sustainable Nephrology on how to go green in your dialysis unit. Clin Kidney J. 2024;17(6):sfae144.