No content results match your keyword.
Content
You have successfully logged out.
Not registered yet?
No product results match your keyword.
Products
Actreen® and the environment
Intermittent catheters in use – a major source of waste[1]
Like many other medical products, catheters can only be used once. Every patient should place an intermittent catheter about five times a day[2,3] which is why just as many catheters end up in the waste every day. The same applies to the patient’s stay in your facility after surgery or for rehabilitation. Therefore, the amount of litter affects them personally as well as your facility.[1] Waste is a challenge for all of us.[4]
*First part of example calculation of intermittent catheter usage of one spinal cord injury patient. Calculation basis: average use of 5 catheters per day [2,3] simplified calculation basis 4 weeks = one month.
Why plastics are a problem
Plastics are a threat to the oceans and to all living beings.[4] There has never been as much plastic waste in circulation as there is today.[5] The oceans have been particularly badly affected: At least 8 million tons of plastic leak into the water every year and cause further harm to the oceans.[4,6]
Discover Actreen®
In addition to a safe drainage of the urine, Actreen® offers products with environmentally friendly material
Actreen® is made of TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) which makes the product light weight. TPO does not contain plasticizers and thanks to this, and the absence of PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), Actreen® is environmentally friendly. Additionally to that, 30% less TPO than PVC is needed to make the same product. This led to a reduction in material consumption and waste while using a TPO product like Actreen®. To summarize, Actreen® has a low print on waste management compared to other products available in the markets. On top of that, Actreen® is recommended by the European Association of Urology Nurse in 2024[7].
By choosing Actreen®, you choose a good solution for your patients, while taking into consideration the environment.
Actreen® is easy to use and comfortable for your patients.There is no preparation phase and waiting time needed before catheterization, as well as no mess and splash linked to the lubricant.
So your patients can get their focus on their rehabilitation.
Actreen® provides environmental advantage compared to other products as it is composed of light weight material (TPO).
This leads to a low print on waste management.
An assessment of waste generation rate data from around the world shows that about 0.5 kilos per bed and day is produced in hospitals, but this number varies enormously depending on the local context and the regional differences.[8] It is estimated that 25 percent of the waste caused by hospitals is plastic.[9]
It might seem that catheters are only a small part of this volume, but Actreen® could be contributive on that point, looking at the lightweight material providing an environmental advantage versus other products.
Waste calculator for intermittent catheters
Calculate your potential savings – for the environment and your facility
Do you want to know how much money you could potentially save your facility? The waste management cost calculator will help you find out what prescribing Actreen® means for you in the short-term and in the long run. Do the math here.
Start your calculationActreen® discreet pouches
Extra service for your patients and the environment[9]
You want to give your patients as much scope as possible in terms of action. This is why we have delivered a free pouch with every package of Actreen®: Your patient can use this to carry their catheters with them – anywhere, anytime.
The Actreen® discreet pouches are made of paper with a special PVC-coating designed to be used multiple times in a wet environment. Compared to the older versions available some years ago, the PVC content has been reduced to keep these pouches durable.
Your choice makes the difference
B. Braun is at your side to provide you with good solutions
So while your main focus is on helping people, why not help in other ways as well? Your choice can make a difference: By recommending Actreen®, you can do something positive for the environment and also for your facility's budget.
If you take factors such as patients’ well-being, ecological aspects, economical savings into account, Actreen® is a great choice. Now is the time to act for tomorrow!
Choose Actreen® and save plastic – for your patients, your facility and the environment.
Let’s act now for tomorrow – with Actreen®!
References
** Please consider your local regulations for recycling.
- Sun AJ, Comiter CV, Elliott CS. The cost of a catheter: An environmental perspective on single use clean intermittent catheterization. Neurourol Urodyn. 2018 Sep;37(7):2204-2208. doi: 10.1002/nau.23562. Epub 2018 Aug 14. PMID: 30106190.
- Groen J, Pannek J, Castro Diaz D, Del Popolo G, Gross T, Hamid R, Karsenty G, Kessler TM, Schneider M, 't Hoen L, Blok B. Summary of European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines on Neuro-Urology. Eur Urol. 2016 Feb;69(2):324-33. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2015.07.071. Epub 2015 Aug 22. PMID: 26304502.
- Woodbury MG, Hayes KC, Askes HK. Intermittent catheterization practices following spinal cord injury: a national survey. Can J Urol. 2008 Jun;15(3):4065-71. PMID: 18570710.
- Hardesty BD, Wilcox C. Eight million tonnes of plastic are going into the ocean each year. The Conversation. 2015 February 12. https://theconversation.com/eight-million-tonnes-of-plastic-are-going-into-the-ocean-each-year-37521#:~:text=Around%208%20million%20metric%20tonnes,of%20coastline%20(excluding%20Antarctica). Accessed April 25th 2025.
- Ritchie H, Roser M. Plastic Pollution. Our World in Data Sept 2018, updated April 2022. https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution. Accessed April 25th 2025.
- Wearden G. More plastic than fish in the sea by 2050, says Ellen MacArthur. The Guardian. January 19, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/19/more-plastic-than-fish-in-the-sea-by-2050-warns-ellen-macarthur. April 25th 2025.
- Vahr Lauridsen S, Chagani S, Daniels A, Kelly T, Lurvink H, Pearce I, Popiński M, Thoft Jensen B, Villa G, Wildeman S, Geng V. Evidence-based Guidelines for Best Practice in Urological Health Care Urethral intermittent catheterisation in adults Including urethral intermittent dilatation. The European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN) 2024. https://nurses.uroweb.org/wp-content/uploads/EAUN-Guideline-Urethral-intermittent-catheterisation-in-adults-2024.pdf. Accessed 24th April 2025.
- UN Environment Program: Healthcare waste: what to do with it? 09 April 2020. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/healthcare-waste-what-do-it. Accessed April 24th, 2025.
- Gibbens S. Can medical care exist without plastic? National Geographic Newsletter 2019 Oct 9th. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/can-medical-care-exist-without-plastic. Accessed April 24th 2025.
- Bouton F. Qualitative environmental comparison between: Actreen® Hi Lite & Mini ranges and the main European competitor catheters. EVEA fabrique de solutions durables. July 2020. www.evea-conseil.com.
- Chartier-Kastler E, Chapple C, Schurch B, Saad M. A Real-world Data Analysis of Intermittent Catheterization, Showing the Impact of Prelubricated Versus Hydrophilic Catheter Use on the Occurrence of Symptoms Suggestive of Urinary Tract Infections. Eur Urol Open Sci. 2022 Mar 4;38:79-87. doi: 10.1016/j.euros.2022.02.008. PMID: 35495281; PMCID: PMC9051966.
Take part in our customer survey
Your feedback matters! Participate in our customer survey to help us enhance our website, products and services. Thank you for your support!