NHS Scotland Launches Plant-Based Theatre Caps to Reduce Waste

Image Credit: Marsaili Mainz

In a significant step toward sustainability, Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, has begun trialing biodegradable theatre caps for medical staff. Developed from plant-based cellulosic fiber, these eco-friendly alternatives aim to replace single-use disposable caps, contributing to the growing problem of medical waste.

Led by researchers from the University of Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt University, the initiative addresses a critical issue: Scottish hospitals discard approximately 800,000 disposable caps annually, each taking up to 300 years to decompose. The newly designed caps, in contrast, are biodegradable, significantly reducing the environmental impact. Beyond sustainability, the caps are color-coded to differentiate staff roles, improving patient and colleague identification within surgical settings.

Hospital staff will test the caps in real-world conditions, providing feedback to assess their functionality, comfort, and potential for widespread adoption across Scotland.

This initiative is part of the broader Design HOPES (Healthy Organisations in a Place-based Ecosystem, Scotland) project, spearheaded by Professor Paul Rodgers (University of Strathclyde) and Professor Mel Woods (University of Dundee).

A Green Future for Healthcare

Backed by a £4.6 million grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the project is one of four Green Transition Ecosystem hubs in the UK dedicated to tackling climate change through innovative, sustainable solutions.

By rethinking even the most minor details—like theatre caps—this initiative signals a significant shift in how hospitals can reduce waste, enhance sustainability, and lead the way in eco-conscious healthcare practices.

Dr Euan Winton, assistant professor of design at Heriot-Watt, said: “NHS Scotland faces massive resource-driven issues, with millions of single-use disposable theatre caps going to incineration in Scotland annually.

“The new sustainable theatre caps represent a crucial step in addressing this significant wastage and demonstrating the power of design in tackling environmental challenges in healthcare.

“Our specialist School of Textiles and Design in the Scottish Borders is proud to be part of the Design Hopes hub tackling a broad range of global challenges, using our expertise to find new and innovative solutions to sustainability.”

Carole Anderson, director of transformation, strategy, planning, and performance at NHS Golden Jubilee, added: “NHS Golden Jubilee is proud to be at the forefront of this sustainable innovation in healthcare.

“These new theatre caps align with our commitment to reducing our environmental impact and also enhance our ability to provide safe and high-quality patient care.

“By improving staff identification and potentially easing patient anxiety, these caps offer multiple benefits beyond their eco-friendly design.”

Prof Rodgers said the theatre caps will help drive a positive change towards net zero. He said: “This project showcases the power of collaboration between universities, healthcare providers and design researchers.

“By bringing together expertise from various fields, we’ve been able to create a solution that is both practical and sustainable.

“Moreover, this project has potential for creating new green jobs across Scotland that will have socio-economic as well as environmental impact.”