Surgeons can lower their environmental impact with new actionable guidelines for sustainable operating room practices.

• 21 recommendations are organized into four key areas: reduce waste, reuse items, recycle materials, and rethink practices.
• Focus on reducing pharmaceutical waste and unnecessary energy use can help cut greenhouse gas emissions from ORs.

Adopting these strategies not only benefits the planet but can also improve overall efficiency in surgical practice.

• Consider transitioning to reusable medical devices and textiles to minimize waste and save costs.