Innovative Charlotte Manufacturer Announces Hospital as its First Partnership
Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) has announced a new partnership with
Charlotte-based manufacturer Terraloam, a company that makes fully compostable
medical supplies, including medical isolation gowns and patient belonging
bags. CVMC is the first medical center to partner with Terraloam to implement
these compostable and sustainable options.
Recently, CVMC transitioned to the new compostable options to produce less
waste and move toward more sustainable disposal processes for single-use
medical supplies. This transition will reduce CVMC’s carbon emissions,
as well as more than 580,000 pounds of waste per year.
Following disposal, the new compostable isolation gowns, or “BioGown,”
are taken to a processing facility where they are made into an enriched
soil within three to four months. The enriched soil will then be donated
to community gardens located throughout Catawba County. Currently, Terraloam
has partnered with eight community gardens throughout the Hickory area,
with goals to expand.
The patient belonging bags, or “BioBaggy,” which are given
to each patient when admitted to the hospital, can be composted as well.
Patients can now drop off these bags at the designated compost bins located
at the SALT Block in Hickory or be composted at home using a compost tumbler.
“Isolation gowns alone at Catawba Valley Medical Center account for
up to 10,000 pounds of waste per year, and we are going to take that kind
of waste and turn it into fully compostable soil,” said Jonathan
Munich, co-founder of Terraloam. “We will be able to use the soil
at local community gardens, covering 1.5 acres of land with the soil produced
from the compostable medical supplies.”
“This is a major step towards achieving sustainability and is part
of CVMC’s ongoing efforts to close the waste cycle,” said
Patrick Broos, director of supply chain management for Catawba Valley
Health System. “By composting these materials, we not only divert
waste from our landfills but also help create nutrient-rich soil for the
community gardens in our area.”
He added, “CVMC values our patients, our community, and our world.
By using these new medical products, we work in conjunction with our community
and staff toward a more sustainable community. By making the switch, we
are doing our part to reduce waste and help the environment.”
To learn more about Terraloam and its mission to turn waste into sustainable
products, visit Terraloam.com.