Environmental Impacts of Dialysis: A Life Cycle Assessment Study from Thailand
End : 31 January 2026
Environmental Impacts of Dialysis: A Life Cycle Assessment Study from Thailand
About Project
The healthcare sector contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through the use of energy, water, medical products, and waste management. Kidney replacement therapy is particularly resource-intensive, requiring substantial amounts of consumables, electricity, water, transportation, and waste treatment throughout a patient's lifetime. However, evidence on the environmental impacts of dialysis modalities in Thailand has been limited.
This project aims to evaluate and compare the environmental impacts of three kidney replacement therapy modalities in Thailand: hemodialysis (HD), automated peritoneal dialysis (APD), and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, the study assesses environmental impacts across the entire care pathway, including material production, transportation, healthcare delivery, energy and water use, and waste management.
The findings show that HD has the highest greenhouse gas emissions, while APD and CAPD generally have lower carbon footprints but greater impacts from consumables and waste. This study provides evidence to support the development of Green Health Technology Assessment (Green HTA) and identifies opportunities to reduce the environmental footprint of kidney care in Thailand. The results will inform policymakers, healthcare providers, and industry stakeholders in advancing a more sustainable and environmentally responsible healthcare system.
