Reducing the Carbon Footprint and Dialysis Consumables: Challenges and Opportunities

T he environmental impact of dialysis is substantial, driven by high water and energy use, significant waste generation, and carbon-intensive supply chains.To align kidney care with sustainability goals, targeted interventions must be both feasible and impactful.Life cycle assessment studies indicate that conventional hemodialysis (HD) has a carbon footprint of 3.0 to 10.3 tCO 2 e per patient per year, with electricity, patient transport, and water use as major contributors.This is equivalent to approximately 15 to 50 round-trip flights from London to New York or driving 7500 to 25,000 miles in an average gasoline-powered car (1, 2).Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has a smaller footprint but varies by modality and logistics.This editorial explores practical solutions to reduce dialysis' environmental burden while maintaining high-quality patient care, addressing both challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainable kidney care.