Sustainable practices in academic programs in a healthcare setting: A case study

Conferences, continuing medical education programs, and scientific forums are part of a medical professional’s life. Such programs often generate a lot of waste, mostly nonbiodegradable. Organizers often do not realize this or are unaware of its environmental impact. This article details the measures adopted in a workshop on the application of biostatistics for clinical researchers, organized at a medical institute as a zero-waste workshop. The organizers made efforts to reduce the use of paper at all stages of the workshop. Brochures or posters were not used for promotion. It was ensured that this workshop did not use any single-use items like pens, lanyards, water bottles, tea cups, water cups, meal plates, snack plates, dessert bowls, and cutlery. The sustainable measures taken at this workshop can be replicated in any academic program. Academic programs, which are organized very frequently, can easily be made zero-waste events with proper planning and consistent practices.