Using surgical sustainability principles to improve planetary health and optimise surgical services following the COVID-19 pandemic

As the world faces crises instigated by environmental disruption, demands on healthcare require sustainable solutions. In this article, we outline the principles of sustainable surgery, how these can be used to optimise surgical services in light of healthcare crises, and how long-term adoption of these principles can help to reduce the carbon and plastic footprint of surgery in the UK and internationally. We describe how planetary and human health are closely related, including the relationship between environmental disruption and emerging infectious diseases.