16/01/2026
The Environmental Impact of Dialysis: A Conversation We Must Have
Dialysis is a life-saving treatment for millions of people living with kidney failure. For many, it is not a choice, it is survival.
Yet, behind this essential care lies a significant and often overlooked reality: dialysis has a substantial environmental footprint.
Hemodialysis is highly resource-intensive. A single session can require hundreds of litres of water, much of it lost during purification through reverse osmosis systems. When multiplied by three sessions per week, per patient, across thousands of facilities worldwide, the pressure on already-strained water resources becomes clear, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Beyond water, dialysis is also energy-dependent. Machines, water treatment systems, climate control, and lighting operate continuously, contributing to a sizeable carbon footprint. Studies estimate that dialysis can account for 3–5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per patient per year, depending on treatment modality and setting.
Then there is the issue of medical waste. Dialysis relies heavily on single-use consumables, dialyzers, tubing, syringes, packaging, most of which are plastic and classified as biohazardous. Each session can generate several kilograms of waste that must be incinerated or sent to landfill, with limited recycling options due to infection-control requirements.
Importantly, the environmental impact of dialysis extends beyond the treatment chair. Research shows that up to 70% of healthcare-related emissions come from supply chains, including manufacturing, transportation, and waste management. Add patient travel to dialysis centers, and the indirect environmental cost grows even further.
This conversation is not about limiting access to dialysis.
It is about rethinking how we deliver life-saving care sustainably.
Encouragingly, solutions exist:
• More efficient water treatment and reuse systems
• Energy-efficient dialysis units powered by renewable sources
• Smarter waste segregation and reduction strategies
• Innovation in dialysis technology under the growing Green Dialysis movement
As the global burden of kidney disease continues to rise, sustainability must become part of kidney care planning, alongside access, affordability, and quality.
Saving lives and protecting the planet should never be opposing goals.
They must move forward together.
World Kidney Day KENYA RENAL ASSOCIATION
