Green Endoscopy and Sustainable Practices: A Scoping Review

Objectives The emergence of "green endoscopy" arises from the increasing global need to reform environmental sustainability due to climate change. Our review aimed to provide current evidence surrounding green endoscopy on sustainable issues including environmental impact, innovations, guidelines, policies, future directions, and recommendations. Materials and Methods A scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis extension for scoping reviews guidelines. Full-text English articles from established databases were screened for eligibility criteria and analyzed. Results Out of 7,892 identified articles, 28 met all the eligibility criteria. Key findings include (1) the significant environmental impact of single-use items in current endoscopic practices; (2) there are emerging green innovations in endoscopy, such as reusable instruments, eco-friendly sterilization methods, and energy-efficient technologies; (3) guidelines and green policies are increasingly available to provide clinical guidance and framework for health care facilities; (4) model institutions can provide case studies and examples of implementing green endoscopy; and (5) unified efforts from all stakeholders are needed to address challenges, including cost-effectiveness. Conclusion A paradigm shift toward green endoscopy is clearly in place and should be driven by the need to reduce environmental impact, be cost-effective, and not sacrifice patient safety.