About the Project

NHS Scotland spends around £3.5 million per year on hospital scrubs. Typically made from a polycotton mix, scrubs are often uncomfortable, badly fitting and disposed of in landfill. These new scrubs have been developed through consultation with NHS Scotland staff to replace the generic scrubs currently in use. Designed to cater for an individual’s size and needs, these personalised scrubs are of a higher quality, made from sustainable fabrics, with better fit and flexibility in design depending on their job role. The garments will be valued and cared for in a way that increases the longevity of the garments, reducing waste.

This project has involved reviewing relevant literature and policies, adopting an ethnographic approach through targeted observations, and shadowing NHS Scotland staff. We have mapped the entire product lifecycle of scrubs, gathering insights from medical staff, hospital porters, and laundry teams. These insights will guide our collaborative design-led interventions. With the new materials, the scrubs cause less harm to the planet and are compostable at the end of their life.