PRESS RELEASE
Manchester, UK – April 2026
To mark Earth Day and Earth Awareness Month this April, Smart Dental Care, one of the UK’s leading dental groups, is highlighting a major sustainability milestone that also places staff safety at the forefront of clinical care.
Earlier this year, Smart Dental Care became the first UK dental group to adopt HyGe across its entire network of more than 30 practices — marking a significant milestone in both clinical sustainability and staff safety.
The group has replaced traditional wipes from packets and canisters with a new approach to infection control.
HyGe uses advanced, hands-free dispenser technology to deliver a plastic-free wipe exactly when it’s needed, removing the need for shared containers and manual handling. HyGe has been rolled out across the group in partnership with UK healthcare innovator Veraco, with full implementation completed in April 2026.
For Smart Dental Care, the decision was driven not only by sustainability goals, but by a commitment to protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of its dental teams — supporting a safer clinical environment, more consistent infection control, and a measurable reduction in waste.
A Safer Choice for Dental Nurses
Dental nurses sit at the centre of infection control within dental practices. Every day they manage surgery turnaround, equipment preparation, and strict cleaning protocols often under intense time pressure.
Smart Dental Care recognised that improving infection-control systems could also improve staff safety and efficiency.
The HyGe touchless, sensor-activated dispenser provides either a dry paper towel or a saturated clinical wipe. By removing the need to reach into shared containers or manually prepare wipes, the system reduces cross-contamination risk while supporting smoother clinical workflows during busy clinics. HyGe also supports alignment with HTM 01-05 guidance and CQC expectations around sustainability, infection prevention control, and safe clinical environments.
Maja, a Dental Nurse at Smart Dental Care, said:
“As a nurse, this machine has honestly made a big difference in our day-to-day work. Having wet and dry wipes dispensed from one unit means we’re not reaching into shared containers or juggling multiple products between patients. Each wipe is clean, single-dispensed, and ready to go, which really helps reduce the risk of cross-contamination.”
Amy, Practice Manager at Eden Dental Studio, said:
“From a practice perspective, it has really helped our team. During busy clinics it keeps the workflow smoother because everything the nurses need for cleaning and patient care is available instantly and hands-free. It also gives our team greater confidence in infection control, knowing we’re protecting both our patients and our staff while making their day-to-day work more efficient.”
Supporting Sustainability Without Compromise
Traditional plastic disinfectant wipes can generate around 1124g of CO₂ emissions per wipe. By switching to 100% FSC-certified cellulose wipes, Smart Dental Care expects to cut its carbon footprint by over 100 tonnes, while eliminating plastic waste. The move also aligns with the 2UK Government’s planned ban on plastic-containing wet wipes by 2027, reflecting the group’s proactive approach to sustainable healthcare.
The nationwide rollout of HyGe technology shows how innovation can improve both environmental performance and workplace safety.
- Maloney, B., McKerlie, T., Nasir, M., Murphy, C., Moi, M., Mudalige, P., Naser, N. E., & Duane, B. (2022). The environmental footprint of single-use versus reusable cloths for clinical surface decontamination: A life cycle approach. Journal of Hospital Infection, 130, 7–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2022.09.006
- UK Government announcement: Plastic-containing wet wipes to be banned by 2027 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-law-bans-plastic-wet-wipes-to-protect-rivers-and-seas
