Sustainability in physical therapy isn’t just about choosing recyclable materials—it’s about rethinking everyday operations that have long gone unquestioned. One of the most overlooked sources of environmental impact in PT clinics? Pillowcases.
Cloth and paper pillow covers may seem harmless on the surface, but the numbers tell a different story. From ballooning laundry costs to thousands of gallons of wasted water, the true cost of traditional pillowcase use goes far beyond the budget line. Let’s take a closer look.
The Hidden Cost of Cloth
Cloth pillowcases have long been considered a standard in patient care, but they come with a heavy price—financially and environmentally.
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Save Money: The laundry costs for a single full-time PT can exceed $1,000 per year just to keep up with pillowcases. Multiply that by the number of providers in your clinic, and the totals rise quickly.
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Save Water: It takes more than 5,200 gallons of water annually to launder one PT’s pillowcases. That’s a massive drain on resources—especially in areas facing water shortages.
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Save Time: Staff spend as much as 100 hours per year laundering pillowcases for a single therapist. That’s time that could be redirected to patient care, training, or business development.
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Save Electricity: Laundry-related energy usage adds up fast. One PT’s pillowcase loads alone consume over 700 kWh of electricity annually, inflating your energy bills and carbon footprint.
The Problem with Paper
Paper pillow covers may feel more convenient, but they’re the most expensive—and environmentally harmful—option.
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Save Money: The cost of paper covers adds up quickly. One full-time PT can spend more than $3,000 annually on disposable paper pillow covers.
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Save Trees: Each therapist using paper covers is responsible for consuming the equivalent of two trees every year. That’s a tangible contribution to deforestation—clinic by clinic.
The EcoPro Alternative
EcoPro Pillow Covers are designed for long-term sustainability and savings. Built to last for five years, they eliminate the need for daily laundering or disposable waste.
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Cost Savings: The annual cost for one PT using EcoPro is just $47.96. For two full-time PTs using four EcoPro covers, the total over five years is only $239.80.
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Cleaner Operations: No laundry. No single-use waste. Just simple disinfection using your existing EPA-approved cleaning products.
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Scalable Efficiency: Based on 15 patients per day with two pillows per patient, EcoPro helps standardize sustainability without compromising hygiene.
A Smarter Choice for Clinics and the Planet
As healthcare providers face growing pressure to reduce environmental impact, small operational changes like switching pillow covers can add up to significant results. By moving away from laundering and disposables, your clinic can save thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours, and make a measurable difference in sustainability.
EcoPro isn’t just a product, it’s a smarter system for modern clinics looking to do more with less. Less waste. Less water. Less time.