On April 22nd, we celebrated Earth Day, which calls for action, environmental awareness, and the transformation of our habits. But beyond the symbolic messages, this date also leaves us with a key question: What are we doing in our industry to reduce our environmental impact?
Clinical research faces a silent but profound challenge: dependence on paper. This problem slows down processes and has a real impact on forests, water, energy, and biodiversity.
Paper in Clinical Trials: An Underestimated Impact
Although we seek to advance science and improve lives, traditional clinical trials still generate enormous volumes of printed documentation. A single study can produce between 80,000 and 225,000 pages, including consent forms, forms, notes, visit logs, and reports.
A study conducted in the United Kingdom revealed that a single Ethics Committee generated more than 879 kg of paper in one year just from applications and clinical trial execution (Gillies et al., 2018 – PMC5873802).
The Environmental Cost of Paper
- According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 40% of the world’s industrial wood is used for paper production.
- The papermaking process is water- and energy-intensive and represents a significant source of CO₂ emissions (Environmental Paper Network, 2018).
- Deforestation associated with the paper industry contributes to the loss of critical habitats and the decline of biodiversity (IUCN Red List).
In this context, digitizing processes are not just an operational decision but concrete environmental actions.
Trial360: A More Efficient, Cleaner Way to Research
Trial360 is not a generic, tailored tool. It is a platform designed from the ground up to respond to research centers’ regulatory and operational challenges.
Among its many benefits, it highlights the significant reduction in paper use without sacrificing traceability, compliance, or quality.
How does Trial360 contribute to more sustainable research?
- Electronic pre-selection forms.
- Centralized digital documentation, without duplicate physical copies.
- Automated scheduling and follow-up, without paperwork or printed emails.
- Complete traceability and regulatory compliance, without parallel physical files.
- Remote monitoring, reducing the need for printed files and transfers.
Less paper, more impact
Reducing paper use in clinical trials not only saves time and costs, but it also represents a concrete way to contribute to environmental sustainability, aligning science with the protection of the planet.
Final reflection
Earth Day is over. But its message remains.
At Trial360, technology is a powerful tool for achieving more efficient and conscious science. Because every tree saved, every leaf digitized, and every optimized process counts.
