What practice involves making the environment and objects free from microorganisms?

The practice that involves making the environment and objects free from microorganisms is known as asepsis. Asepsis encompasses a range of techniques designed to prevent contamination by pathogens. This includes not only the sterilization of instruments but also maintaining a clean environment to minimize the introduction of microorganisms.

Surgical asepsis, while a more specific form of asepsis, refers particularly to techniques used in surgical settings to maintain a sterile environment and prevent infection during surgery. Disinfection refers to the process of eliminating or reducing harmful microorganisms on surfaces or objects but does not necessarily achieve complete sterility. Sanitization involves cleaning practices that reduce microbial counts to safe levels but do not eliminate all microorganisms. Thus, the broader and more inclusive concept of asepsis is the correct answer, as it aims for a complete absence of microorganisms in a given area or on a specific surface.