Sustainability has risen to the top of the corporate agenda in many industries, including the medical device market. Part of the push toward environmental stewardship is coming from healthcare systems, with Europe leading the way. For example, the United Kingdom’s NHS is striving to become the world’s first carbon net zero national health system by 2040.1 It aims to achieve the same goal with its wider supplier chain, which includes 80,000 suppliers, by 2045. This goal was backed by many NHS suppliers at the recent COP26 conference2 — a positive signal for the medical device industry’s commitment to reduce emissions.
The complexity of forming “closed loop” recycling and reuse systems at the point of healthcare delivery makes manufacturing design for sustainability crucial for meaningful progress. To maximize success, medical device manufacturers must think about sustainability holistically. This includes prioritizing it at the beginning of the design phase and considering the entire life cycle of the device while balancing the need for safety, functionality, and durability — all imperatives for medical devices. . .
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