Sustainable from Start to Finish

Approximately five percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to the medical sector, making it as climate-damaging as the aviation industry. These emissions arise during the manufacturing and disposal of medical devices, but also during their use. For example, anesthetic gases are commonly used because they are well-tolerated, act quickly, and are easier to control and monitor than intravenous anesthetics. They are also, however, potent greenhouse gases. Desflurane, for instance, remains in the atmosphere for up to 14 years and has over 2500 times the warming effect of CO2. When administered via breathing masks, the residual gas is exhaled and thus gets released into our atmosphere.

Where Medical Supply Chains Leak

Their negative impact on climate is just one factor that makes medical devices unsustainable. In operating rooms alone, syringes, catheters, single-use scalpels, and compresses are used daily and then discarded. Although 85 percent of hospital waste is non-infectious and could be recycled this is only done a small portion of the time. Overall, German hospitals generate 4.8 million tons of waste per year, making them the fifth-largest waste producer. They can improve their internal sustainability performance, for instance by switching to more sustainable logistics or disposal companies or by the use of green electricity. However, the greatest potential lies in the upstream and downstream supply chain. Therefore, clinics are particularly holding manufacturers accountable:

This means that manufacturers must critically examine their supply chains, as other parties also contribute to the sustainability of medical devices. Interactions with logistics companies must be efficiently managed to minimize CO2 emissions during transport. Disposal companies must environmentally dispose of or recycle medical devices at the end of their lifecycle. Additionally, ethical aspects such as fair wages, safe working conditions, and fair trade must be considered throughout the supply chain.

Shift Toward Greater Sustainability

Until now, sustainability aspects were lagging behind other key topics such as patient safety and cybersecurity in the medical sector. However, legal and societal pressure on companies in this industry is growing. Since 2019, the EU has set an ambitious goal with the Green Deal: to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050 and create a sustainable economy. One of the main instruments of the Green Deal is the Circular Economy Action Plan, promoting a circular economy across the EU where all resources are reused and recycled after their use. Furthermore, since early 2023, the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG) has been in place, defining due diligence obligations for environmental protection and human rights for all companies in Germany with at least 1,000 employees.[1]

An example for a pioneer in the hospital landscape is University of Würzburg with its “Green endoscopy project”. By screening the whole process of endoscopy, a saving potential of 63 tons of CO2 emissions could be discovered and realized.[2]

Evaluating and Demonstrating Sustainability

The Green Deal also increases the requirements for sustainability reporting obligations. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is being gradually introduced. It already applies to larger hospitals and medical device manufacturers, making their sustainability measures transparent and comparable. Not only must Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions[3] be recorded, but also those indirectly arising along the supply chain or during the use of the product (Scope 3).

TÜV SÜD supports companies in demonstrating the sustainability of medical devices throughout their lifecycle. Experts conduct circular economy audits, examining the material composition of (packaging) materials, recycling rates, and reusability. They also analyze life cycle assessments and (Product) Carbon Footprints. Furthermore, claims about sustainability or “Green Claims” are scrutinized. If companies are unsure which solutions and services are suitable for them, they can use the Sustainability Navigator tool to search according to their specific requirements. TÜV SÜD verifies products, processes, and services according to ISO standards and norms such as ISO 14040/44 for life cycle assessment.

Setting Up for Sustainability Now

As legal requirements are continuously expanding, smaller hospitals and medical device manufacturers should also integrate sustainability measures into their business strategies. With a tailored sustainability management system, they can effectively identify weaknesses – provided every stage of the supply chain is considered. Circular economy and sustainability do not always go hand in hand, however. For example, chemical recycling of plastics generates significant amounts of CO2. Clinics and manufacturers must individually assess which solution is overall more sustainable. This not only gives them a competitive edge in the market, but also saves costs through multiple uses of medical devices, reduced packaging, and more efficient supply chain structures. More and more decision-makers in the healthcare sector recognize this. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS), for example, will only purchase sustainable medical products from 2030 onwards.[4]

[1] https://www.bafa.de/DE/Lieferketten/Multilinguales_Angebot/multilinguales_angebot_node.html

[2] https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/aktuelles/einblick/single/news/gruene-endoskopie-am-ukw/

[3] Scope 1: Emissions that arise directly from the company’s activities. Scope 2: Emissions that are purchased but are important for the company’s activities.

[4] https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/get-involved/suppliers/

Share this:

Related Articles

About The Author

Exit mobile version