Between hygiene and sustainability

The healthcare system improves human life and health, but at the same time causes considerable environmental pollution. The production, use and disposal of medical products generate large amounts of waste and contribute around 4-5 per cent of global CO₂ emissions. Disposable products that are discarded after a single use are particularly problematic. Although they increase patient safety, they lead to high resource consumption and waste generation - exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, new materials, modular designs and improved sterilisation processes are opening up opportunities to integrate circular economy principles into medical technology. The aim of the study "Circular economy of the materials in the healthcare industry: opportunities and challenges" conducted by Australian scientists is to analyse the potentials and challenges of the circular use of medical products and identify ways to arrive at sustainable solutions in a safety-critical environment. The study was published in the journal "Resources, onservation & Recycling".