If the global healthcare industry were a country, it would be the 5th largest contributor to carbon and other harmful emissions. Within the healthcare industry, surgery is considered the hotspot of carbon emissions. Single-use and disposable items used in surgery are major contributors. So, will completely eliminating single-use and disposable products lead to surgical sustainability?
No, certainly not! Firstly, it will not be feasible to completely eliminate disposables and single-use surgical items. They are irreplaceable and necessary in several instances; their use has a direct impact on patient safety, health, and well-being. Where possible, it is important to replace them with durable, reusable, and recyclable items.
Secondly, other aspects of surgery augment and increase its carbon footprint such as the production of surgical instruments, implants, medical devices, and other surgical items, the sterilization and cleaning processes, the packaging of surgical products, and much more. And the medical device manufacturing industry can effectively help improve surgical sustainability through the adoption of greener, eco-friendly strategies and practices.
How so? Keep reading the blog to find out the importance of sustainable practices in medical device manufacturing and how this can be accomplished.
Driving Surgical Sustainability: The Importance of Sustainability in Surgical Manufacturing
Environmental Impact
The medical device industry is a vital, fast-growing industry, saving and enhancing the lives of millions across the world. Manufacturing surgical instruments and implants, however, leaves a large carbon footprint and environmental impact.
Right from raw material extraction to product packaging & distribution to usage & disposal, it consumes large amounts of energy and resources, generates large quantities of waste and emissions, and contributes to pollution and climate change.
By streamlining and reshaping how surgical instruments and implants are designed, produced, distributed, and disposed, we can minimize environmental degradation and ensure a more sustainable and healthier future.
Public Health
Environmental degradation and pollution resulting from the way medical devices are produced currently pose significant risks to public health. Green manufacturing policies and practices contribute to cleaner air and water and healthier ecosystems. This will, ultimately, lead to improved health outcomes for communities worldwide.
Regulatory Compliance
There is increasing regulatory scrutiny on environmental practices and adherence to sustainable standards is becoming a prerequisite for regulatory approval. Proactive integration of sustainability into operations will enable surgical manufacturers to ensure compliance with the fast-evolving regulations and rigorous standards.
Corporate Responsibility
In an era of heightened social and environmental awareness, consumers and stakeholders are placing greater emphasis on corporate responsibility and ethical business practices. Embracing sustainability in surgical manufacturing will help manufacturers to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability.
Reputation and Brand Image
Embracing sustainability enables medical device companies to bolster their reputation and brand image, leading to greater market access. With healthcare providers, consumers, and stakeholders placing greater value on sustainability, they often prefer products that are manufactured in a sustainable, eco-friendly manner.
Supply Chain Resilience
Sustainability in surgical manufacturing will help make supply chains more resilient by minimizing the heavy reliance on scarce and environmentally sensitive resources. So, manufacturers can establish a consistent and reliable supply of critical medical devices.
Greater Innovation
A focus on surgical sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing drives innovation in the medical device industry. Manufacturers developing more sustainable products are more likely to enjoy a competitive edge in the market.
Key Practices to Drive Sustainability in Surgical Manufacturing
Choosing Greener Materials
An important way to reduce the carbon footprint of both medical device manufacturing and surgery is to choose more eco-friendly and sustainable materials. The reliance on virgin resources needs to be reduced and manufacturers need to choose raw materials that are eco-friendly, durable, and recyclable, wherever possible. The use of plastics should be minimized across surgical manufacturing and packaging.
Focus on Durability
All medical devices, except disposables, should be durable and repairable. This way, the chances of disposing away surgical instruments and implants will be reduced, minimizing surgical waste.
For surgical instruments, in particular, the use of single-use plastics needs to be reduced and the focus should be on manufacturing durable instruments that are more efficient, durable, and withstand heavy usage and cleaning. They should also be more efficient to clean and sterilize without the need for too much water or cleaning materials.
Energy Efficiency
Eco-friendly practices across the manufacturing process, right from material selection to packaging and delivery, will enable manufacturers to improve sustainability. They should look for the most energy-efficient equipment and technology, leverage/ incorporate renewable energy sources such as solar power, optimize their supply chain using digital technologies, and prioritize supplier sustainability to reduce their own carbon footprint, contributing to a cleaner, healthier future.
Minimizing Waste
It is critical that manufacturers assess the lifecycle of medical devices for environmental impact and wastefulness. This will give key insights on streamlining the process by reducing the quantum of waste generated.
They should optimize their designs in such a way that wastage is reduced by focusing on the durability, sustainability, and repairability of products. Through 3D printing and rapid prototyping, manufacturers can improve the precision and accuracy of medical devices, ironing out risks and complexities earlier in the process.
They should also evaluate and strengthen their waste management and emission control practices. Packaging and supply chain optimization are equally important to reduce wastage and improve surgical sustainability.
Transparency to Empower Informed Choices
Medical device manufacturers should be transparent about their environmental impact and sustainability goals. This allows healthcare providers and patients to make more informed choices about the medical devices they use and choose more sustainable ones.
Conclusion
Sustainability is not just an end goal; it’s a journey towards a more responsible, resilient, and healthier future. Surgical manufacturing, by embracing sustainability, can essentially safeguard the environment, promote public health, and ensure long-term sustainability in the realm of surgery.
At Gesco, a renowned medical device company, we have an unwavering commitment to sustainability. We implement key practices right from material selection and design to packaging and delivery of our products to drive sustainability. We use advanced technology in combination with our green practices to minimize wastage. Our multidisciplinary team is constantly innovating to minimize our environmental impact and carbon footprint while enhancing corporate responsibility and contributing to greater surgical sustainability.
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