Market Sector Approach: Medical

• Sourcing of feedstock is one of the biggest challenges in the recycling value chain. However, there have been some successful efforts to recycle single-use plastic bio-medical devices, such as IV bags, syringes, needles, and oxygen masks for use in other products. Such existing medical recycling programs could be leveraged and evaluated as potential feedstock streams for recycled medical durable plastic applications.
• Given the unique requirements of many medical applications, a closed-loop circular approach to medical sector may not be viable. Understanding how the medical sector can fit into a broader circular economy (vs. a circular industry) can offer more feasible pathways to eliminating durable plastic waste from medical. Understanding how the medical sector can fit into a broader circular economy (vs. a circular industry) can offer more feasible pathways to eliminating durable plastic waste from medical.

Such a program could allow for greater circularity of durable plastics in medical applications in a sector-appropriate context.

The medical sector is especially sensitive to risk and liability concerns, so reluctance to introduce new materials, processes, and practices is higher than many other sectors. Pilot programs that provide incentives to gather needed information can catalyze more progress towards durables circularity in the medical sector.

• Value in medical applications are less driven by environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors. “Consumers” in this sector are typically device manufacturers making material selection and recycled content decisions, but patients must also be considered.
• Standards and regulations that advance circularity (e.g., by minimizing the number of different durable plastics used in medical applications) must be cautious not to compromise medical science, device functionality, or patient outcomes.