Johnson & Johnson MedTech, a global leader in cardiovascular, orthopaedic, surgery and vision solutions, has unveiled its latest sustainability offer – a programme that allows the recycling of its entire MedTech single-use product portfolio across the UK.
The company announced the decision at the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery, in Great Britain and Ireland Annual Meeting, which took place this week.
Building on the success of the company’s packaging waste recycling scheme, which recycled over 85,000 items (equating to more than 3 tonnes) across 87 UK operating theatres in its inaugural year, this ambitious initiative has the ability to recycle products such as surgical staplers, electrosurgery devices, clip appliers, suture relay trays, trocars, and catheters; supporting the UK Government’s Design for Life Roadmap by addressing environmental challenges and promoting a circular economy within the healthcare sector.
The programme promises a seamless end-to-end recycling experience for single-use products, utilising advanced separation methods of clinical waste. The collected plastics are transformed into a versatile material similar to plywood that can be used for construction, shopfitting, and creating community items like school benches and desks.4 Additionally, the programme provides hospitals with critical sustainability metrics through a waste management platform, ensuring accountability and tracking of recycling efforts.
“Given the importance of reducing the environmental impact and conserving resources within the NHS, it is crucial that we continue our efforts in reducing waste and implementing recycling schemes wherever possible,” said Annemarie Brunswicker, Thoracic Surgeon at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital*. “This new recycling scheme is going to make a huge difference, and we're thrilled to be partnering with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to help achieve our sustainability goals”.
“Single use-devices and instruments have long been in circulation in healthcare due to the reduced risk in patient-to-patient contamination coupled with the time and cost associated with reprocessing," said Angela Bagnall, General Manager Surgery, UK, Johnson & Johnson MedTech. "We are delighted that this latest initiative has the potential to prevent thousands of items from incineration, and is a key demonstration of our commitment to support healthcare providers in reaching their sustainability goals while positively impacting planetary health for generations to come.”
