Conor Stewart
Research expert covering health & pharmaceuticals in the UK & Europe
Get in touch with us nowHow can medical technology help?
The huge rise of virtual visits and increased use of telemedicine was initially borne out of necessity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the environmental benefits have also been observed. By reducing the number of journeys patients need to take to practices and clinics, the fewer emissions are released. Several studies carried out worldwide found several kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions can be saved per online consultation. Compared to the European studies, the emissions that could be avoided were higher in the United States, most likely due to lower public transport use in North America. Furthermore, production in the medical technology industry can be fairly energy intensive. As of 2024, only two medical technology companies, Coloplast A/S and Biomérieux, SA ranked in the top 100 most sustainable companies in the world.Waste as an issue
A huge amount of medical devices are single-use products, which means that a huge amount of waste is produced by the sector. In Germany alone, around 1.8 million tons of waste was produced in 2020. However, patient safety demands that many items can only be used once, for example to prevent infection and contamination. Products that can only be used once include masks, syringes, surgical gowns, and testing equipment. This was also exacerbated by the pandemic as the demand for personal protective equipment soared, and ended up in landfill afterward. Therefore, there are barriers on the medtech industry in how sustainable it can be, although using materials that are better for the planet, and improving recycling and repurposing processes should be within reach.
