DTO · EN
The medical technology industry produces a wide variety of products, very few of which are sustainable. There is currently no defined framework for sustainable production of medical devices. Examples from the textile industry show that a different approach is possible. Nevertheless, initial opportunities are emerging in medical technology, including more efficient manufacturing processes and the reuse of materials and products. According to international studies, healthcare is responsible for 4.4% of global pollutant emissions. That is hardly an environmentally sustainable footprint. How can an industry that is clearly not operating sustainably become more sustainable?
No common framework
Medical companies have recognised the need to become more sustainable. But when can a medical device be described as sustainable? When it is manufactured using green energy? When it can remain in use for a particularly long time? When it contains recycled components? The definition is difficult. One central problem remains: there is currently no dedicated “sustainable medical technology” label defining the requirements.
Sustainability awareness, particularly in textiles
Other sectors are making considerably more progress. The textile industry is a pioneer, defining sustainability mainly through three aspects: credibility, environmental compatibility and social responsibility. The website Siegelklarheit.de provides an overview of labels such as OekoTex. However, some scepticism is warranted here too. No label currently covers the so-called end-of-line aspect, meaning that product recycling is not yet assured. To address this, some companies now work with textile businesses to put sustainable practices into effect through further processing or longer use of textiles.
Reducing resource consumption
Developing a consistent sustainability concept is particularly difficult because each product group must be assessed separately. In medical technology, the term covers a very wide range of products, from laboratory pipettes and disposable gloves to CT scanners and displays. That is one issue; another is how sustainability concepts are being implemented in practice. Some manufacturers, such as laboratory supplier Starlab, are trying to use resources more efficiently. “Green Officers” ensure that sustainability is on the agenda from the outset. Starlab produces pipettes, for example. These are made of plastic and used only a few times before being discarded. But how can sustainable processes emerge not just through reuse, but also through changes to manufacturing? The company has succeeded in reducing the polypropylene, a thermoplastic, used in injection moulding by making pipette tips thinner. Quality has been maintained while consumption of the thermoplastic has fallen significantly.
Looking ahead: The hospital of the future
Ways of making hospitals more energy-efficient are also being discussed. An average German hospital incurs annual energy costs of between €500,000 and €700,000.
- Model calculations and studies show that optimising all energy-consuming hospital processes could yield savings of 40%, and in some cases up to 50% (VDE, BUND).
- Extrapolated across all German hospitals, this represents potential savings of €450–600 million while avoiding the release of 6 million tonnes of CO2.
Reducing doses and speeding up diagnosis improve patient comfort while also supporting sustainability in medical operations. Iterative, step-by-step dose reduction in computed tomography, with lower use of contrast agents, reduces patients’ radiation exposure. The procedure also requires a lower tube current, improving the technology’s environmental efficiency and CO2 performance through lower electricity consumption. Further opportunities arise from technological progress and greater overall efficiency: faster signal transmission in MRI and CT, more powerful computers, and better image processing combined with rapid reconstruction. Increased speed can enable faster diagnosis and shorter intervention times. Shorter examinations therefore improve patient comfort and the productivity of medical processes, supporting a more comprehensive sustainability model.
The route to greater sustainability lies in changes to the overall process and involves several factors: continued use, technological progress, lower material consumption and different manufacturing processes. Despite visible successes, there is still a long way to go.
Are you an industrial company looking to become more sustainable? Do you want a strong partner who can advise you in times of crisis and prepare you for the future? DTO helps you develop a sustainability concept, identify your future industry and review your organisational structures. Through our established Technology Scouts network of industry experts, we connect you with start-ups and innovators. Market and competitive analyses show which markets are stable, which will matter to your business in the future, and which innovative companies are already active. Let us take this path together.