5 Minute Healthtech Jargon Buster: Sustainability in Healthcare

by Lilian Hall, Research and Communications Associate

Sustainability is an ongoing global issue in the general economy and in healthcare systems.  Sustainability is defined as the ability to maintain natural resources whilst preventing ecological damage [1].

In healthcare, sustainability practices aim to reduce environmental impacts from supply chains, medical materials, and carbon emissions. As a result, in the UK the NHS has embedded a net zero emissions target by 2050 to reduce environmental damage [2] .

To improve sustainability, new approaches are required. These include: the conversion from single use plastics to biodegradable materials, circular economy practices that consider the carbon footprint of a product throughout its lifecycle and minimising the energy costs of computationally intensive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Without considering how sustainability is a factor in specific healthcare scenarios, it can seem daunting to manufacturers as well as providers given existing requirements for clinical safety and cost effectiveness.

Romilly Life Sciences can offer several decades experience leading the validation, regulatory approval and implementation of novel technologies that includes supporting policy makers on net zero, low-carbon medical research and commercial frameworks to support the development and adoption of sustainable product engineering solutions.

To find out how you can reach patients faster, backed by compelling evidence, contact us.

References

[1] Giovannoni, Elena, and Giacomo Fabietti. “What Is Sustainability? A Review of the Concept and Its Applications.” Integrated Reporting, 2013, pp. 21–40, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02168-3_2.

[2] NHS England. Delivering a “Net Zero” National Health Service. Oct. 2020.

[3] Fan, Ping, et al. “A Review on the Occurrence and Influence of Biodegradable Microplastics in Soil Ecosystems: Are Biodegradable Plastics Substitute or Threat?” Environment International, vol. 163, Apr. 2022, p. 107244, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107244.

[4] Elham Moshkbid, et al. “Biodegradable Alternatives to Plastic in Medical Equipment: Current State, Challenges, and the Future.” Journal of Composites Science, vol. 8, no. 9, 1 Sept. 2024, pp. 342–342, https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8090342.

[5] Hoveling, Tamara, et al. “Circular Economy for Medical Devices: Barriers, Opportunities and Best Practices from a Design Perspective.” Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 208, 1 Sept. 2024, pp. 107719–107719, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107719.

[6] D’Alessandro, Carlotta, et al. “Exploring Circular Economy Practices in the Healthcare Sector: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis.” Sustainability, vol. 16, no. 1, 2 Jan. 2024, pp. 401–401, https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010401. Accessed 26 Jan. 2024.

[7] Zhang, Han, et al. “Developing Natural Polymers for Skin Wound Healing.” Bioactive Materials, vol. 33, 1 Mar. 2024, pp. 355–376, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.11.012.

[8] Muthukumaran, P., et al. “Tailored Natural Polymers: A Useful Eco-Friendly Sustainable Tool for the Mitigation of Emerging Pollutants: A Review.” International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 18, no. 8, 11 Jan. 2021, pp. 2491–2510, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-03048-6. Accessed 6 June 2022.

[9] Agnieszka Gierej, et al. “Challenges in the Fabrication of Biodegradable and Implantable Optical Fibers for Biomedical Applications.” Materials, vol. 14, no. 8, 15 Apr. 2021, pp. 1972–1972, www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/8/1972, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081972. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.

[10] Wong, Y.-P., et al. “Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP): A Versatile Technique for Detection of Micro-Organisms.” Journal of Applied Microbiology, vol. 124, no. 3, 12 Feb. 2018, pp. 626–643, https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.13647. Accessed 23 July 2020.

[11] US EPA, OAR. “Our Current Understanding of Ethylene Oxide (EtO).” Www.epa.gov, 14 Aug. 2018, www.epa.gov/hazardous-air-pollutants-ethylene-oxide/our-current-understanding-ethylene-oxide-eto.

[12] Syed Mithun Ali, et al. “Development Goals towards Sustainability.” Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 12, 12 June 2023, pp. 9443–9443, https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129443.

[13] FDA. “Use of International Standard ISO 10993-1: “Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices - Part 1 : Evaluation and Testing within a Risk Management Process” : Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff - Digital Collections - National Library of Medicine.” Nih.gov, 2020, collections.nlm.nih.gov/catalog/nlm:nlmuid-9918232102806676-pdf. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.

[14] European Commission. “Waste Framework Directive.” European Commission, 2022, environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-framework-directive_en.

[15] Fan, Z, et al. “Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Sustainability: A Review of SDGs, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Health.” Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 18, 8 Sept. 2023, pp. 13493–13493, www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13493, https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813493.