last highlighted date: 2024-03-13
Highlights
- When considering medical device sustainability, often people think about the end of the lifecycle. Is the device recyclable? Is it reusable? What are the costs and environmental impacts associated with disposal? Medical device waste is a huge and growing problem in the United States and globally, especially as devices become more complex and incorporate more electronic components and mixed materials.
- In an effort to reduce medical device waste, some companies are considering options such as collecting used devices for disassembly and recycling or refurbishing and reuse. These programs pose their own challenges. Companies must consider the cost, environmental impact and safety of collecting used devices from their user population. They must also have human resources and infrastructure in place to manage collection, cleaning and disposal of devices. If devices are intended to be refurbished and resold, companies much make sure that the refurbished devices will meet FDA approval, be accepted by end users, and deliver the same performance, safety and reliability as new devices.