INNOVATION | HEALTHCARE
Right: Envetec’s patented Generations process enables facilities to disinfect and shred
biohazardous plastic waste at the point of generation
was rejected. In the flexibles fraction, the process sorted a wide range of medical device packaging into the PE stream (the only material targeted for separation). “Closer inspection showed this PE fraction contained multi-material films that may lead to compromises in the quality of the recycling stream,” said HPRC. “Packaging and medical devices composed of multiple materials significantly complicate sorting and segregation. Ideally, these mixed-material components should be rejected during sorting; however, there is a substantial risk that they enter recycling streams, leading to contamination.”
Residue concern A risk of critical concern comes from clinical waste, due to the possible presence of blood, needles or drug residues. HPRC said methods for reprocessing contaminated hospital waste from existing waste streams are being developed, but this is an expensive alternative and requires specific waste processing facilities. It said: “For hospital waste to be accepted by
Below: Sabic and partners have demon- strated the potential of recycling non-contami- nated hospital waste back into virgin polymers
existing sorting and recycling centres, the risk of contamination must be further controlled. To address this challenge, efforts are underway to standardise hospital waste management practices.” One initiative, which is being led by the regional German hospital association Krankenhausgesells- chaft Nordrhein-Westfalen in collaboration with UKB, Circularmed, and three other pilot hospitals, aims to develop “an intuitive waste management system that reduces incorrect disposal, enhances recyclability, and ensures both healthcare worker safety and environmental protection throughout the process”, said HPRC. Polyolefins producer Sabic said a collaborative
project has successfully proven the concept of recycling clean medical plastics back into the healthcare materials stream in pilot projects. Its
partners were Zuyderland medical centre in the Netherlands, packaging converters Coveris and ACE, and brand owners Artivion and Mölnlycke Health Care. A medical plastic waste collection program was
started by staff at Zuyderland in June 2024 to deal with plastic waste that would normally be inciner- ated. The program targets non-contaminated plastic waste that has not come into contact with patients, blood, or bodily fluids. This waste was prepared and transported to Sabic to use as feedstock in its pyrolysis plant, converting the waste into pyrolysis oil which Sabic can use as a contribution in the production of its Trucircle- branded PE.
New applications This PE material was subsequently used in two new healthcare applications. Coveris produced packag- ing with 25% content attributed to recycled medical waste for Artivion’s guide wire used in vascular surgery. Mölnlycke Health Care produced surgical drapes with 49% content attributed to hospital-generated plastic waste to be delivered in the ProcedurePak solution made with a material component from ACE. Karl Will, Vice President of Sales & Marketing,
EMEA at Artivion, said: “Through our participation in the Sabic Trucircle project and partnerships with Sabic, Zuyderland, and Coveris, we’re looking into ways to reduce waste and build a scalable recy- cling model. These partnerships help us not only address today’s surgeon challenges but also look to the future to create a more sustainable industry for generations to come.” BD, the medical devices group, announced in
January that it had successfully completed a joint feasibility study into recycling polystyrene Petri dishes into new, high-quality manufacturing feedstock. It said the results of the pilot study
32 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | January/February 2026
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
IMAGE: SABIC
IMAGE: ENVETEC
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