Regulatory Investigating tomorrow
In Australia, Pranay Kumar researches sustainable healthcare design at RMIT University, with a focus on applying ecodesign principles to medical devices. He sees increasing focus on empowering designers through education to bring ecodesign insights to the device development process. Teaching design for sustainable production at RMIT University, Kumar encourages students to explore design strategies that incorporate life-cycle assessments, product stewardship and circular design principles. Back in London in 2018, he felt there was limited focus on this issue, despite around 10% of NHS environmental impacts stemming from medical devices and accessories. So, Kumar evolved his sustainable practice. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, he’s noticed more evidence on medical waste, to which single-use plastics greatly contribute. Kumar’s main research barriers include a lack of buy-in from stakeholders to participate, and the prevailing practices around ecodesign. But he hopes emerging research suggesting that microplastics may disrupt endocrine function in humans and animals, for instance, could motivate the industry to find alternatives to traditional plastics for invasive procedures and products handling bodily fluids. In turn, this would also reduce plastic dependence. “I think formal product requirements are critical for change because the risk-averse and cost-sensitive nature of this industry discourages eco-innovation as
Industry voices: Association of British HealthTech Industries
“The healthtech sector strongly supports the direction of travel set by national sustainability requirements, and many companies have already invested significantly in reducing environmental impact across product design, manufacturing, packaging and logistics. For much of the industry, sustainability is no longer a corporate social responsibility exercise; it’s embedded into innovation and long-term business strategy. “However, as requirements move from voluntary frameworks to formal obligations, it’s essential that implementation is proportionate, supported by clear, practical guidance and accompanied by realistic timelines. Manufacturers operate within complex global supply chains and highly regulated safety environments. Poorly aligned requirements risk diverting resource away from innovation and patient benefit without improving environmental outcomes.
“Metrics must be meaningful and actionable, and better aligned across jurisdictions. Divergent reporting expectations between markets create duplication rather than progress, increasing administrative burden while limiting comparability of impact. “More broadly, sustainability regulation is one of several pressures increasing the cost of supplying the UK market. There is now urgent need for procurement practices to recognise these evolving obligations and move beyond unit price alone, instead properly valuing whole-life impact, resilience, and long-term patient and system benefit. “With the right alignment between regulators, health systems and industry, sustainability policy can support both environmental goals and continued access to safe, innovative technologies.” – Addie MacGregor, sustainability manager
the model of change,” Kumar adds. Across the sector, where both division and mutual goals sit, it appears the decades immediately ahead will prove particularly critical to longer-term sustainability regulation. For now, though, it’s the 2020s that are poised to consolidate existing progress and set the tone for future generations – in Europe and globally. ●
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MMI058_Smithers.indd 1 29/04/2026 16:20 MMI058_RQM+.indd 1 17 30/03/2026 15:54
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