The Challenge

Approximately 16 billion injections are administered globally each year (WHO, 2024). Unfortunately, not all needles and syringes are properly disposed of (WHO, 2024), posing a danger of injury and infection as well as potential reuse of an unsterilised product. Single-use products, such as injection needles and syringes, are popular due to the risk of transferable / infectious diseases plus the high cost and time-consuming process of sterilisation (Collier, 2011). However, massive amounts of plastic packaging, single-use tools, and diagnostic devices emit greenhouse gases (GHG) when incinerated or while decomposing in landfills and oceans (Greene, Skolnik & Merritt, 2022). In fact, healthcare systems are responsible for 4%–5% of the emissions of GHGs worldwide (Rodríguez‐Jiménez et al., 2023).

The Circular Opportunity

Single-use medical supplies account for roughly 80% of the industry’s carbon footprint in terms of production, transport, usage, and disposal (Greene et al., 2022). Medical supplies, like many other common household items, were made of reusable metal, fabric, and glass in the past, with little to no plastic used in their production or packaging (Johns Hopkins, 2023). Currently, almost all medical supplies, including surgical masks, syringes, and surgical tools, are wrapped in or made of plastic (Johns Hopkins, 2023). As a matter of fact, 85% of global medical waste is comprised of discarded materials that are disposable rather than reusable, despite only 15% of it being hazardous (Greene et al., 2022).

A sustainable healthcare system is one in which products are developed for longevity and circularity while also ensuring device reliability and patient safety.

The Circular Solution in Practice

HealthBeacon is an Irish digital therapeutics company that develops products for patients to manage injectable medications at home.

The HealthBeacon Injection Care Management System monitors medication adherence and persistence by providing medication management reminders, safe and sustainable sharps disposal devices, educational resources, and artificial intelligence (AI) operated data analytics. The company is presently operating in 17 countries, primarily across Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom. Peer reviewed evidence published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy revealed that patients using this technology improved injectable medication adherence by up to 26% (Glynn, 2020).

HealthBeacon and Novartis Ireland are collaborating to use the HealthBeacon Green Labs to develop a platform that will offer quick and easy innovative sustainability solutions for Novartis patients (Novartis Ireland, 2022). The first step of this partnership is supplying reusable sharps bins to rheumatology, dermatology, and neurology patients.

Smart technology reminds patients to take their medication and alerts them when their sharps bin is almost full. The full sharps bin is then collected from the

patient’s home, sanitised, and returned to the patient for reuse, ensuring an environmentally friendly and safe service for patients (Novartis Ireland, 2022).

Replicability

According to a report by Grand View Research, Inc., the global home healthcare market is estimated to reach USD 747.b billion by 2030 (GVR, 2024). From 2022

to 2030, the market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.21% (GVR, 2022). The increase of chronic illnesses such as respiratory diseases, kidney disorders, and diabetes is driving up demand for home therapeutic devices.

HealthBeacon has an excellent opportunity to capitalise on this thriving market and expand its business. The collection and sustainable disposal of injectable sharps is a significant step towards tackling the global challenge

of sustainably managing medical waste and assisting pharmaceutical companies in adopting more sustainable waste management practises.

A few initiatives worth noting in the circular medical devices sphere include:

Tympany Medical, a CIRCULÉIRE new venture, is a Galway-based medical technology company that produces reusable endoscopes.

The ReMed project, a collaboration between Loughborough University and the University of Leeds, aims to identify the barriers to the circular use of medical devices and develop sustainable solutions.