Surgical waste reprocessing: Injection molding using recycled blue wrapping paper from the operating room

Introduction<br/>Hospitals in the Netherlands generate approximately 1.3 million kg of waste from the polypropylene (PP) wrapping paper (WP) used to wrap surgical instruments each year. The aim of this study was to develop a method to recycle WP waste into new medical devices.<br/><br/>Methods<br/>WP was recovered from Maasstad Hospital,...

A Circular Healthcare Economy; a feasibility study to reduce surgical stainless steel waste

The Circular Economy faces a growing interest. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of a circular approach towards reusing discarded hospital instruments and stainless steel waste. Secondary, this study aims to identify if any cost savings can be realized by following a circular instrument repair and recycling approach....

Mondmaskers: van afval naar grondstof

De totale zorg draagt naar schatting voor 5 tot 8% bij aan de totale CO2-uitstoot in Nederland. Dit wordt mede veroorzaakt door het grote verbruik van medische wegwerpproducten, die na gebruik verbrand worden. Onderzocht is of gebruikte chirurgische mondmaskers gerecycled kunnen worden om nieuwe medische producten te maken. Recyclen kan ervoor...

Reprocessing Zamak laryngoscope blades into new instrument parts: an ‘all-in-one’ experimental study

Introduction: Disposable instruments in healthcare have led to a significant increase of medical waste. The aim of this study is to validate the recycling of disposable Zamak laryngoscope blades into new medical products by using a new ‘all-in-one’ affordable reprocessing setup as alternative for die-casting. <br/>Methods: An “all-in-one”...

Creating a circular healthcare economy: Circular strategies for sustainable healthcare

Our world is the only planet, as far as we know, which harbors life. The number of humans on our planet has grown tremendously in recent centuries. In 1800 one billion humans occupied our earth; on 15 November 2022, this number reached 8 billion.<br/><br/>A result of this growth, the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary greenhouse gas...