Innovative solutions for reduction of carbon footprint related to plastic material used in medtech applications

Short summary A multi-national Corporate specialized in products for the healthcare industry are looking for innovative solutions that could reduce their carbon footprint related to the use of plastic in primary packaging and single-use products. They offer a commercial agreement with technical assistance for SME:s from Canada, USA, Brazil, Germany, France, Israel, India, South Korea and Japan with relevant solutions.

Full description Reducing the use of plastic in central for basically all industries. In 2020, over 32 billion pounds of healthcare plastics were produced globally, according to HPRC (Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council). Plastic has become ubiquitous in healthcare, with a dramatic shift towards single-use items in recent decades. Though essential for healthcare delivery in some cases, plastic can negatively affect both human health and the environment at each stage of its life cycle - resource extraction, manufacturing, use, and disposal. In order to actively make a shift to a more sustainable use of plastic for single-use products as well as for primary packaging (the packaging in direct contact with the product itself) the MedTech corporate are now looking for SMEs with innovative solutions of how their carbon footprint can be reduced related to plastic use. The corporate are open to a variety of innovative solutions, it can be but are not limited to new materials, process optimization and new sustainable way of sterilize, as long it can reduce the corporates use of plastic and can have proved impact on their reduction of carbon footprint. In case of a new material, the material should have very low variation between different batches, but above all few chemical substances that could leach out and thereby give a potential toxic response. This also applies to by-products and residual products from their processes. Change controls are of great importance in the medtech-corporates production processes. Therefore the new material needs to be manufactured in the same way, in the same equipment, from the same raw material qualities, etc. Further are materials that have a "flexibility" softness of particularly interest for the corporate. In order to assure a low climate impact from a future product, an assessment of the carbon footprint of all materials and processes throughout the entire life cycle will eventually need to be made. An indication of carbon footprint from the suggested material/process is therefore important, taking into account the whole process from raw materials to end-of life. They are now looking for solution providers (SMEs), from Canada, USA, Brazil, Germany, France, Israel, India, South Korea and Japan. The corporate will invite 7 SMEs for a 20 min digital meeting from this scouting activity. From that the corporate have secure recourses to make a pilot-projects with selected SME:s solutions. Important note: This technology request is part of a Swedish innovation platform of an Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Stakeholder. If an organization does express interest in collaboration with this company before closing date, it will be guided through this innovation platform and will have the chance to be matched and get a first meeting with executives from the corporate. Please note, answering this request does not guarantee a direct contact with the corporate. Important dates: - Last day of responding on this Technology Request, January 10, 2023. - Invitation to meeting from corporate, February 1, 2023 - 20 min digital meeting, March 21-23, 2023 (exact date and time will be communicated later).

Technical Specification or Expertise Sought The possible strategies for reducing the carbon footprint is an open question but could potentially be: - Replacing fossil plastic with a more environmental sustainable material (with medical grade or quality suitable for medical applications) - Reducing the amount plastic needed with maintained quality - Sterilization technologies that enable reuse of plastic products Suggested solutions should preferably be in Technology Readiness Level 7, or higher. (System prototype demonstration in operational environment)
Contact / source: NEXT EEN Widgets (europa.eu)