The study identified two ways to reduce the environmental impact of medical devices: improving product design and making their use more efficient.
Medical e-waste is emerging as a global challenge, with much of it not being recycled due to concerns over contamination, according to a study by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum.
Electronic devices are increasingly used in healthcare, from diabetes sensors and blood pressure monitors to wearable drug-delivery systems.
Globally, 6.2 crore tonnes of e-waste is generated annually, a figure expected to rise to 8.2 crore tonnes in the next five years, according to the United Nations.
The study, Digital Health in Circular Economy, noted that medical devices contain electronics, batteries, metals and other valuable materials that could be recovered. However, much medical e-waste is incinerated, limiting opportunities to recover materials or reuse components.
Researchers assessed five devices across their life cycles, including manufacturing, packaging, transportation and end-of-life. For three devices, they also examined their wider healthcare use.
In the case of an endocutter, a surgical stapling device used to cut and seal tissue, printed circuit boards accounted for 92% of the mineral and metal resources used. The study said redesigning such devices for use across multiple procedures could significantly reduce waste.
The study identified two ways to reduce the environmental impact of medical devices: improving product design and making their use more efficient.
For ECG lead sets attached to patients, 200 monitoring procedures using single-use sets resulted in a climate impact equivalent to 97 kg of carbon dioxide. Plastics, metals and cable insulation were the main material contributors. Moving from single use to any form of reuse could reduce environmental impacts by 81% to 94%, the study found.
