The Valencian Community, with the Circular Health Project, is committed to an initiative that seeks to transform plastic waste generated in new useful products for the health sector. With the support of AIMPLAS and the coordination of Fisabio, the project seeks to integrate the circular economy in hospital processes without compromising patient safety.
The Circular Health Project and functional strategy
This plan focuses on two specific lines of action: reducing the weight of sanitary packaging used by 10 % and improving its recyclability by 20 %. The objective is clear: to reduce the volume of waste and facilitate its reincorporation into the production cycle.
Among the most innovative developments of the project is a digital platform for waste waste management. This tool collects data in real time to evaluate plastic consumption per patient and ensure compliance with environmental objectives. In addition, it will enable the identification of bad practices and the application of green purchasing criteria in hospital processes.
The initiative also includes the preparation of an eco-design guide for medical packaging and a system of indicators for those responsible for purchasing. This package of measures seeks to facilitate the selection of products with a lower environmental impact, encouraging the use of reusable and recyclable materials in the health sector.
AIMPLAS, together with CM Plastik and Global Tech Strategies, has mentioned the importance of developing recycling technologies capable of reintroducing materials into the same hospital circuit.
Favorable development also depends on the involvement of medical and technical personnel. For this reason, Sanidad Circular includes an awareness and training program that promotes good practices in the handling of materials, encouraging environmental responsibility at all levels of care.
Each ton of recycled plastic avoids the emission of 2.25 tons of CO2. This underlines the project’s potential to contribute to European decarbonization objectives, aligning the healthcare sector with large-scale sustainability goals. In addition, it allows to respond to the guidelines of the European Directive on single-use plastics.
With funding from IVACE+i and the support of FEDER funds, Circular Health represents a replicable model that seeks to transform the relationship between health and the environment through viable, measurable and sustainable solutions.
Source and photo: AIMPLAS