A pioneering collaboration in the Netherlands demonstrates that non-contaminated hospital plastic waste can be recycled into high-quality, circular medical packaging, setting a new benchmark for sustainable healthcare practices.
Hospital plastic waste presents a significant environmental challenge, with large quantities of non-contaminated polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) medical waste in Europe typically incinerated despite being recyclable. Addressing the comp...
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lex demands of sterility and patient safety in the healthcare industry has traditionally hindered the adoption of circular solutions for medical packaging. However, a pioneering collaboration involving Coveris, SABIC, Zuyderland Medical Centre, healthcare brand Artivion, and other partners has demonstrated that circularity in medical packaging is achievable.
This initiative, launched in 2024 at Zuyderland Medical Centre in the Netherlands, introduced a novel waste collection system targeting non-contaminated plastic waste—items not in contact with patients or bodily fluids—which would otherwise be incinerated. The hospital introduced separate pink bags for collecting this specific waste stream, which was then transported by a specialized operator to SABIC. SABIC, a global chemical company, employed pyrolysis technology to convert this segregated hospital plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, which served as feedstock for producing certified circular polyethylene under its TRUCIRCLE™ program. This polyethylene meets the stringent medical standards required for contact-sensitive healthcare packaging, achieving a virgin-like quality.
Coveris took the circular TRUCIRCLE™ resin to manufacture medical-grade films at its Halle facility and convert them into sterile pouches at its Rohrdorf site. These pouches were supplied to Artivion to package vascular surgery guidewires, completing the cycle when the finished products returned to Zuyderland Medical Centre for clinical use. The innovative packaging solution now incorporates 25% material attributed to non-contaminated medical waste, marking a significant milestone as the first closed-loop healthcare packaging initiative of this kind.
Industry experts highlight the importance of this approach. Jan-Willem Bruijsten, Segment Director Medical at Coveris Group, emphasised their commitment to collaboration and circularity, stating, “This partnership is a perfect example of how we can make meaningful impact by joining forces.” SABIC’s Global Circular Economy Director, Khaled Al-Jalawi, echoed this sentiment by pointing out the project’s pioneering nature in showcasing the potential of circular plastic innovations within the medical ecosystem.
This project not only showcases the technical feasibility of using recycled hospital plastics in high-value packaging but also represents a systemic innovation that addresses waste reduction, resource conservation, and sustainability in healthcare. It aligns with Coveris’ broader No Waste vision, which aims to eliminate waste across all industries by avoiding product, packaging, and operational waste.
The initiative highlights how circular economy principles can be successfully integrated into the medical sector, offering a replicable model that could reduce medical waste volumes significantly while maintaining uncompromising standards of safety and hygiene. The trial addresses a previously challenging niche where contaminated waste protocols have often restricted recycling potential. According to industry data, the amount of non-contaminated medical plastic waste currently incinerated annually in Europe is estimated at around 1,700 kilotons, underscoring the environmental impact and the opportunity for change this project targets.
As this closed-loop model continues to gain traction, it could inspire wider adoption across healthcare systems globally, aligning sustainability goals with patient safety imperatives. The cross-sector collaboration between healthcare providers, chemical innovators, converters, and brand owners in this initiative serves as an exemplar for future projects aiming to create circularity in similarly sensitive applications.
Visitors are set to witness the advancement of this technology firsthand at leading industry events such as Compamed 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany, indicating growing visibility and interest in sustainable medical packaging solutions.
In conclusion, the Coveris and SABIC partnership, supported by Zuyderland Medical Centre and Artivion, marks a foundational step in transforming hospital plastic waste into valuable, medical-grade packaging. This closed-loop approach not only offers a viable route to reducing incineration and waste in healthcare but also sets a promising precedent for systemic innovation in medical sustainability.
Source: Noah Wire Services
