Circular Procurement in Healthcare

In Spring 2023, the Flemish Government will launch a Green Deal Sustainable Heathcare together with many partners. Circularity is one of the four major themes within this green deal. On this page we want to collect inspiring examples and publications, specifically for the healthcare sector. This includes, for example, the purchase of medical equipment, medical instruments and medicines. But of course there are also more generic product groups that are important for the healthcare sector. On the other product group pages you will find information about construction, textiles, ICT, office furniture, catering, paper and cardboard, packaging, textiles and maintenance products.

Circulair procurement strategies Healthcare

Internal sharing: In the healthcare sector, resources such as medical equipment, furniture, or other facilities can be shared internally between departments or healthcare institutions. This helps reduce the demand for new purchases and ensures optimal use of existing resources.
Renting or peer-to-peer sharing: Consider renting medical equipment or establishing peer-to-peer sharing models for expensive devices that are only needed temporarily or seasonally. This can be cost-effective and reduce resource strain, thereby extending the lifespan of the equipment.
Reuse, refurbishing, or upgrading: Instead of purchasing new equipment or materials, existing products can be reused. Medical devices, for example, can be refurbished or upgraded to be reintroduced into healthcare practices, reducing costs and minimizing the ecological footprint.
Minimizing material use in design: When acquiring medical equipment or healthcare infrastructure, designs can be optimized to minimize material use. This could include selecting equipment that functions without unnecessary components, ensuring efficient use of raw materials, and avoiding the transportation of "packaged air," which leads to unnecessary waste.
Reducing waste:
- Utilizing existing infrastructure: Before purchasing new healthcare infrastructure, such as medical devices or furniture, consider whether existing infrastructure can be repurposed. Certain equipment may be modified for reuse, reducing the need for new raw materials.
- Reusable packaging: Ensure that suppliers use reusable packaging when transporting healthcare materials. This reduces waste and decreases the demand for new packaging materials. Ideally, suppliers should also take back packaging for reuse in future deliveries.
Multifunctional components: Healthcare facilities can benefit from multifunctional equipment and components, such as medical devices that combine multiple functions in one unit. This reduces material consumption while enhancing efficiency. For example, a medical monitor could integrate functions that would otherwise require separate devices, such as a temperature sensor or heart rate monitor.

Materials with low impact: choose materials with a low environmental impact, such as recycled materials, bio-based materials, or materials with a low carbon footprint. This applies to everything from medical equipment to furniture and healthcare infrastructure. Using such materials reduces ecological strain and contributes to a more sustainable healthcare sector.
Design for disassembly and recyclability: ensure that medical equipment, furniture, and other healthcare facilities are designed for easy disassembly at the end of their lifespan. This facilitates the reuse of materials and components, allowing them to be repurposed or recycled instead of being discarded. When designing healthcare products or infrastructure, consider how materials can be recycled later. Avoid complex material combinations that are difficult to separate, such as composites or excessive adhesives, as these complicate recycling and hinder optimal material reuse.
Understanding the share of recycled, bio-based, and virgin materials: gain insight into the amount of recycled, bio-based, and virgin (new) materials used in medical equipment and healthcare products. This information can be included in product descriptions or supplier agreements, enabling the healthcare sector to make informed choices toward circular products.
Increasing recycled content: aim to increase the proportion of recycled materials in healthcare products. This can be achieved by selecting products that contain a high percentage of recycled materials, such as plastics, metals, or paper.
Energy, water, and gas consumption during use: when selecting healthcare infrastructure and equipment, consider energy, water, and gas consumption during the usage phase. Opt for energy-efficient equipment that requires less electricity, water, or gas, reducing costs and lowering the ecological footprint of healthcare facilities.

Modular design: design medical equipment and healthcare infrastructure with a modular approach, allowing individual components to be replaced or upgraded without replacing the entire device. This minimizes material waste and extends the lifespan of products.
Design for Disassembly: ensure that healthcare products and infrastructure can be easily disassembled at the end of their lifespan. This facilitates the reuse and recycling of materials and components.
Extending warranties: increase the warranty period of healthcare products. Longer warranties encourage suppliers to deliver higher-quality products and help healthcare facilities reduce replacement and repair costs.
Contractual agreements for maintenance and repairs: include specific agreements on maintenance and repairs in contracts with suppliers. This ensures that equipment remains in good condition and reduces the need for replacements.
Upgradeable products: choose products that can be upgraded with new technologies, preventing healthcare facilities from having to purchase entirely new products when innovations become available.
Repairability and maintainability: opt for products that are easy to repair and maintain, reducing dependency on new products and contributing to lower waste production.

Design for Disassembly: design products so they can be easily taken apart at the end of their lifespan, facilitating the reuse of materials and components.
Modular design: use modular designs where individual parts can be replaced or upgraded separately, eliminating the need to replace the entire product.
Standardized design: opt for standardized components that can be used across different products, promoting reuse and efficiency.
Contractual agreements for take-back and reuse: ensure that suppliers are required to take back products or components at the end of their lifespan for reuse or refurbishing.
Promoting circular business models: encourage the adoption of circular business models such as leasing, reuse, or refurbished products to reduce waste and extend the lifespan of healthcare products.

Material transparency: request suppliers to provide information on the composition of materials used to encourage reuse.
Design for Recycling: develop products that can be easily disassembled and made from materials that are simple to recycle, preferably using mono-materials.
Material identification for plastic components: include criteria requiring plastic parts to be clearly marked with their material type to facilitate recycling and reuse.
Contractual agreements for take-back and recycling: establish contracts ensuring that suppliers take responsibility for collecting products at the end of their lifespan and recycling them appropriately.
Avoiding toxic substances: ensure that products, such as medical equipment and disinfectants, do not contain harmful chemicals. Replace toxic substances with safer alternatives to protect patients and staff while maintaining material circularity. Health Care Without Harm has published a list of substances to avoid.
Circular business models: promote circular business models such as leasing, refurbishing, and reuse to extend product lifecycles and minimize waste.

Criteria

Extensive dossier with criteria for electrical and electronic equipment for the healthcare sector on the EU GPP website. These are in need of renewal, but can certainly provide inspiration.