The environmental sustainability of healthcare systems is under scrutiny, and medtech products developed with this in mind will likely be viewed favourably by healthcare buyers. There is also much to be gained from joined-up environmental sustainability efforts between companies in healthcare supply chains. We believe diagnostic testing is ripe for innovation in this vein. Here, we consider how companies can get a head start, evolving existing R&D processes to deliver commercially viable outcomes.
Opportunities for sustainable innovation in diagnostics
As concerns surrounding environmental sustainability intensify, the accountability of healthcare systems is moving up the agenda. Many large corporates have made strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) statements or company pledges that refer to sustainability. Yet when it comes to new product development processes, environmental sustainability is still less prominent than factors surrounding healthcare governance or accessibility. Arguably, it is currently a ‘nice to have’ rather than a core feature of diagnostics design and development. But change is coming.
While clinical efficacy, patient safety and cost remain paramount, they increasingly need to be balanced with longer-term issues which threaten the planet and wider public health. This brings many implications, both strategic and practical. Sources vary, but it’s generally acknowledged that healthcare accounts for more than 4% of global CO2 emissions. The sector is also associated with high levels of water use and single-use plastics, as well as infectious and hazardous waste. Tackling
these issues will require concerted effort and collaboration between companies and stakeholders throughout healthcare supply chains.
In this whitepaper, we focus on the diagnostic tests which inform 70-80% of healthcare decisions and account for a significant portion of the sector’s waste and carbon footprint. We show how integrating sustainability considerations with existing R&D approaches can have a positive impact on environmental and commercial performance. Companies which work proactively to establish sustainable products and partnerships could enjoy early mover advantages and competitive differentiation.
This diagnostic sustainability white paper focuses on:
- Strategies for sustainability
- Sustainability in the diagnostic process
- Innovating around blood testing
- Going beyond carbon reduction
- Sustainable design
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