SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, has collaborated with Zuyderland medical center in The Netherlands to help transform medical plastic waste into new contact sensitive packaging materials.
In collaboration with converters, Coveris and ACE, and brand owners Artivion and Molnlycke Health Care, the SABIC and its project partners have successfully proven the concept of recycling used medical plastic back into the medical materials stream in two innovative pilot projects.
Staff at Zuyderland launched a medical plastic waste collection program in June 2024 to help address unmet needs and challenges of plastic waste that would otherwise be incinerated. The program consists of a novel collection system for non-contaminated plastic waste that has not come into contact with patients, blood, or bodily fluids. With the support of specialized transport company L’Ortye, the plastic waste was prepared and transported to SABIC to be converted into pyrolysis oil leveraging advanced recycling processes. SABIC then used this alternative feedstock to produce virgin-like certified* circular polyethylene (PE) from its TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio.
The new certified circular TRUCIRCLE™ PE has subsequently been used in two new healthcare solutions:
- Coveris produced packaging with 25% content attributed to recycled medical waste
*for Artivion’s guide wire used in vascular surgery. - Mölnlycke Health Care produced surgical drapes with 49% content attributed to hospital-generated plastic waste* to be delivered in the ProcedurePak® solution made with semi-finished product by ACE.
Khaled Al- Jalawi, Global Circular Economy Director at SABIC stated: “We are excited about this pioneering circular business model pilot, which showcases the potential of circular plastic innovations when leading actors from across the medical ecosystem closely collaborate. Non-contaminated medical plastic waste represents a valuable feedstock opportunity, and SABIC TRUCIRCLE™ solutions could play a major role in advancing circularity in healthcare.”
Roel Goffin, board member at Zuyderland, said:‘We are very proud of this breakthrough after bringing together leading partners in the value chain. Our own non-contaminated medical plastic waste has been successfully turned into new material and returned for use in our own operating rooms.”
The collaboration also has the academic backing from Maastricht University, who has recently been awarded an Interreg EU grant for a 3-year project to help drive ‘Circular Transformation of Health and Care Systems in the Meuse Rhine Region’ with partners including SABIC and Zuyderland.