Ulrike Marczak explores the necessity and benefits of the process under the title “Reuse Instead of Discard: First Remanufacturing, Then Recycling.” She particularly focuses on the sustainability aspects. Using the waste pyramid model, she explains how medical devices can achieve the longest possible lifecycle and calls upon everyone in the healthcare sector: “It is the duty of all stakeholders not only to be aware of the challenges of our time but to actively be part of the solution. However, the circular economy can only work if the industry has a common goal and works together to achieve it.”
Dr. Hagen Thielecke, in his article “Regulatory-Compliant Circular Economy for Medical Devices: Research and Development for Remanufacturing,” provides an insight into the inner workings of Vanguard AG. It is especially fascinating to see how strictly the remanufacturing practices are regulated in Germany and the EU: Before a medical device can leave a remanufacturer’s production site, it requires intensive research and development. The greatest motivation for Dr. Thielecke and his interdisciplinary team is ensuring patient safety. In these challenging times for the healthcare sector, he is particularly driven by the question: “How can original manufacturers and remanufacturers collaborate more synergistically to operate sustainably and ensure optimal and affordable care?”
Source:
Issue 4/2024, Publication: August 21, 2024, Title: Circular Economy
Publisher: TÜV Media GmbH
Website: https://mt-medizintechnik.de/circular-economy/
