Waste, Recycling Top Sustainability Issue for Medical Supply Industry

Waste and recycling is a big priority for the medical equipment and supplies industry, yet many companies don’t have sustainability goals, according to a new study.

According to Green Research, a New York-based corporate sustainability research firm, the industry, which generates more than $100 billion in revenue, tends to set sustainability goals that focus on waste management more than reducing greenhouse gases, which is the top issue in many other industries.

"Reducing waste and diverting waste from landfills is a key imperative in this industry," said David Schatsky, principal analyst and founder of Green Research, in a news release. "It has even emerged as a new revenue opportunity."

The report highlights two companies, Stryker and Becton, Dickinson and Co. (BD), that have created businesses that reclaim, reprocess, recycle or remanufacture used medical products to help hospitals reduce their own waste and create revenue for themselves.

But the study also determined that just four of the 10 largest manufacturers of medical equipment and supplies have announced any public environmental sustainability goals, and those that have aren’t overly specific.