Julia Schroer
Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management
Chris Laszlo
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Stryker's Sustainability Solutions division takes devices traditionally considered to be single-use and reprocesses them so that they can be used multiple times. Their medical devices address sustainability on multiple levels, including financial sustainability for hospitals and providers, sustainability of services provided for patients, and environmental sustainability for all.
Abir Hasnat, a senior engineer in the advanced operations department at Stryker's Sustainability Solutions division, described the process by which single-use medical devices are reprocessed and remanufactured for reuse by medical professionals in a clinical setting. Non-invasive, vascular, and surgical single-use medical devices that have been purchased by hospitals and healthcare organizations are collected, rather than thrown away, after their initial use. The employees at Stryker's Sustainability Solutions division then sort through these recycled devices to separate the damaged devices from those that are able to be reused. These devices are then disassembled, cleaned, and inspected to ensure they meet the same standards of quality and safety as the original devices. Hospitals and organizations can then purchase these medical devices at a decreased cost.
The medical industry is one that has been traditionally excluded from the shift towards sustainability exhibited by all other major industries. It is the mindset of many healthcare organizations and providers in the United States that they are exempt from such initiatives, as the business of saving lives takes precedence over any other social or environmental concerns. One company, however, has made it their mission to put the beliefs of these nonbelievers to rest. Stryker's innovative processes have the potential to radically reduce the nearly six million tons of garbage produced annually by the healthcare industry in the United States.
Stryker’s Sustainability Solutions division designed an innovative process by which single-use medical devices can be reused multiple times in a clinical setting. The reprocessed medical devices meet the same standards put in place by the FDA as original equipment manufacturers, but provide added financial sustainability to all parties involved. Currently around 2% of all single-use devices in the United States are able to be reprocessed by companies such as Stryker’ Sustainability Solutions division, resulting in $400 million in revenue. There is great potential for scalability, however, as this practice has also been introduced for single-use medical devices in places such as Europe, Australia, and Canada.
The process utilized by Stryker's Sustainability Solutions division creates sustainability not only in the form of tools for patient care, but also in the form of financial sustainability. Savings are passed down from the company to purchasers of their medical devices. Hospitals also save by recycling single-use medical devices; these devices must normally be disposed as regulated medical waste, which can cost hospitals up to ten times more for disposal as compared to regular trash disposal. For instance, in 2016, customers saved nearly $300 million by purchasing the company’s medical devices. In a time during which healthcare costs are growing exponentially, these savings could potentially be passed on to patients.
Stryker's Sustainability Solutions division developed a circular life-cycle for single-use medical devices by taking products that would normally be sent to a landfill and turning them into products able to be reused by medical providers. The average hospital, for instance, reduces the amount of waste they produce each year by more than 3,000 pounds when purchasing medical devices from Stryker's Sustainability Solutions division. It is evident the work being done by Stryker inspires the employees whom work for the company. The company’s mission, “Together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better,” is deeply rooted within its culture. Not only has the company been recognized for its substantial contributions to the UN Global Goals, but it was also recognized as one of the top companies to work for in Arizona in three of the last four years. It is evident that Stryker's Sustainability Solutions division is committed to improving the healthcare industry not only for its employees, but for providers, for patients, and ultimately for all.
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Abir Hasnat, Senior Engineer, Advanced Operations
