Healthcare & HealthTech: Collaborating for a Sustainable Future - a Checklist

Healthcare & HealthTech: Collaborating for a Sustainable Future - a Checklist

Strong partnerships between Healthcare organisations and HealthTech suppliers can unlock opportunities for innovation, sustainability, and operational efficiency. Here's a digestible short list to start or inspire your journey towards net zero and strong clinical outcomes.

1. Co-develop Sustainable Solutions

• Collaborate on waste reduction initiatives such as reusable products, optimised surgical trays, and smarter inventory management to avoid unused drugs and medical consumables.
• Implement bio-compostable products effectively by ensuring hospital waste systems can manage them for real environmental benefits.

2. Leverage Supplier Expertise

• HealthTech suppliers may have ongoing R&D expertise for greener materials, more efficient packaging solutions, or lower-carbon production processes.
• Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and other data can be used to inform procurement decisions and measure environmental impact. It's important to note, however, while LCAs provide valuable insights, they can be costly, inconsistent across suppliers, and risk overlooking ethical or clinical factors.

3. Move Towards More Ethical Supply Chains

• Partner with suppliers committed to fair labour practices and ethical sourcing protects your organisation's reputation and aligns with core organisational values.
• Conduct supplier due diligence to prevent supporting exploitative practices.

4. Enhance Clinical and Operational Outcomes

• Collaborate with suppliers to test and validate environmentally friendly products without compromising scientific performance and clinical performance.
• Involve clinical staff early to gain buy-in on product trials and decision-making.

5. Share Emissions Measurement & Accountability

• Set mutual organisational targets for carbon reduction and waste minimisation.
• Measure emissions before and after carbon reduction projects to show tangible progress towards net zero.

6. Exchange Knowledge for Innovation

• Learn from international best practices through clinical and supplier networks.
• Access proven MedTech or medicinal innovations trialled in other healthcare settings or regions to accelerate adoption in your organisation.

‍

To learn more about how cloud-based Sustainability Solutions for Life Sciences and Healthcare can ease your journey towards net zero and beyond, contact us.