Holistic Infrastructure for the recycling of Medical Devices

HOLIMED is a strategic initiative to establish a circular economy infrastructure for recycling hospital waste,
focusing on plastics from hazardous medical devices. The project aims to develop a holistic blueprint for
implementation of the new infrastructure. The project addresses i) waste management procedures, ii)
technologies for optimized decontamination, product traceability and tagging, and iii) systemic and
legislative barriers hindering a scalable circular economy for hazardous waste. This leads to innovations that
are transformative for the sector, ensuring a circular material flow in an otherwise conventional linear value
chain. HOLIMED stands out from competitors by offering a holistic solution that encompasses work
behavior, recycling technologies, and legislative challenges all at once.
In terms of impact, the project addresses the urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions from the healthcare sector
and create a societal and economic impact by reducing disposal expenses, creating jobs, and increasing
revenue for commercial partners. Furthermore, the resulting “blueprint” for a circular economy is scalable,
and the plan for implementation involves a collaborative business model in a newly established value chain,
where each partner plays a crucial role in realizing the project's objectives. The mode of operation is
transferable to other material flows and may therefore also be an example for other industries to follow.