Transitioning towards a circular (healthcare) economy: Circular Economy principles, leadership, policy and decision-making

Bart van Straten; Bruno Bruins; Tim  Horeman

doi:10.59490/mg.217

Transitioning towards a circular (healthcare) economy: Circular Economy principles, leadership, policy and decision-making

Authors

Bart van Straten

Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0269-6593

Bruno Bruins

Recycling company Renewi

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0949-0661

Tim Horeman

Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8527-4486

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59490/mg.217

Keywords: Circular economy, sustainability, circular engineering, recycling, circular healthcare economy

Synopsis

Educational level: Bachelor / Master

This book offers a comprehensive roadmap toward a circular and sustainable healthcare system, structured into three distinct parts.

Part I describes circular principles and policy tactics. Chapter 1 outlines the essentials of sustainable healthcare and designates the paradox in daily practice of sustainability and the circular economy. In Chapter 2 the impact of leadership on policy together with best practices is discussed. The legislation and infrastructural web, in which many stakeholders and circular economy initiatives are strangled, is described. Despite the fact that politicians and policymakers are motivated to encourage sustainability, the infrastructure is designed to discourage circular economy projects. This chapter shows examples of setting-up intrinsic motivated teams of hospital staff, green teams, industry leaders and scientific motivated research teams. Swimming against the current is about the legislation paradox. In chapter 3 described as how legislation should be redesigned to accomplish the goals as set out in the green deal and the climate law.

Part II serves as a practical guide to implementing circular strategies. In chapter 4 the reader is guided through the fundamentals of circular strategies by visualizing the circular economy. Chapter 5 reveals successful design strategies for products and processes which contribute to a zero-waste society. Using recycled materials by using waste as input for new products is described in chapter 6. In chapter 6 we will explore (surgical) waste as input for new products. Recycled should and could be used more. This is a fundamental concept within circular design principles but hardly used until this moment.

Part III explores circular economy design principles on basis of successful examples. This part dives into real-world applications and measurable outcomes. It showcases successful circular design concepts and business models that have reshaped the market. Chapter 7: Is about leading by design. Success stories of circular concepts which have effectively changed the market with circular products and services are designated. Also entrepreneurial success stories of circular economy business models are presented. Chapter 8 investigates how to measuring effectiveness and impact of circular economy products and processes. In particular how reliable some facts are which are used by many to sell products or introduce new policies or legislation. How trustworthy is data from life cycle assessments (LCA’s)? What are the pitfalls? Is it possible to manipulate these data? Why should we characterize one-sided data from an LCA as greenwashing? Circular Economy principles, sustainability and, in broader sense, the climate discussion seem to trigger emotions. Using fundamental and reliable data is essential in order to be able to judge whether a product or process indeed reduces CO2 emissions is essential in decision-making. Chapter 9 focusses on how universities can contribute to sustainable solutions by presenting different cases which resulted in actual results which were implemented or are ready for upscaling. The role of universities as innovation hubs is highlighted through case studies with proven impact. The final chapter offers a reflective and forward-looking analysis on how circular strategies in healthcare can shape future societal developments.

The authors reflect on the content in chapter 10. A final part in which a critical analysis is presented and the impact it could have on future developments and the society.

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Author Biographies

Bart van Straten, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Bart van Straten is an expert in the field of the circular healthcare economy and holds a doctorate in BioMedical Engineering. He is affiliated with several public institutions and private companies including Van Straten Medical. He co-founded GreenCycl, an organization with a mission to decrease the amount of medical waste. A Field Lab for experimental research on reprocessing surgical waste into new raw materials and medical products. His research and teachings won several awards. Bart is affiliated to the research group Sustainable Surgery & Translational Technology at TU Delft, where he is a lecturer on medical device prototyping and several related courses. Bart developed a Field Lab together with Tim Horeman for experimental research on reprocessing surgical waste into new raw materials and medical products. His research has led to his book ‘Creating a circular healthcare economy’ and won several awards, for example in the Utrecht Circular Innovation Top 20, as builder of the world’s first recycling process for hospital waste. His drive is to bridge the gap between science, business and healthcare professionals with the aim to make societal impact emerging from the scientific field.

Bruno Bruins, Recycling company Renewi

Bruno Bruins is Chief Strategy Officer of recycling company Renewi and is previous member of the Dutch State Council. As politician he served as Minister for Medical Care in the Third Rutte cabinet from 26 October 2017 to 19 March 2020. Before that he served as State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science from 29 June 2006 to 22 February 2007 in the Third Balkenende cabinet. Bruno is specialist in management and public administration. Having a background in Law and Public Administration (University of Groningen), Bruno was co-teacher in the online MOOC courses from TU Extension School which were developed by Bart van Straten and Tim Horeman and instructs in this course aspects such as the climate law, the Green Deal and other circular economy strategies leading to sustainable healthcare.

Tim Horeman, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Tim Horeman is Associate Professor in Sustainable Surgery & Translational Technology and Academic Portfolio Director (APD)-Medical technology of TU Delft. Tim has ample experience in the objective assessment of surgical skills and surgical instrument functioning based on interaction force, instrument motion and other data sources. Currently, Tim is leading the development of a new generation of sustainable surgical instruments for advanced (robot) surgery, that should foster the introduction of more functional instruments in less wealthy parts of the world.

As it is essential to bring lifesaving surgical innovations in reach of surgeons and healthcare workers, Tim became a distinguished serial medtech entrepreneur with a strong focus on surgical devices and evidence-based implementation studies. He is PI and (co)founder of the international companies GreenCycl, MediShield & ForceSense, SATA Medical and SuperSeton, which have brought multiple innovations to the worldwide market of surgical equipment. Tim is (co)author of over 80 journal publications, inventor on 18 patent (families) and PI on multiple international research projects in the field of surgical instrument waste processing, SMART implants, global instruments and Minimally Invasive Surgery. In 2016, Tim was awarded the Dutch royal engineer of the year award for his contributions to the healthcare sector. In 2018 and 2022 Tim was elected Tech Committee member of the European Association of Endoscopic Surgery with a strong focus on sustainable surgical instruments and processes.

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