To achieve the "double carbon" goal, what can the medical device industry do?

The goals of "carbon peaking" and "carbon neutrality" proposed on September 22, 020 have aroused positive responses from all over the country. The greenhouse gases emitted by humans mainly come from fossil energy consumption (such as industrial manufacturing and transportation). Although the medical device industry is not an institution with high carbon emissions, it should also assume corresponding responsibilities. How can we do it? Let's take a look.

Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality

With the emission of greenhouse gases, the global temperature has gradually increased, which has brought serious climate problems such as sea level rise and extreme weather, affecting the global economy and natural environment. The concept of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality came into being. Carbon peaking means that carbon dioxide emissions reach a peak, no longer increase, and gradually fall back. Carbon neutrality refers to a certain period of time, through afforestation, industrial carbon sequestration, etc., to offset the generated carbon dioxide emissions to achieve "zero emissions" of carbon dioxide.

At the general debate of the 75th United Nations General Assembly, my country proposed to "strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060". Once the "dual carbon" goal was put forward, not only did the government actively respond to the policies issued, but the petroleum, chemical, coal, steel, electric power, automobile, environmental protection, transportation and other industries also announced their own carbon peaking and carbon neutrality plans and roadmaps. . Although the medical device industry is not a highly carbon-intensive institution, it can still contribute to the achievement of emission reduction targets.

Healthcare system and medical device industry

On May 6, 2021, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that all countries should commit to zero emissions by 2050 if they are to avoid the catastrophic 2.4°C rise in global temperature by the end of the century. According to data released by the WHO, in some developed countries, the carbon emissions brought by the health care system account for about 5%-15% of the national carbon emissions. Although the current proportion of carbon emissions in the medical and health system is not large, with the development of social economy and the intensification of population aging, if measures are not taken in time, the proportion of carbon emissions in this field will increase significantly.

Distribution of carbon emissions from China's medical sector in 2014.

One study found that 84 percent of healthcare facilities’ greenhouse gas emissions come from purchasing medicines, medical equipment, and other products and services, compared with building energy-using activities such as lighting, heating, cooling, and medical machinery operations, and non-outsourced transportation. Smaller (16%). The report published in "Health Care Without Harm" 2021 gives three pathways to reduce emissions in the global healthcare system: decarbonisation of infrastructure and service operations, decarbonisation of the healthcare sector supply chain, and decarbonisation of the economy and social environment.

Specific recommendations for decarbonization and emission reduction measures in the medical sector supply chain:

With reference to the circular business model, formulate sustainable procurement policies and methods (purchase only new energy electricity, energy-saving medical equipment, energy-saving air-conditioning systems, energy-saving communication systems).

Help upstream companies understand the energy conservation and emission reduction targets and measures of the medical sector, and make corresponding adjustments.

Reduce the carbon footprint of purchasing transportation and staff travel, especially by reducing air travel to once a year.

Build independent power generation systems and power storage facilities to increase the resilience of hospitals against irresistible disasters.

Leverage the influence of the healthcare sector to drive carbon reduction impacts on other high-energy industries (including construction, pharmaceuticals, etc.).

Reduce single-use packaging and plastic usage.

Increase the procurement of local food raw materials and reduce farm-to-table distances and transportation displacement.

Increase environmental protection requirements for pharmaceutical companies, with particular emphasis on the recycling and disposal of pharmaceutical waste.

Increase the use of artificial intelligence in the pharmaceutical industry to improve efficiency.

Because the vast majority of medical carbon emissions come from its supply chain, including emissions from the production, packaging and transportation of products used in the medical sector. Therefore, relevant medical manufacturers and suppliers can only reap the benefits of decarbonizing the medical sector supply chain if they take timely action to reduce emissions.

feasible measures

In the past, my country's high-end medical device market was mainly occupied by imported products. In order to reverse this situation, the state gave strong support and encouraged innovative research and development of medical devices. This is an opportunity faced by the medical device industry, but at the same time, as an energy-consuming manufacturing industry, in addition to using new energy and energy-saving work systems, it should also maintain continuous thinking and creativity on how to make equipment and various production links lower carbon.

The customs inspects imported medical devices.

In the design of medical devices, breakthroughs should be made in the direction of applying new energy, less power consumption and longer service life, and its carbon emissions can be calculated. And in the case of meeting operational requirements, reusable medical items can be designed to replace disposable products. Some scholars have calculated the total carbon emissions of a single-use and a reusable ureteroscope in the whole life cycle and found that they are equivalent, but the latter can be reused many times, avoiding the generation of a large amount of medical waste. and carbon emissions.

Ureteroscopy.

In the packaging of medical devices, consideration should be given to how to streamline packaging, reduce costs, reduce waste, and ensure standardization. The primary role of medical device packaging is to provide protection during supply and sterilization, ultimately ensuring that the device is sterile prior to use. But the packaging of medical devices is one source of carbon emissions. Medical device companies can use composite packaging or combination packaging technology to reduce carbon emissions in this area. An article published in "Nursing Time" pointed out that the use of medical device combination packaging will reduce packaging waste by 90% (2.6 tons per year) compared to individual packaging.

Disposable sterile catheterization packs in combination packaging.

The production of medical devices results in associated waste, wastewater or air emissions. Enterprises need to treat or recycle these wastes; and treat the waste gas and waste water generated by the disinfection of medical equipment to reduce the resulting carbon emissions.

As mentioned above, the medical device industry still has a broad space for development, but this development should be positive, and it should meet the country's requirements for energy conservation and emission reduction, and move towards the realization of the "double carbon goal". While seizing opportunities, enterprises should also undertake corresponding social responsibilities, taking into account human health, technological innovation, environmental protection and economic development.