B. Braun and Lehigh Valley Health Network partner for US medical plastic waste recycling

19 Oct 2022 --- B. Braun Medical (B. Braun) has been awarded a US$72,500 state grant, secured by Pennsylvania Senator Pat Browne, to fund a medical plastics waste recycling pilot project in the Lehigh Valley. 

The project will investigate the use of advanced technology to recycle non-hazardous plastic waste from B. Braun’s medical device manufacturing plant in Hanover Township and Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Cedar Crest Hospital. 

“This project provides an opportunity to make a big impact on the growing challenge of reducing plastic waste from hospitals in our healthcare system,” says Senator Browne, chairman of the PA Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Healthcare recycling 
According to the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, US hospitals generate about 28 million pounds (12.7 million kg) of waste a day, with 20-25% of that being plastic products and packaging. Only a small percentage of these plastics are recycled. 

“Our goal is to define a clear roadmap for recycling plastic waste streams in the healthcare system,” says Katherine Velekei, supervisor of sustainability at Lehigh Valley Health Network. 

“By testing the technical and economic viability of this project, we will be one step closer to developing a [environmentally] sustainable, circular economy solution for medical plastic waste, which is central to our mission of creating a healthy environment for our patients and communities.”

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.Striving for common solutions 
The concept for a medical plastics recycling project came from B. Braun’s testimony in October 2021 before the Pennsylvania Senate Economy, Business and Jobs Caucus and follow-up discussions with PA Senator Lisa Boscola, co-chair of the Caucus. 

“The buildup of plastics in our ecosystem is a serious issue that needs to be addressed at multiple levels,” says Senator Boscola. “This initiative is a great example of how the government and industry can work together to find solutions to the problem.”

B.Braun, a leader in infusion therapy and pain management, says the partnership will advance its sustainability strategy. “Not only will this initiative help reduce our own environmental footprint, it allows B. Braun to support the sustainability objectives of Lehigh Valley Health Network, one of Pennsylvania’s leading health systems,” says Christian Hutter, associate director, Sustainability and Packaging, B. Braun. 

“We appreciate Senator Browne’s efforts to secure funding to help make the project a reality and Senator Boscola’s work to bring stakeholders together and build awareness of the issue.”

PureCycle Technologies
The companies are working with PureCycle Technologies, which uses innovative, patented technology to separate color, odor and any other contaminants from certain non-hazardous plastic waste feedstock to transform it into virgin-like recycled PP. 

High-volume plastics such as packaging materials, non-PVC IV bags, disposable gowns and masks; and irrigation bottles used at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest; and scrap materials generated at B. Braun’s medical device manufacturing plant in Hanover Township, PA, will be targeted for collection and recycling.

The state grant will help offset the cost of purchasing recycling collection equipment, preparing a third-party project evaluation report and project administration. The demonstration project is expected to be operational early in 2023.

Edited by Natalie Schwertheim

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