Strategic approaches to drastically decrease single-use plastic in healthcare by the year 2040, as outlined in a recent publication.
In a significant stride towards sustainability, Xampla, a pioneering biotech company, has secured $14m in private funding. The funding, led by Emerald Technology Ventures, aims to support Xampla in achieving its goal of replacing single-use plastics with plant protein alternatives.
The healthcare sector's dependence on single-use plastics has been increasing costs, waste, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2023, healthcare in Europe generated over 900,000 tonnes of single-use plastics, 5 million tonnes of CO2e emissions, and cost €23 billion. If no action is taken, these costs could increase to over €34 billion per year by 2040.
Xampla's Morro materials offer an alternative to single-use plastic. If scaled across the system, by 2040 these interventions could cut single-use plastics waste in Europe by 53%, reduce GHG emissions by 52% and deliver annual savings of €8.7 billion compared to a business-as-usual scenario.
The funding will be utilized over the next five years to help Xampla's Morro materials replace over ten billion units of single-use plastic. This includes plastic linings found in takeaway boxes, coffee cups, and sachets, as well as in medical equipment and packaging.
Examples of practices already in place include several NHS trusts in England replacing single-use surgical trays with reusables, French hospitals reprocessing select medical devices, and German manufacturers redesigning rigid device packaging. The report 'A Prescription for Change', produced by Systemiq and Eunomia, quantifies the environmental and financial impacts of single-use plastics across seven high-volume product categories.
The report recommends five strategies for European hospitals and suppliers to reduce single-use plastics, cut GHG emissions, and save costs. Another initiative, the NBCo Fast Forward 50 initiative, aims to help brands transition from single-use plastic to fibre bottles, providing a 'viable, high-performance alternative' to plastic. NBCo's bottles are made from bamboo and bagasse.
In 2021, the company Vetain initiated efforts to replace single-use plastic with eco-friendly paper-based packaging (GreenCan®) and other plant-based initiatives to reduce plastic waste and ocean pollution. Large cosmetic companies such as L'Oréal also planned sustainability measures in packaging around that period, though specific 2021 initiatives are not explicitly detailed in the results.
Realizing the 'high-ambition scenario' will require 'decisive and coordinated action' from all system actors including regulators and policy makers. The report was produced in consultation with clinicians, hospital sustainability leaders, industry representatives, and academics from Europe and North America.
Yoni Shiran, partner and plastics Lead at Systemiq, states that redesigning products and procurement around circular economy principles can protect patients, protect budgets, and build resilience against future shocks. The funding for Xampla does not involve any advertisements.
In conclusion, the funding secured by Xampla marks a significant step towards combating single-use plastic waste and reducing GHG emissions in the healthcare sector. The potential savings and environmental benefits are substantial, making it a worthwhile investment for the future of sustainability.
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