A study by Belgian chemicals and plastics producer Solvay (Brussels; www.solvay.com) and Swiss orthopaedics and instrument maker Medacta International (Castel San Pietro; www.medacta.com) suggests that single-use and reusable surgical instruments have comparable carbon footprints. The research, conducted in conjunction with independent sustainability consultant Swiss Climate (Bern; www.swissclimate.ch/e), involved analysing the cradle-to-grave life cycle of Medacta knee replacement kits – one with all-metal reusable instruments and one with single-use instruments injection moulded from several high-performance medical grade polymers supplied by Solvay. Included in the analysis were the raw materials, production, use and disposal, as well as post-use management, re-use and recovery.

Aside from concluding that the kits have comparable carbon footprints, the study found that single-use instrumentation eliminates the need for repeated washing and sterilisation, which can save up to 435 litres of water for each surgical knee procedure.

The findings counter existing industry perceptions that single-use medical instruments have a negative environmental impact compared with reusable instruments, Solvay said. “Despite the debate over environmental impact, demand for single-use instruments is growing quickly due, in part, to their potential for reducing hospital acquired infections,” said Dane Waund, global healthcare market manager for Solvay Specialty Polymers. “To help customers more familiar with metal fabrication consider making this important transition, Solvay is committed to partnering with industry leaders like Medacta to evaluate the potential environmental impact of alternative solutions, and to usher in a new generation of safer and more innovative medical instrumentation.”