In partnership with Sanitas Healthcare
In a significant move towards enhancing sustainability in healthcare, Sanitas Healthcare, recently launched the Protect Video Laryngoscope (VL). Borealis’ portfolio of the Bornewables™ materials played a crucial role in the development of the Protect VL. This innovative medical device exemplifies both companies' commitment to providing solutions in the healthcare industry that address clinical excellence and environmental responsibility.
The Protect VL project was born out of a vision to reduce the environmental footprint of medical devices. Designed to be substantially reusable, the Protect VL features a single-use element made from a single material with excellent recycling potential, setting it apart in the realm of sustainable medical technology.
Mark Wilkinson, Technical Director, Sanitas Healthcare
Sanitas Healthcare chose Polypropylene (PP) as the primary material for the single-use elements of the Protect VL. Compared to traditional materials like polycarbonate (PC) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), PP offers significant sustainability advantages. Firstly, PP has lower density, requiring 25% less plastic by weight to manufacture the same volume of product.
In addition to standard PP, Borealis offers the Bornewables PP: A portfolio of polypropylene polyolefins produced from renewable feedstocks. This enables producers to meet their sustainability targets backed via ISCC PLUS certification.
The following table shows a direct comparison of different materials and advantages achieved by choosing polypropylene. This comparison is based on nominal uptake of Protect VL at 200.000 units per year. With around 1.5 million endotracheal intubations in the UK alone, the significant potential for impact is clear.
A direct comparison between different materials and advantages gained by choosing polypropylene.
© Sanitas Healthcare
Polypropylene's low density allows for a 25% reduction in plastic use compared to polycarbonate.
Figure 1 shows the Global Warming Potential of fossil-based polypropylene and the emission savings achieved by switching to the Bornewables PP. The renewable content in the Bornewables is attributed renewable feedstock, using through the the mass balance approach, and the entire process is according to certified by ISCC PLUS. This switch has the potential to reduce the product carbon footprint of ca. 2.1 kg CO2e per kg of polypropylene.
Comparison of partial carbon footprint (cradle-to-gate): kgCO2e/kg polyolefin, based on a LCA study performed in 2021 to evaluate POs produced using renewable feedstocks. LULUC: land use and land use change, GHG: greenhouse gas emissions.
© Borealis
Sanitas Healthcare's choice of the Bornewables PP aligns with their overarching goal of minimizing environmental impact while maintaining superior performance and safety standards.
The Bornewables grades of polypropylene are derived from renewable sources and produced with sustainability in mind. They represent a credible and impactful step towards more circular healthcare solutions.
Borealis has long been a leading producer of high-quality polymers, and our commitment to sustainability is demonstrated through our Bornewables line. These materials are not only derived from renewable feedstocks but also maintain the highest standards required for healthcare applications. The use of the Bornewables polypropylene in the Protect VL project underscores dedication to reducing the carbon footprint in healthcare.
The sustainability of the Protect VL is further enhanced by its recycling potential. Sanitas Healthcare has successfully demonstrated a closed-loop recycling process, in which used parts are recovered following clinical use, sterilized, ground into pellets, and molded into new devices with identical mechanical properties as those made from virgin material.
This proves not only the recyclability of the Bornewables polypropylene but also showcases the feasibility of integrating circularity into healthcare. In the years to come, recycling waste streams can further improve the sustainability profile of resins and consequently healthcare products. However usage of these resins for recycling streams is at the moment subject to regulatory changes are relevant to the Healthcare industry.
The development and launch of the Protect VL marks a milestone in sustainable medical device innovation. By choosing the Bornewables polypropylene from Borealis, Sanitas Healthcare is setting a new standard for environmentally responsible healthcare products. This collaboration highlights the potential for innovative material solutions to drive meaningful change in the industry, ensuring that sustainability and clinical excellence go hand in hand.
Borealis will be showcasing a wide array of Healthcare applications at K 2025, from injector pens to IV bags—demonstrating our commitment to both innovation and sustainability in the medical field.
Borealis and Borouge - Curious, Collaborative, Circular
© Borealis
Borealis Healthcare: Because we care
As a leading supplier of advanced polyolefins for medical and diagnostic devices and pharmaceutical packaging, Borealis has been a reliable and trusted partner to the industry for over 25 years. The cornerstone of Borealis Healthcare is the Bormed™ Concept, founded on the principles of service, commitment and conformance, with unrivalled regulatory and technical support provided to material engineers to enable innovation. Medical polyolefins in the Bormed™ grade portfolio offer superior technical performance, fulfilling the most stringent requirements in terms of safety and quality. As a global supplier, Borealis can ensure long-term supply security. As a circular economy pioneer, Borealis offers material solutions from its ISCC Plus certified Bornewables™ and Borcycle™ C grade portfolios to deliver the same high material performance as virgin grades, but with a reduced carbon footprint. Enabling our customers to achieve their own sustainability targets is central to our EverMinds™ approach to promoting and accelerating plastics circularity.
Bormed™ is a trademark of Borealis AG.
www.borealisgroup.com | www.borealiseverminds.com
About Sanitas Healthcare
Sanitas Healthcare is headquartered in Cambridge, UK. Sanitas supplies transformative technologies worldwide. We distribute truly innovative products to a wide range of clients including UK NHS, pharmacy chains, supermarkets and hospitals. Sanitas is a world leader in the provision of antimicrobial technology and medical devices. Our innovations commercialised under the PROTECT™ brand.
www.sanitas.uk