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Exploratory study of the state of environmentally conscious design in the medical device industry


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Abstract

This exploratory study seeks to explore the current state of design for the environment (DfE) in the development of medical devices; an historically risk averse industry that lags behind others in terms of addressing environmental considerations. A cross-sectional survey of 34 medical device designers, primarily in the UK and USA, was conducted in order to fulfil this objective. Findings indicate that there is significant motivation to enhance DfE practice, but that there are multiple barriers to this. Major barriers identified are a perception of the high cost of DfE, the industry’s current reliance on a single-use business model for many current products and a lack of education about DfE topics on all sides. Designers felt that the most significant opportunities to implement DfE are in situations where they are able to exert direct control, mainly in the early stages of the design process. Issues noted include raw material choice and packaging decisions. The nature of single use business models is also critical, pointing towards the needs for a systemic rather than product focus. For this to be achieved, financial rewards must be evident to firms and the changing regulatory landscape might also make a more significant impact.

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Keywords

Design for environment (DIE), Medical devices, Ecodesign, Design for sustainability (DfS)

Journal Title

Journal of Cleaner Production

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0959-6526
1879-1786

Volume Title

108

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/E001769/1)
This research was supported using funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in the United Kingdom, grant number EP/E001769/1.