Towards circular business models for single-use medical devices

The shift toward single-use medical devices has resulted in increased environmental damage and health care expenditures. This paper analyses the possibility of transitioning the single-use medical device industry to more circular business models that couple circular design with device reprocessing. Using a case-based approach, opportunities for improving the circularity of single-use medical devices through business model innovation and design-for-reprocessing are examined in light of the trend toward servitization in the medical sector. Findings identify regulatory and other incentives that may motivate device manufacturers to pursue these opportunities and develop circular economy solutions that incorporate reprocessing into device design and offering.