A study conducted by Serres, the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland within the Business Finland-funded PlasticsCircularity project has explored how circular economy solutions could reduce the climate impact of medical suction bags used in operating rooms. The work is part of the SPIRIT programme and highlights both the environmental potential and the traceability requirements of circular healthcare plastics.
Healthcare plastics are essential for patient safety and efficient hospital operations, but their end-of-life treatment remains challenging. Strict hygiene requirements, potential contamination risks and fragmented waste management practices mean that many plastic products used in hospitals are still single-use items that are incinerated after use. At the same time, hospitals are under increasing pressure to meet ambitious net zero targets and reduce the environmental impact of their operations.
Product marketing manager Jari Herranen at Serres explains how the project got started. Serres, a manufacturer of surgical fluid collection and management solutions, has sustainability at the core of their strategy and wanted to explore the recycling scenarios of their products as this area has not been studied so much so far. After discussing with Group manager and leading researcher Susanna Horn from Syke, the two organisations saw an interesting opportunity to study this topic within the PlasticsCircularity project.
The study, Healthcare plastics in circular economy – Climate impacts and traceability requirements of a medical suction bag, focused on Serres’ medical suction bag system used to collect patient fluids during surgery. The suction bag system typically consists of a reusable outer canister and a thinner single-use plastic bag for collecting fluids. For comparison, the study also examined a fully disposable rigid canister, representing the highest-impact scenario still used in some markets. Together with Syke, Serres examined different circular economy scenarios for the system, comparing the climate impacts of reuse, recycling, bio-based materials and energy recovery.
From incineration towards lower-impact scenarios
Susanna Horn explains that the life cycle assessment covered seven scenarios (S0 to S6), ranging from a baseline situation to more advanced circular alternatives. The results show that major improvements can already be achieved by moving away from fully disposable systems and avoiding the incineration of liquid-containing waste. According to the study, replacing a single-use disposable canister with a reusable outer component and a single-use flexible suction bag significantly reduce impacts (from 3,21 to 1,64 kg CO₂e per use), while separating collected fluids from plastic waste brings further benefits (to 0,34 kg CO₂e per use).
The comparison between the scenarios also suggests that hospitals can make step-by-step progress towards lower environmental impacts. After the move from disposable canisters towards reusable components together with thin single use disposable bag and improved treatment of patient fluids, the next steps could include replacing fossil-based polyethylene partly with bio-based polyethylene and increasing recycling instead of incineration. Autoclave decontamination and mechanical recycling was identified as a particularly efficient recycling route. Chemical recycling, instead, enables virgin-quality recycled material, but is more energy intensive. In the best-case scenario, combining a multi-use canister with a bio-based disposable bag that is emptied, autoclaved and mechanically recycled, reduces impacts to 0,21 kg CO₂e per use.
The best circular options also require the highest traceability
One of the key findings is that improved environmental performance is closely linked to the need of stricter traceability systems. The scenarios with the lowest climate impacts and highest circularity were also the ones requiring the most robust data management. Recycling and bio-based raw material scenarios call for reliable chain-of-custody systems, verified decontamination processes, material tracking and clear documentation throughout the value chain.
This means that circularity in healthcare plastics is not only a question of material flows. It is also a question of how data, safety requirements and responsibilities are managed across organisations. For hospitals and suppliers, moving towards circular solutions requires practical systems that make recycling safe, transparent and verifiable.
Supporting hospitals on their circularity roadmaps
For Serres, the study is closely linked to the company’s strategy and work with customers. Hospitals are at different stages in their efforts to improve plastic waste management. Some are still moving away from high-impact disposal practices, while others, for example in the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK are already considering more advanced circular economy options. The study provides evidence that can help hospitals understand which steps create the largest climate benefits and how they can continue towards more sustainable material handling.
According to Jari Herranen, rather than presenting circular economy as a single leap, the results point to a roadmap approach. First, hospitals can move away from high-mass fully disposable collection systems. Next, they can improve the treatment of patient fluids and explore recycling solutions. According to Susanna Horn, further improvements can then be achieved through bio-based feedstock and increased recycling instead of incineration at end of life, provided that safety and traceability requirements are fulfilled.
Jari Herranen concludes: “Increasing the recycling of plastics recycling in hospitals calls for innovation across the whole ecosystem. We are looking forward to putting the results of this study into practice and want to guide hospitals in their transition towards more sustainable healthcare plastics management.”
The PlasticsCircularity project aims to advance the circular economy of plastics, particularly from the perspective of recycling, develop data-driven solutions to support circularity and strengthen collaboration between actors across the plastics value chain. The project explores regulation related to plastics recycling and supports companies in strategic decision-making. It also identifies business opportunities and develops solutions for recycling plastic streams that remain challenging today, helping to achieve the EU’s ambitious recycling targets. The project involves seven industrial partners and four research organisations. It is part of the SPIRIT Veturi programme funded by Business Finland and led by Borouge International (former Borealis).