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Sustainable Healthcare Plastic Products: Application of the Transition Engineering Design Approach Yields a Novel Concept for Circularity and Sustainability

Author

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  • Florian Ahrens

    (School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
    Global Association for Transition Engineering, Chelmsford CM1 1HT, UK
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Lisa-Marie Nettlenbusch

    (Global Association for Transition Engineering, Chelmsford CM1 1HT, UK
    Institute for Design Engineering & Drive Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Susan Krumdieck

    (School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
    Global Association for Transition Engineering, Chelmsford CM1 1HT, UK)

  • Alexander Hasse

    (Institute for Design Engineering & Drive Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany)

Abstract

Durable plastics are a sustainability challenge for healthcare products. Orthopedic products are regulated with strict specifications for human tissue interactions. Healthcare engineers and managers select plastic to meet the full range of material properties. Plastic is plentiful, low cost, and reliable, with established supply chains. Used plastic products can be discarded using existing waste management systems with low externality costs for orthopedic businesses. However, plastic is produced from fossil petroleum, raising issues for sustainability commitments of healthcare product companies. Barriers to the transition away from single-use plastic toward circular systems and bio-based healthcare products have been studied, but the transition is a goal that has yet to be realized. This research article reports on a transition engineering design sprint with a medium-sized orthopedic company specializing in orthoses for children and teenagers. The design sprint process engages company experts with systems perspectives on the role of unsustainable plastic in orthopedic healthcare and illuminates opportunities for capturing value in business transition. Two system transition project concepts were co-developed. The first concept is a plastics value map that aims to converge the satisfaction of essential needs with the usefulness of plastics under the limitations of a biophysically constrained future economy. The second concept is an orthopedics library data system concept that would allow reusing of fit-for-purpose used products and to inform the refurbishment of used products. In addition to an explanation of the design of the two concepts, the article presents reflections of co-design stakeholders on the usefulness and usability of the concepts. The article provides a real-world application of the co-design processes in transition engineering and the reflection by the company on the value of the results. The results indicate that the co-designed concepts could enable the company to address its sustainability aspirations and potentially resolve the dissonance of sustainability and business viability.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Ahrens & Lisa-Marie Nettlenbusch & Susan Krumdieck & Alexander Hasse, 2025. "Sustainable Healthcare Plastic Products: Application of the Transition Engineering Design Approach Yields a Novel Concept for Circularity and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-21, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4672-:d:1659491
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Flaviu Moldovan & Liviu Moldovan, 2024. "Sustainable Waste Management in Orthopedic Healthcare Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Yadav, Dinesh & Garg, Ramesh Kumar & Ahlawat, Akash & Chhabra, Deepak, 2020. "3D printable biomaterials for orthopedic implants: Solution for sustainable and circular economy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    3. Léa Weimann & Edda Weimann, 2022. "On the Road to Net Zero Health Care Systems: Governance for Sustainable Health Care in the United Kingdom and Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-27, September.
    4. Matthias Fischer, 2014. "Fit for the Future? A New Approach in the Debate about What Makes Healthcare Systems Really Sustainable," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Stefan Bringezu, 2015. "Possible Target Corridor for Sustainable Use of Global Material Resources," Resources, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-30, February.
    6. Carolynn L. Smith & Christina Rojas & Yvonne Zurynski & Andrew Partington & Jeffrey Braithwaite, 2025. "From policy to practice: building a resilient, climate aware health system from the ground up," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 178(4), pages 1-21, April.
    7. Abrar Mahjoob & Yousef Alfadhli & Vincent Omachonu, 2023. "Healthcare Waste and Sustainability: Implications for a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
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