The MEDI4Future (M4F) aims to promote circular solutions in the MedTech sector. Eleven partners from six countries are working together to reduce waste and promote sustainable practices in MedTech - for a resource-efficient and sustainable future in north-west europe.
The healthcare sector in the European Union generates approximately 2.5 million tonnes of waste every year, with less than 10% currently recycled. Disposable medical products such as single-use devices, gloves, gowns and other consumables contribute significantly to this environmental footprint. Despite growing policy momentum through initiatives such as the European Green Deal and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, implementing circular solutions in the MedTech sector remains difficult due to strict requirements related to sterility, safety, traceability and certification.
MEDI4Future was developed to overcome these obstacles and promote the use of circular approaches for single-use products across ten regions in north-western Europe and Italy – through collaboration between highly specialised medtech clusters.
Key objectives
- Reduce waste generated by MedTech products by up to 50%
- Support SMEs in transitioning to circular business models
- Adapt circular solutions from other industries to MedTech regulatory realities
- Strengthen collaboration between specialised MedTech ecosystems across Europe
By counteracting the segregated nature of the sector, and utilising a transnational approach, MEDI4Future introduces a novel, modular, and scalable approach that adapts existing circular solutions from other sectors to the regulatory realities of the MedTech sector. It enables stakeholders to implement effective sustainability measures without requiring disruptive regulatory changes or prohibitively high certification costs.
Key Project Outputs
- Strategic Framework for Circular MedTech: a strategy for regional governments and an action plan for Business Support Organisations and Regional Development Agencies
- Circular MedTech Toolbox for SMEs: Practical guidance to help companies transition toward circular design, production and waste management practices
- Capacity-Building Programme: training programme supporting MedTech organisations in adopting circular solutions
The project will test its solutions through 8 pilot actions with MedTech SMEs, ensuring that developed tools and strategies are applicable in real industrial and healthcare environments.
