A case study on the environmental and economic sustainability of using remanufactured ultrasound catheters
Authors
Andersen, Amanda Worsøe ; Sørensen, Siri Fritze
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2022
Pages
99
Abstract
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan sundhedssektoren kan reducere ressourceforbrug og udledninger ved at anvende genfabrikation som cirkulær strategi, med et casestudie af genfabrikerede engangskatetre til ultralyd på Aarhus Universitetshospital. Den miljømæssige effekt vurderes med livscyklusvurdering (LCA), og de økonomiske konsekvenser analyseres med totalomkostninger over ejertid (TCO). En socio-teknisk tilgang baseret på Actor-Network Theory og brug af analysens resultater som boundary object belyser, hvordan et system for genfabrikerede engangsmedicinske produkter kan introduceres og skaleres i samspil med gældende regler og berørte aktører. Resultaterne indikerer, at genfabrikation af engangskatetre til ultralyd reducerer klimaaftrykket sammenlignet med nuværende praksis og kan være økonomisk fordelagtig. Implementering forudsætter dog inddragelse af flere aktører samt arbejde med ejerskab og legalisering af genfabrikation af engangsmedicinsk udstyr i Danmark.
This thesis examines how healthcare can reduce resource use and emissions by adopting remanufacturing as a circular economy strategy, using a case study of remanufactured single-use ultrasound catheters at Aarhus University Hospital. Environmental effects are quantified through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and economic implications are evaluated via Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). A socio-technical perspective based on Actor-Network Theory and the use of the analysis results as a boundary object explores how a system for remanufactured single-use medical devices could be introduced and scaled within existing regulations and stakeholder networks. Findings indicate that remanufacturing ultrasound catheters lowers climate impact relative to current practice and can be economically beneficial. Successful implementation nonetheless depends on engaging multiple actors and progressing the legal and ownership conditions for remanufacturing single-use medical devices in Denmark.
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