Medtech Sustainability Forum

Background: 

Sustainability in medical device design has become an increasingly important consideration for manufacturers, decision makers and end users. It is recognized that not only are sustainable medical devices better for the environment and attractive to consumers, but they can also offer business benefits in terms of cost savings, investor attractiveness, and improved brand and competitive advantage. We look to corporate leadership to commit to more sustainable design and manufacturing of medical devices and managing environmental impact.

Beyond the medtech sector’s core goal of improving health outcomes, we acknowledge that preserving a healthy environment and building socially responsible value chains are essential in keeping humans in good health. The medtech industry can be at the forefront of addressing sustainable healthcare challenges, and we feel that sustainable and circular solutions are the key to addressing these issues.

Vision for the MSF:

An interactive forum to generate actionable solutions for MedTech and healthcare organizations to advance their sustainability goals through circular strategies, using examples of corporates that have found success in these models.

Discussion Topics:

• What have been the biggest challenges in transitioning from linear to circular strategies for medtech companies?
• The role of government regulations and mandates in the UK and Europe in driving adoption of circular strategies. Will the US soon follow?
• Can multinational medical device companies set the example for other companies? How can we learn from the successes of the UK, European and US entities and their models?
• Spotlighting scaleup companies that offer deployable solutions for sustainable and circular practices.

Goal of the Event:

Collection and synthesis of ideas and solutions generated from the interactive group of attendees.

Note special areas of interest that emerge and solicit working groups to take ideas forward in follow-on events.

Outcomes and Call to Action:

1. To energize people to become catalysts of change, champions of their companies and organizations, to promote and expand a commitment to sustainability and circular practices.
2. To influence corporate leaders and legislatures to take action to ensure that sustainable and circular principles are integrated into business strategy. Legislation can spur innovation and create business opportunities.
3. To encourage innovative solutions for meeting sustainability goals, a driver of economic improvement and maintaining US competitiveness. Economic sustainability and growth and environmental sustainability and protection work hand in hand; they are not mutually exclusive.

Medtech Sustainability Forum

Wednesday, May 15th

Location: TBD

4:30-6:00pm                        Welcome reception for organizers, panelists

Thursday, May 16th, 8:30am- 4:30pm

Foley & Lardner, 111 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA

8:30-9:00 am                        Gathering and light breakfast

9:00-9:20                              Welcome and Introductions

                                                Moderator

• Joan Popolo, Executive Director, ACTION Innovation Network-confirmed

Guest Speakers

• Yvonne Hao, Secretary, MA Executive Office of Economic Development (or staff)
• Jeanne LeClair, Interim Director, Massachusetts Life Science Center

9:20-10:00                            Global Response to Sustainability in Med Devices and Healthcare and

Regulatory Issues (NHS mandates for sustainability, US EPR)

Moderator

• Cormac, O’Prey, Principal & Director, Kestrel Consultancy Group–confirmed

Panelists

• Shannon Hoste, VP Agilis by Kymanox- confirmed (FDA)
• Lori Trahan, US Congresswoman, MA 3^rd Congressional District (circular economy bills in legislature)
• Tom Frantz, ASTM

10:00-10:45                         Keynote: The Road to Overcoming Obstacles to Sustainable Design and Development 

• Chris Taylor,, Sustainability Lead UKI, Philips Health Systems
• Or Aileen Turnbull, VP Medtech Quality, Abiomed

10:45-11:00                         Refreshments and networking break

                                                Solicit written ideas and recommendations from attendees

11:00-12:00                         Fireside Chat: Advancing Sustainability in Medical Plastics

                                                Moderator

• Parna Sarkar-Basu

Panelists

• Katherine Hofmann, Medical Plastics Sustainability Lead, Eastman
• Peylina Chu, Executive Director, Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council-confirmed
• Meg Sobkowicz-Kline, Professor of Plastics Engineering, UMass Lowell-confirmed
• Shyaam Ramkumar, Head of Growth Strategy, Circularise (Digital Product Passports)-confirmed
• Liyuan Wang, Founder, LoopCO2

12:00-1:00                            Working Lunch and Networking: Highlighting the Innovators – Flash talks

Moderator

• Joan Popolo, ACTION Innovation Network

                                                Startup Presenters:

• Circularise, Shyaam Ramkumar (digital product passports, supply chain traceability)
• GreenLab Recycling, Sam White, Founder (Concord)
• Adler Innovation, Daniel Schoener, Owner (Newton)
• Z-Polymers, Mike Zimmerman, Founder (Lowell)
• LoopCO2, Liyuan Wang, CEO (Worcester)
• Move EV, David Lewis, Founder & CEO (Pittsfield)
• Polymer-X, Qi Dong (Somerville)

1:00-1:30                              Economics of Sustainability in Hospitals

                                                Moderator

• Richard Meilklejohn-confirmed

                                                Panelists

• Susan Moffat-Bruce, President, Beth Israel Lahey Health-confirmed

1:30-2:30                              Sustainable Practices for Medical Device Product Design and Manufacturing- Recover, Reprocess, Reuse, Remanufacture

                                                Moderator

• Jeffrey Champagne, VP Business Development, Inertia Product Development

Working Groups: Problem solving for a sustainable life cycle

• Product Design Champion, Eric Claude, MPR
• Product Manufacturing Champion,
• Product Service Champion,

Devon Campbell, Prodct

Chuck Alpuche, Imperative Care (formerly Insulet, Pepsi)

Tom Wenchell, CEO, RevMedica- confirmed

Cormac O’Prey, Kestrel Consultancy Group (UK)-confirmed

Ben Potenza, Equipnet?

2:30-2:45                              Refreshments and networking break

                                                Solicit written ideas and recommendations from attendees

2:45-3:15                              Synthesis of the day’s ideas- Pull together points generated on design, mfg, and servicing and how they interact, integrate attendee comments and suggestions. Actionable solutions as takeaways. Highlights and interest in future working groups

                                                Moderators

• Cormac, O’Prey, Principal & Director, Kestrel Consultancy Group (UK)
• Cliff Emmons, Founder, Accelerated Healthcare Innovations
• Jeffrey Champagne, VP Business Development, Inertia Product Development

3:15-3:45                              Keynote/Audience Q&A/Closing Remarks

                                                Introduction

• Rachel Robinson

Speaker

• Lisa Brady, VP Global Sustainability and Chief Sustainability Officer, Insulet
• Cormac, O’Prey, Principal & Director, Kestrel Consultancy Group

3:45-4:45                              Beer and Wine Reception

Others from Lahey interested in participating:

Dr. Anne Mosenthal: Chief Academic Officer and Executive Regional Dean of UMass Chan Lahey Medical School

Dr. Jalil Afnan: Vice Chair for Radiology and Innovator in Digital Radiology

Dr. Sarju Ganatra: Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine