2 weeks Ago
A Bolton firm is joining forces with a leading university to 'revolutionise' the use of single-use plastics in healthcare. The University of Manchester and Vernacare are working to create more sustainable products to use in the healthcare industry. Plastics are essential in the industry, but the current practice of using and then incinerating them results in waste and environmental damage.
The partnership aims to address this issue by creating more sustainable, circular products from waste polypropylene (PP) and polycarbonate (PC). The 24-month project, led by a team from the university and Vernacare, will study the behaviour of real-world PP and PC products during mechanical recycling. The team, which includes experts such as Dr Tom McDonald, Dr Rosa Cuellar Franca, Professor Mike Shaver, Simon Hogg, and Dr Amir Bolouri, will also advance knowledge on the selection, characterisation, and use of plastic to better recyclability.
The project will also involve a life cycle assessment to test the sustainability of different approaches to the use of these plastics. This will be done through the knowledge transfer of the academic team’s expertise in plastics recycling, plastics circularity, and rigorous life cycle assessment. Alex Hodges, CEO of Vernacare, said: "Through this project, we aim to change how plastics are viewed and used in healthcare .
"Our work with Manchester will ensure we’re at the forefront in sustainable single-use healthcare product research. "It will enable us to embed product lifecycle, environment assessment capability, and materials research and development into our business culture so that we’re in pole position, able to lead the market in the development and testing of future solutions." Dr Tom McDonald, Reader in Sustainable Materials at The University of Manchester, said: "This project directly connects our prior research on plastics recycling with commercial benefits associated with Vernacare’s mission to protect patient safety while reducing environmental impact.
"As such, this collaborative project provides the opportunity for direct impact from our research." The research will be conducted through the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub (SMI Hub), a facility dedicated to sustainable plastic solutions. The SMI Hub is part of the Henry Royce Institute at The University of Manchester and is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The project is supported by Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, which fund innovation by matching businesses with 'world-leading' research and technology . The University of Manchester has collaborated on more than 300 KTPs and, in the last five years alone, has supported 42 KTPs with a total research value of £11 million. By working together, The University of Manchester and Vernacare aim to 'lead the way' in sustainable healthcare products, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations.
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