On the Path to Circularity: A Study on Recycling of Single-use Devices
EducationalTRANSFORMING MANUFACTURING PROCESSES FOR A LOW-IMPACT PHARMA INDUSTRY
2026-05-27 | 01:55 PM - 02:10 PM | TPSD Room
Abstract
Development of bio-therapeutics often relies on small-scale single-use bioreactors made from plastics that include versatile connectors for easy connection and fast turnaround. As bio-therapeutic development continues to grow, industry front runners have defined challenging sustainability environmental targets with regards to emissions and are now looking into circularity targets.
One of the concerns about plastic circularity in healthcare is the perceived “downcycling” effect of mechanical recycling, although there are existing products that efficiently use mechanically recycled feedstock such as polycarbonates.
Here, scrap from end-of-life articles is recovered, granulated and mixed-in with new formulations targeting demanding applications such as electronic devices. In the present work we have collaboratively investigated the technical feasibility of a recycling concept for bioprocessing applications using Makrolon® polycarbonate.
