Edinburgh researchers have secured funding to lead a project tackling the environmental impact of single-use diagnostic devices – one of the largest sources of medical waste across the world.

Plastics and other materials used in diagnostic health technologies, including COVID-19, STI and pregnancy tests, are among the largest sources of medical waste globally.

The two-year ‘Diagnostic Discard: exploration of material values in the point-of-care diagnostic sector’ project will now explore why certain materials are favoured and where sustainable alternatives could reduce waste.

Led by researchers from Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, and backed with funding from the APEX Award, the two-year project will work with industry partners to rethink how diagnostic devices are designed, used and discarded.

Study lead, Heriot-Watt’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Professor Maiwenn Kersaudy-Kerhoas, said the project presents a “unique opportunity” to change the sector for the better:

“There are billions of single-use diagnostic devices discarded every year. This creates a significant environmental burden that compounds the growing medical waste issue.

“Our project aims to understand how these material choices are made, and how we can shift towards more sustainable alternatives.

“By bringing together engineers, social scientists, and industry partners, we want to create new solutions that protect both human health and the planet.”

Professor Kersuady-Kerhoas is joined by Dr Claire Lindsay, an expert in medical supply chains at Heriot-Watt, and Professor Alice Street, Professor of Anthropology and Health at the University of Edinburgh.

The research team will also work with industry partners including Accubio, Global Access Diagnostics (GADx), BBI, and the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) to understand a wide range of perspectives.

By interviewing manufacturers and regulators, the team hopes to uncover the underlying reasons behind material selection.

The team will also host a workshop in October to allow members of the UK’s medical In Vitro Diagnostic or point-of-care diagnostics community to share their perspectives and shape the project at an early stage.

Professor Kersaudy-Kerhoas said material considerations range from regulatory standards to more subjective factors such as appearance and feel:

“Contrary to a widely believed myth in the industry, there is no regulation that prevent the use of recycled or biobased materials in the manufacture of medical devices.

“Materials are currently selected for reason well beyond purely function or manufacturability, but because the material feels good in someone’s hand or even a type of plastic looks whiter than another.

“What our work aims to identify are the values placed in these materials, what alternative exists and how viable they are.”

The APEX Award, which is backed by £199,905 from the Lerverhulme Trust, will also support an international exhibition on diagnostic waste, which will tour Australia this November.

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