CE in LS

1. Recycling and Waste Management

1.1. 1 - Establish Scalable Plastic Recycling Solutions

1.1.1. Build an automatic (optical, mechanical, chemcial) plastic sorting machine in the region.

1.1.2. Develop solutions for pyrolytic treatment of plastic waste (Non-hazardous).

1.1.3. Develop solutions to decontaminate hazardous plastic waste to enable recycling.

1.1.4. Develop products designed for recycling.

1.1.5. Analyse the potential for scalable collection system for single-use plastic waste, intended for pyrolysis (or similar chemical recycling methods) across different companies in the region, which may offers several advantages: cost efficiency; resource optimisation; regulatory compliance: e.g. have one company which offers a scalable solution for producing FDA/EMA-grade pyrolisis oil while the regional or federal authorities can help with location facilitation.

1.1.6. Collect non-contaminated plastics from laboratories and healthcare facilities for recycling instead of incineration, using sorting and decontamination technologies.

1.2. 2 - Improve Chemical Waste Valorization

1.2.1. Develop solutions for solvent valorization from laboratories (especially for mixed, low-values fractions) instead of incineration. For example, distillation, filtration, removal of water fraction for use as alternative fuel or application for another use (downcycling).

1.2.2. Develop solutions to collect/extract, recycle or repurpose specifc chemicals or by-products from (hazardous) waste streams.

1.2.3. Reuse of catalysts.

1.2.4. "Develop/Implement systems to extract and recover chemicals from hazardous waste streams for reuse in industrial processes.

1.3. 3 - Take-back and Collection Programs for Medical Devices for Recycling

1.3.1. Develop solutions integrating take-back schemes, disassembly and recycling for single-use injection systems (i.e. injection pens, complex on-body injectors)

1.3.2. Develop solutions integrating take-back schemes, disassembly and recycling for medical devices

1.3.3. Update safety standards to accommodate innovative recycling methods and material recovery without compromising compliance. (Regulatory & Associations)

1.3.4. Convert non-hazardous organic waste into compost or energy resources like biogas. (Healthcare provision, patients & services & Waste management)

1.3.5. Mapping and assessment of already existing collection systems in CH for different types of medical devices

1.3.6. Inclusion of more stakeholders in design discussions; Education on redesign to simplify material collection/separation

1.3.7. Development of shared responsibility financial models- who pays? Equity model?

1.3.8. Collect metals like titanium from medical practices and hospitals for reuse through advanced manufacturing techniques.

2. Reuse and Refurbishment

2.1. 4 - Promote Reusable instead of Single-use Products

2.1.1. Shift to reusable surgical gowns in hosiptals.

2.1.2. Shift from single-use to reusable lab coats for labotatory visitors.

2.1.3. Shift from single-use to reusable laboratory consumables (e.g. glass instead of plastic).

2.1.4. Plastic free screening tests

2.1.5. Reusable medical devices/ equipment (e.g. inflation device for cardiology)

2.2. 5 - Enable Multiple Use of Medical Device

2.2.1. Implement in-house or service-based systems to replace single-use medical devices with reusable alternatives, including robotic surgery instruments, metal scissors, endoscopy tools, and interventional catheters. This shift requires addressing sterilization protocols, regulatory approvals for reprocessing single-use devices, logistical capacity, and certification requirements. Developing efficient sterilization and washing solutions will be key to enabling a broader adoption of reusable medical instruments.

2.2.2. Refurbish used medical devices to be reused in other countries or for new purposes.

2.3. 6 - Take-back and Collection Programs for Laboratory and Medical Devices for Reuse

2.3.1. Develop in-house or regional solutions for laboratory equipment exchanges within the company.

2.3.2. Collect, recondition and resell used laboratory equipment in good conditions through marketplaces platforms such as Equipnet, labexchange, etc.

2.3.3. Assess the feasibility of leasing instead of purchasing medical devices by collaborating with suppliers. Map the resale/donation process across multiple entities to identify barriers and enablers for efficient equipment transfers.

2.3.4. Develop solutions integrating take-back schemes for medical devices (i.e. surgical staplers)

2.3.5. Establish intra-company inventory and reuse platforms to track, share, and repurpose purchased equipment across departments.

2.4. 7 - Support Modular and Durable Design for Medical Devices

2.4.1. Focus on repairing and upgrading existing infrastructure (e.g. surgical lasers, X-ray machines and wheelchairs) to delay replacements and minimize resource consumption. (Healthcare provision, patients & services)

2.5. 8 - Return and Redistribution of Unused Medication and Medical Products

2.5.1. Collect non-expired medication from hospitals and pharmacies to redistribute.

2.5.2. Develop solutions to test medication and extend expiration dates.

2.5.3. Reuse medical kits for clinical trials.

2.6. 9 - Reuse & Refurbish Electronics

2.6.1. "Promote prioritizing cost-effective repairs over replacements for high-value devices, including provisions such as extending warranties by an additional year after a successful repair. (Regulatory & Associations)"

3. Sustainable Materials and Packaging

3.1. 10 - Adopt Sustainable Lab Supplies

3.1.1. Develop low-cost bio-based or recycled material based consumables and equipments.

3.2. 11 - Innovate in Medical Packaging

3.2.1. Use alternative material for packaging (e.g., certified renewable and recycled materials).

3.2.2. Reduce the amount of packaging required, optimize packaging size.

3.2.3. Replace paper inserts with QR codes.

3.2.4. Standardisation of packaging by collaboration between Pharma companies and big logistic players, fair collaboration

3.2.5. Biobased or alternative materials for secondary and tertiary packaging.

3.2.6. Design packaging for recyclability (e.g., use less different materials)

4. Sustainable Logistics

4.1. 12 - Optimize Logistics and Transport Solutions

4.1.1. Reusable Shipping boxes: Collaborate with suppliers and customers to implement compatible, reusable shipping boxes for laboratory supplies to reduce waste and to promote sustainability across the supply chain for different temperatures (e.g., Softbox)

4.1.2. Introduce reusable containers for medical and laboratory waste collection. (Waste management)

4.1.3. Algorithm to optimize the transport, storage and bulk ordering across multiple users.

4.1.4. Manufacture at point of use where possible.

4.1.5. "Promote combined transport solutions that leverage multiple modes (e.g., rail and road) for efficiency. (Distribution & Logistics)"

4.1.6. Replace traditional vehicles with electric or hybrid alternatives to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. (Distribution & Logistics)

4.1.7. Educating the customers, hospitals e.g. to share warehouses

4.1.8. Green Logistics: Optimisation towards net-zero transport from production place to consumer (including plane, packaging, etc.).

5. Sustainable Infrastructure & Operations

5.1. 13 - Sustainable building infrastructure operations

5.1.1. Upgrade older buildings with energy-efficient systems and sustainable materials instead of demolishing and rebuilding. (Infrastructure and Facility Management)

5.1.2. Implementing effective waste management practices in hospitals.

5.1.3. Reuse materials like mineral wool and steel from building renovations or demolitions. (Infrastructure and Facility Management)

5.1.4. Use modular construction and prefabricated components to minimize material waste during building projects.

5.1.5. Plan infrastructure to enable user-friendly use of reusable solutions (e.g., washing & sterilisation installation, storage).

5.1.6. Design for Deconstruction/Disassembly (DfD): Use this holistic approach, that aims to facilitate the deconstruction of buildings or into individual modules, elements, components or materials so that they can be reused, reassembled or recycled. (Infrastructure and Facility Management)

5.1.7. Establish clear, industry-recognized guidelines for implementing circular building infrastructure; Align with existing or emerging international standards like ISO TC 336.

5.1.8. "Provide structured insights and recommendations to influence decision-making and policy development by drafting position papers addressing key topics."

5.1.9. Consider lifecycle calculation for buildings, not only investment but also maintenance, repairs, energy.

5.1.10. "Ensure that key decision-makers (buyers, procurement teams, facility managers) understand and implement circular building principles."

5.1.11. Create buildings that create more energy than they use over time.

5.1.12. Create a regional platform for discussion, collaboration, and problem-solving on circular infrastructure; Ensure broad stakeholder involvement and exchange best practices, resolve conflicts, and push for common standards.

5.1.13. Avoid the use of high-impact materials for lab construcitons, like concrete and steel, in favour of greener alternatives.

6. Procurement and Smart Ordering

6.1. 14 - Circular Procurement Policies

6.1.1. Develop a sustainability label to compare products for their sustainability aspects and facilitate procurement.

6.1.2. Integrate the waste management cost to the procurement.

6.1.3. Establish strict procurement guidelines that prioritize waste reduction at the source, such as banning non-essential packaging and enforcing sustainable sourcing criteria. (Suppliers, Sourcing & Raw Materials)

6.1.4. As firs step get 360 view of all stakeholder challenges to ideally design a framework that addresses both customer and supplier needs.

6.1.5. Design a standard for data sharing (look at automotive industry for inspiration)

6.1.6. A software that compares products with a 'score' (based on both product and company level data) that works into already existing procurement processes

6.1.7. Develop a unified system to track expiration dates and streamline ordering processes. Implement smart-ordering solutions to reduce waste and duplication, ensuring alignment across departments, as seen in hospitals like Uni Spital.

6.1.8. Promote solutions such as bulk ordering and media kitchen.

6.1.9. Integrate green chemistry principles to rethink traditional experimental setups, prioritizing resource efficiency and minimizing waste. (R&D)

6.1.10. Streamline food logistics to reduce food waste in hospital cafeterias and patient meal services. (Healthcare provision, patients & services)

6.2. 15 - Medication according to patient needs

6.2.1. Sell only required doses at pharmacies.

6.2.2. Bulk ordering of medicine and dispensing it to patient according to their needs in reusable boxes.

6.2.3. Develop an app to manage home pharmacy inventory, similarly to wine cellars.

6.2.4. Prescribing medicines in specific quantities and frequencies, which can smooth out the demand for specific medications.

6.2.5. Develop reusable packaging to distribute only required doses by pharmacies.

7. Circular Business Models

7.1. 16 - Shift to Service-Based Models

7.1.1. Equipment as-a-service

7.1.2. Laboratory equipment and supply as-a-service

7.1.3. Chemical Leasing

7.2. 17 - Enable Sharing Platforms

7.2.1. Develop a regional marketplace for common goods among multiple stakeholders.

7.2.2. Internal solutions to enable exchange within companies and institutions, coupled with procurement platforms.

8. Energy and Resource Efficiency

8.1. 18 - Implement Energy-Efficient Systems

8.1.1. Implement smart systems to shut down inactive devices and reduce standby energy consumption/downtime.

8.1.2. Optimize air-change rates and fume hoods to minimal requirements.

8.1.3. Optimize waste heat recovery

8.1.4. "Redesign workflows in hospitals to reduce waste and energy use, particularly in operating rooms and intensive care units. (Healthcare provision, patients & services)"

8.1.5. Integrate renewable energy sources, such as solar power, into building designs/infrastructure to minimize CO茢2 emissions. (Infrastructure and Facility Management)

8.1.6. Every project with higher investment should go through an energy challenge; establish Energy Savings Teams with members of all departments.

8.1.7. Develop systems to recover energy from lab devices and HVAC systems (R&D)

8.2. 19 - Optimize water usage and disposal efficiency

8.2.1. Recover and recycle water from pharmaceutical production processes to reduce freshwater usage.

8.2.2. Disposal of surgical liquid waste rather to canalisation than to incineration

8.2.3. Develop solutions for separation of the water fraction prior to incineration of contaminated low hazardous streams.

8.3. 20 - Multifunctional devices

8.3.1. Centralise devices as an internal service in a dedicated location.

9. Digital Solutions

9.1. 21 - Digital Platforms for Circular Collaboration

9.1.1. Adopt high-throughput screening and predictive modeling to streamline experiments, reducing material and energy consumption in laboratory workflows. (R&D)

9.2. 22 - Implement Telemedicine

9.3. 23 - Enhance Digitalization in Healthcare

9.3.1. Use AI-driven analytics to predict demand and automate orders, ensuring just-in-time supply while minimizing excess.

10. Education and Awareness

10.1. 24 - Raise Circular Economy Awareness

10.1.1. Provide training/ workshops for adopting circular practices (10 R-strategies) in day-to-day operations, including waste segregation, sustainable procurement, and equipment maintenance for all employees.

10.1.2. Encourage suppliers to eliminate unnecessary resource use by phasing out single-use materials and promoting waste-free alternatives. (Suppliers, Sourcing & Raw Materials)

10.1.3. Encourage public health and research institutions to self-commit and use eco-certified and circular products. (Regulatory & Associations)

10.1.4. Encourage the recovery of valuable materials like metals and chemicals from waste streams by providing targeted incentives. (Regulatory & Associations)

10.1.5. Develop a practical guide/guidelines to help small businesses integrate circular economy practices, providing support for those without dedicated sustainability teams or consultancy budgets.

10.1.6. Give tools and KPIs to measure circularity

10.1.7. Establish an independent workforce of CE experts in Life Sciences to provide tailored training and workshops for employees, key teams, and suppliers. Focus on industry-specific, in-depth expertise rather than generic sustainability concepts.

11. Policy and Regulation

11.1. 25 - Advocate for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Right-to-Repair Legislation.

11.1.1. Ensuring proper disposal of medications to prevent environmental contamination.

11.1.2. Require manufacturers to manage the entire lifecycle of their products, including recycling and disposal.

11.1.3. Advocates for policies requiring manufacturers to provide repair options for medical devices, including access to replacement parts and manuals

11.1.4. Assist the life sciences industry in developing medical-grade plastic recycling standards by providing guidance and conducting audits to ensure their effective implementation, focusing on quality and safety compliance. (Regulatory & Associations)

11.1.5. Make a study to identify pain points or rather Pain materials - then develop specific circular solutions for those materials.

11.1.6. Producers need to design by thinking about the end-of-life. Important to designing and making equipment easy to dismantle.

11.1.7. Establish EPR frameworks where costs and technical solutions for circularity are shared among producers, healthcare providers, and waste management entities.

11.1.8. Introduce a funding mechanism similar to Switzerland's PET bottle recycling system, where a surcharge covers the costs of collection, refurbishment, and sustainable disposal of medical devices and laboratory equipment.

12. Innovation and Ecosystem Building

12.1. 26 - Encourage Best Practices

12.1.1. Promote procurement strategies that go beyond capital expenditure (CAPEX) to include operational costs (OPEX) and end-of-life management, ensuring sustainable purchasing decisions.

12.1.2. (GCiLS as) a platform to collect and leverage best practices and maybe even give the extra resources needed to increase accessibility and visibility of practical cases

12.1.3. Establish inter-company working groups and partnerships to share best practices, white papers, and real-world CE solutions from Switzerland and abroad. Ensure accessibility of proven strategies, highlighting economic, ecological, and social benefits.

12.2. 27 - Foster Ecosystem Growth & Knowledge Exchange

12.2.1. Playing the rules of the market, selling the finest best practices to consulting firms or other organizations who require them for their clients, and making a business case out of it (because the biggest obstacle is a lack of competition).

12.2.2. Foster partnerships across the healthcare value chain to enhance resource use, recycling, and circular innovation.

12.2.3. Idea for a company level: Mentoring 4 one month: a professional(s) from a company guides a group of students working on a CE project.

12.3. 28 - Foster Innovation for Circularity

12.3.1. Competitions including a great event to celebrate the winning cases of intrapreneurship in CE in Life Sciences

12.3.2. Design, build, and test a fully circular, adaptable, and resource-efficient laboratory, applying GreenLab principles and involving different stakeholder groups. Serves as Real-world insights into implementing circular lab infrastructure, scaling best practices, reference model for future circular life science buildings in Basel and beyond.

13. Cross-sector Collaboration

13.1. 29 - Support Industrial Symbiosis for Basel Area

13.1.1. Conduct an in-depth material flow analysis for healthcare and life science sector in the region, including lifecycle assessment in order to identify potential options with maximal environmental impact.

13.1.2. Develop an interactive stakeholder mapping of involved players in the region and their interaction.

13.1.3. Apply concepts of Eco-industrial parks to the Basel Area as a whole (Industrial Symbiosis, flows between players, etc).

13.1.4. Explore opportunities to localize certain production stages, minimizing complex transport chains, CO茢2 emissions, and supply chain vulnerabilities. (Production & Manufacturing)

13.1.5. Collaborate with manufacturers and healthcare providers to collect, repair, and refurbish discarded medical devices and lab equipment. Create specialized refurbishment centres to safely recondition tools and machinery, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. (Waste Management)

13.1.6. Apply the "Swircular" Model to the Life Science Sector; "Swircular" is a circular economy platform used in the construction sector. Adapt its methodology to industrial symbiosis in life sciences.

13.1.7. "Map current projects in carbon utilization, recycling, and industrial symbiosis."

14. Assessments

14.1. 30 - Streamlined Environmental Assessments (LCA, Audits, etc)

14.1.1. Create a concept for Basel that includes centralized hazardous waste collection and sorting, recycling, oxyfuel-based incineration of non-recyclables, carbon capture, hydrogen production (with oxygen repurposed for oxyfuel), and sterilization processes.

14.1.2. Create a joint platform for streamlined lifecycle and material flow analysis to standardize assessments, reuse data models, and improve efficiency across the industry.

14.1.3. Conducting waste audits to identify and reduce waste.

14.1.4. Develop a "nutriscore" for lifescience and healthcare products to support the evaluation of products on the market, linked with procurement.

14.2. 31 - Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

14.2.1. Develop and implement a circularity index of the sector to quantify critical flows and identify options with maximized potential impact.