A Review of Recycled Polymers in Low-Risk Medical Applications

Cormac McCaughey; Cormac Mc Garrigle; Justin Magee

A Review of Recycled Polymers in Low-Risk Medical Applications

Cormac McCaughey
, Cormac Mc Garrigle (Supporting Author)
, Justin Magee (Supporting Author)

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

14 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The National Health Service in the UK produces approximately 133,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year, but less than 5% is recycled (Xiaocheng Hu, et al., 2022). Therein, large amounts of medical waste, which contains recyclable polymers like polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polylactic acid (PLA), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), are commonly used in single-use or multi-use medical devices but are often sent for energy recovery (incineration) due to biological contamination and system limitations (Czuba, 2014).

This review provides a foundation for advancing the use of recycled thermoplastics in low-risk medical applications. Evaluating both material performance and the perceptual challenges that influence stakeholder acceptance highlights the dual importance of technical validation and communication strategy. The findings will inform upcoming ethics-approved focus groups and support the development of service design strategies that integrate additive manufacturing and circular economy principles into sustainable healthcare delivery.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	National Institute of Biomedical Engineering Symposium 2025
Subtitle of host publication	Queens University Belfast
Number of pages	1
Publication status	Published online - 18 Apr 2025
Event	Northern Ireland Biomedical Engineering Society (NIBES) Annual Symposium: - School of Pharmacy in Queen's University Belfast , Belfast, United Kingdom Duration: 1 May 2025 → 1 May 2025 https://sites.google.com/view/nibes/events/previous-symposia

Conference

Conference	Northern Ireland Biomedical Engineering Society (NIBES) Annual Symposium:
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Belfast
Period	1/05/25 → 1/05/25
Internet address	https://sites.google.com/view/nibes/events/previous-symposia

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

Recycled Polymers
Additive Manufacturing
Fused Filament Fabrication
Medical Waste Plastics
Sterilisation
Polymer Blends
Circular Economy
Material Performance
Stakeholder Perception
Sustainable Healthcare

Access to Document

NIBES 2025 Abstract CMcC SubmissionFinal published version, 88.3 KBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

@inproceedings{b81e36f0888141ccb22651ec807f76da,

title = "A Review of Recycled Polymers in Low-Risk Medical Applications",

abstract = "The National Health Service in the UK produces approximately 133,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year, but less than 5\% is recycled (Xiaocheng Hu, et al., 2022). Therein, large amounts of medical waste, which contains recyclable polymers like polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polylactic acid (PLA), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), are commonly used in single-use or multi-use medical devices but are often sent for energy recovery (incineration) due to biological contamination and system limitations (Czuba, 2014). This review provides a foundation for advancing the use of recycled thermoplastics in low-risk medical applications. Evaluating both material performance and the perceptual challenges that influence stakeholder acceptance highlights the dual importance of technical validation and communication strategy. The findings will inform upcoming ethics-approved focus groups and support the development of service design strategies that integrate additive manufacturing and circular economy principles into sustainable healthcare delivery.",

keywords = "Recycled Polymers, Additive Manufacturing, Fused Filament Fabrication, Medical Waste Plastics, Sterilisation, Polymer Blends, Circular Economy, Material Performance, Stakeholder Perception, Sustainable Healthcare",

author = "Cormac McCaughey and \{Mc Garrigle\}, Cormac and Justin Magee",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

day = "18",

language = "English",

booktitle = "National Institute of Biomedical Engineering Symposium 2025",

note = "Northern Ireland Biomedical Engineering Society (NIBES) Annual Symposium: ; Conference date: 01-05-2025 Through 01-05-2025",

url = "https://sites.google.com/view/nibes/events/previous-symposia",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - A Review of Recycled Polymers in Low-Risk Medical Applications

AU - McCaughey, Cormac

AU - Mc Garrigle, Cormac

AU - Magee, Justin

PY - 2025/4/18

Y1 - 2025/4/18

N2 - The National Health Service in the UK produces approximately 133,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year, but less than 5% is recycled (Xiaocheng Hu, et al., 2022). Therein, large amounts of medical waste, which contains recyclable polymers like polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polylactic acid (PLA), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), are commonly used in single-use or multi-use medical devices but are often sent for energy recovery (incineration) due to biological contamination and system limitations (Czuba, 2014). This review provides a foundation for advancing the use of recycled thermoplastics in low-risk medical applications. Evaluating both material performance and the perceptual challenges that influence stakeholder acceptance highlights the dual importance of technical validation and communication strategy. The findings will inform upcoming ethics-approved focus groups and support the development of service design strategies that integrate additive manufacturing and circular economy principles into sustainable healthcare delivery.

AB - The National Health Service in the UK produces approximately 133,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year, but less than 5% is recycled (Xiaocheng Hu, et al., 2022). Therein, large amounts of medical waste, which contains recyclable polymers like polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polylactic acid (PLA), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), are commonly used in single-use or multi-use medical devices but are often sent for energy recovery (incineration) due to biological contamination and system limitations (Czuba, 2014). This review provides a foundation for advancing the use of recycled thermoplastics in low-risk medical applications. Evaluating both material performance and the perceptual challenges that influence stakeholder acceptance highlights the dual importance of technical validation and communication strategy. The findings will inform upcoming ethics-approved focus groups and support the development of service design strategies that integrate additive manufacturing and circular economy principles into sustainable healthcare delivery.

KW - Recycled Polymers

KW - Additive Manufacturing

KW - Fused Filament Fabrication

KW - Medical Waste Plastics

KW - Sterilisation

KW - Polymer Blends

KW - Circular Economy

KW - Material Performance

KW - Stakeholder Perception

KW - Sustainable Healthcare

UR - https://sites.google.com/view/nibes/events/previous-symposia

UR - https://pure.ulster.ac.uk/en/publications/b81e36f0-8881-41cc-b226-51ec807f76da

M3 - Conference contribution

BT - National Institute of Biomedical Engineering Symposium 2025

T2 - Northern Ireland Biomedical Engineering Society (NIBES) Annual Symposium:

Y2 - 1 May 2025 through 1 May 2025

ER -

A Review of Recycled Polymers in Low-Risk Medical Applications

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

FII: AHRC funded Green Transition Ecosystem: Future Island-Island

Cite this

A Review of Recycled Polymers in Low-Risk Medical Applications

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

FII: AHRC funded Green Transition Ecosystem: Future Island-Island

Cite this