MEiK - Single-use medical devices in the circular economy
The MEiK project is analyzing which changes in hospitals can help to reduce disposable waste and promote sustainable action. The aim of the MEiK project is to develop a climate-friendly and high-quality recycling option for disposable medical products with a high plastic content. The solutions developed are to be demonstrated in practice and evaluated from an ecological and economic point of view.
When medical products are to be recycled, the question arises not only of (technical) feasibility, but also of legal admission.
As part of the MEiK project, the vunk Institute is investigating the legal framework conditions that enable or prevent the sustainable and resource-conserving recycling of medical products in hospitals. The focus is particularly on questions of recycling and waste avoidance.
The recycling of medical products affects a large number of legal regulations, including environmental law and, in particular, waste law.
We include all relevant regulations in our analysis to ensure a legally compliant design.
Our aim is to create a legally compliant basis for the circular economy in the medical sector while maintaining environmental and hygiene standards.
The project thus makes an important contribution to the question of how sustainability and patient safety can be reconciled in the healthcare sector.
Project management: Pforzheim University, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Woidasky, Prof. Dr. Tobias Viere
Contact vunk: Prof. Dr. Steffen Kroschwald, LL.M.
Project partner:
- Project partner
- Pforzheim University
- HTW Faculty of Social Sciences
- Saarland University of Applied Sciences
- B. Braun SE
- Harro Höfliger
- Carl Zeiss AG
- LÜNEBURG HOSPITAL
- Remondis SE & Co. KG
- Associated partners
- mük MÜNCHEN CLINIC
- Saarbrücken Hospital DER WINTERBERG
- BIO PRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH
Duration: 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026 Participation vunk: 01.09.2024 - 31.12.2026
Funded by: Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK)
Funding reference: 03EI5020A
We provide information on the progress of the project here.
