In an era when climate change is no longer a distant threat but an urgent reality, healthcare companies are confronting a sobering paradox: the very systems designed to save lives often leave an environmental footprint that undermines long-term planetary health. From single-use plastics in consumables to energy-intensive sterilization processes, the sector is grappling with how to reconcile patient safety with environmental responsibility.
For Paul Saunders, Head of Product at Polaroid Therapeutics, the answer lies not in grand gestures but in a disciplined, incremental approach. “Sustainability needs to be a central pillar of product development, just like clinical needs or technical feasibility,” he says.
In a wide-ranging interview with Drug and Device World, Paul discusses how the biotech startup is addressing sustainability challenges while navigating the realities of being a smaller player in a market dominated by larger companies.
The Sustainability Imperative in Healthcare
Sustainability in healthcare product development is a complex undertaking. Medical devices, particularly consumables like wound dressings and antimicrobial technologies, come with unavoidable waste streams. They are designed for single use, often require sterile packaging, and face rigorous regulatory demands prioritizing safety over environmental concerns.
Yet, Paul argues that ignoring the issue is no longer tenable. “In the last five years, sustainability has become integral to how we think about products,” he says. “It’s about making it a platform you build everything else on, rather than an afterthought.”
At Polaroid Therapeutics, a Swiss biotech focused on advanced antimicrobial polymer technology, the challenge is amplified by their size. Unlike multinational corporations with the power to dictate terms to suppliers, smaller firms must find creative ways to influence upstream practices.
Balancing Sustainability and Economics
One of the thorniest issues Paul highlights is the tension between sustainability and cost. While greener materials and processes are often more expensive, healthcare procurement systems still reward the lowest bidder.
“If payers aren’t willing to pay 2-3% more for a sustainable product, manufacturers are disincentivized,” he explains. “It’s not just about us finding lower-cost, sustainable options—it’s also about the entire ecosystem supporting those choices.”
This is a familiar dynamic for many in the industry. In markets like Germany, reimbursement policies are shifting to discourage certain high-impact materials like silver-based wound care products. But such moves are still exceptions rather than the rule.
Rethinking Packaging and Processes
Packaging is one area where Polaroid Therapeutics is making tangible progress. Consumable medical products often come in layers of pouches, boxes, and inserts, all of which contribute to waste.
“Our products in development now use a paper-based pouch, with both the top and bottom layers made from paper,” Paul notes. “It’s a small step, but it avoids the common paper-plastic mix that’s hard to recycle.”
Beyond materials, the company is exploring digital solutions like QR codes to replace printed instructions for use (IFUs). This move could cut paper waste and give healthcare professionals quicker access to information. There is a Regulatory imperative to provide the information to the Health Care Professionals. With some forward-looking regulations, we can provide the information plus more user-focused content via a QR code and positively impact sustainability by removing the paper.
Sterilization is another sustainability sticking point. Energy-intensive methods like gamma irradiation and ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization are industry standards, but not every product requires them.
“It’s about asking whether a process truly adds value or just environmental cost,” Paul says. “For example, some antimicrobial products aren’t always supplied sterile because they’re used on non-sterile wounds. Adding a sterilization cycle in such cases doesn’t necessarily improve patient outcomes but does increase environmental impact.”
However, where sterility is critical, such as in surgical environments, there’s no room for compromise. “Safety will always win,” he concedes.
Small Players, Big Challenges
As a startup, Polaroid Therapeutics faces additional hurdles in pushing for sustainability throughout its supply chain. Larger manufacturers can demand greener alternatives; smaller firms often struggle for leverage.
“We’re not a Tier One Medical Device provider. We don’t have that kind of market power,” Paul admits. “But by making sustainability a clear priority, we can socialize it with our suppliers. Change happens when enough of us keep asking the hard questions.”
This persistence is essential even if immediate results aren’t visible. “If we make it clear to suppliers that sustainability matters to us, they start to listen. It’s about setting expectations early and often.”
Incremental Change, Lasting Impact
Saunders advocates for an incrementalist philosophy. Instead of chasing big, one-off “green” wins, Polaroid Therapeutics focuses on making small changes that accumulate over time.
“Five years from now, those incremental improvements add up,” he says. “Sourcing FSC-certified papers, minimizing transport emissions, optimizing energy use – these are all steps in the right direction.”
The company’s approach underscores a key point: sustainability in healthcare is not about perfection but progress.
Ultimately, systemic change may require more than individual company efforts. Procurement policies that reward sustainable practices could create the market conditions necessary for wider adoption.
“In the UK, tenders for NHS supplies include sustainability criteria, but price still carries the biggest weight,” Paul points out. “Until that balance shifts, it will be hard for manufacturers to prioritize sustainability at scale.”
He sees a role for governments and payers in creating the “carrots and sticks” needed to nudge the entire sector forward.
As Polaroid Therapeutics prepares to bring its novel antimicrobial technologies to market, sustainability remains a guiding principle, even when it’s not easy. “It’s about embedding it as a gate in the development process,” Paul says. “Just like any technical or regulatory checkpoint, sustainability should be a filter applied throughout. That’s how we ensure we’re not only delivering great products but doing so responsibly.”
