MedTech Europe have provided Sustainability and Environmental Flash Report.
Please note this is an extract of the MedTech Europe’s original bulletin.
“Embrace. Innovate. Collaborate.” These are core recommendations from three dedicated sustainability panel sessions held at MedTech Forum 2024. The session “The Climate Crisis-Our next Health Crisis?” identified, among other, education, incentives, an enabling framework for innovation and collaboration as key levers for future proof healthcare systems that are fit for withstanding increasing climate change pressures. During the panel on the “EU Green Deal”, which was not only seen as a dense and difficult set of regulations to navigate but also “a call to action and innovation”, speakers shared their views on the challenges and opportunities for the medical technology sector. Finally, the “Circularity4Health” panel presented best practice examples and recommendations on how to scale circular practices in healthcare. Embracing sustainability, innovation leadership and collaboration among healthcare system actors are considered key for a successful medtech sustainability journey. On the occasion, MedTech Europe published reflections on “A patient-centric EU Green Deal: Building sustainable, equitable and resilient healthcare systems”.
MedTech Forum also marked the kick-off of MedTech Europe’s project with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to develop the study on “Decarbonising Healthcare: How a competitive medtech industry can contribute”. It shall apply a healthcare system approach, establish a related ESG baselining from a life cycle perspective and map related challenges, barriers and opportunities for the medtech industry on the road to climate neutrality, focussing on the pathway to deliver Net Zero emissions for the MedTech sector from a healthcare system perspective. BCG will be working with us over the next 15 weeks and will present the state of play at the next Sustainable Transition Committee on 12 June and an initial analysis on the occasion of MedTech Europe’s CEO Summit on 26 June. We invite all members to actively participate in the study.
In addition, we report the following progress made on pending Sustainability and Environment files:
- Now that the EU Green Deal framework legislation has been widely enacted, the focus shifts to implementation, i.e. the development of (all in all, some 700) comitology acts: not all of these will be of direct relevance to MedTech Europe, but the first six ones have been published this month for consultation under stringent 4-weeks timelines: these include three draft acts for implementing the new F-Gases Regulation and three draft acts for implementing the new Batteries Regulation.
- EU Chemicals Policy: MedTech Europe drafted a Reflection Paper on the Commission Communication on the Essential Use Concept and a draft response to the ECHA consultation on Aromatic Brominated Flame Retardants. We also consulted members on clarification questions on the recent REACH Microplastics Restriction and prepared for our next attendance of the ECHA RAC/SEAC sessions on PFAS beginning of June. Members received a mapping of PFAS emission requirements and we continued our weekly update of MedTech Europe’s substance tracker. We are pleased to report the publication of the final D4/5/6 restriction in the Official Journal of the EU mid month with MedTech Europe’s views being taken into account.
- EU Circular Economy: Members jointly assessed the draft Batteries comitology acts and coordinated next steps. The drafting team on the ESPR Guideline has been convened and aligned on the outline of the guideline. A draft will be presented at next week’s Circular Economy WG meeting. Members were briefed on the publication of the final CIRPASS report “The Digital Product Passport (DPP) for the Circular Economy: Recommendations for policy, business and IT” and the Commission’s webinar on the new ESPR.
- We sought members input for a political letter on the recent One Health Task Force Action Programme and draft Health Council priorities for the next legislative term.
- The following internal meetings took place in May: Chemicals WG on 08.05.; Drafting team ESPR guideline on 15.05.; Joint Circular Economy WG and Batteries TF on 17.05.; Launch Net-Zero Study (Steering Committee) on 22.05.; MedTech Forum 2024: 22.-24.05.
- In terms of external engagements, Team Green spread out over the following events: Climate Resilience and the Healthcare sector event on 13.05.; 2024 Lancet Countdown in Europe report launch on 13.05.; EC Information Session on ESPR: 22.05.; Third Forum on Adaptation to Climate Change on 23.05.; EEB Surfing Green Policies webinar on 23.05
For more information members are requested to contact Regulatory@bivda.org.uk
