A Bolton firm is joining forces with a leading university to 'revolutionise' the use of single-use plastics in healthcare. The University of Manchester and Vernacare are working to create more sustainable products to use in the healthcare industry. Plastics are essential in the industry, but the current practice of using and then incinerating them results in waste and environmental damage.
The partnership aims to address this issue by creating more sustainable, circular products from waste polypropylene (PP) and polycarbonate (PC). The 24-month project, led by a team from the university and Vernacare, will study the behaviour of real-world PP and PC products during mechanical recycling. The team, which includes experts such as Dr Tom McDonald, Dr Rosa Cuellar Franca, Professor Mike Shaver, Simon Hogg, and Dr Amir Bolouri, will also advance knowledge on the selection, characterisation, and use of plastic to better recyclability.
The project will also involve a life cycle assessment to test the sustainability of different approaches to the use of these plastics. This will be done through the knowledge transfer of the academic team’s expertise in plastics recycling, plastics circularity, and rigorous life cycle assessment. Alex Hodges, CEO of Vernacare, said: "Through this project, we aim to change how plastics are viewed and used in healthcare .
"Our work with Manchester will ensure we’re at the forefront in sustainable single-use healthcare product research. "It will enabl.
