Clinical laboratories generate a lot of waste. That’s because much of the equipment they need for medical testing — like containers, tubes and pipette tips — is contaminated by use and must be discarded. Our customers were looking to innovate towards a zero-waste future and produce sustainable lab consumables. They came to us for a drop-in solution using renewable materials. We supported them with a transition that did not require re-certification.
The market for single-use lab consumables is projected to reach $4.7 billion by 2027. Driven by the rise of personalised medicine, molecular diagnostics and lab automation, labs are looking for manufacturers who can supply more environmentally friendly alternatives to the consumables they’re currently using.
The catch is that medical and healthcare products are strictly regulated to meet stringent industry standards. So, our customers need “like-for-like” replacements. Plastics made from renewable feedstock must have identical chemistry ID, properties and performance to avoid full re-certification.
Smooth transition without re-certification
To ensure a drop-in solution, we proposed an alternative using an identical polymer material derived from renewable sources. The polyolefin material called Bornewables™ is produced from a same monomer by Borouge International. It maintains the exact same chemical composition, properties, and performance as the incumbent BORMED™ fossil-fuel-based option.
For this line of medical-grade polymer, Borouge International ensured that the grade name, certifications, packaging, and labelling stay the same. This approach guarantees a smooth transition to a sustainable solution without compromising performance or regulatory compliance.
“By harnessing renewable resources from this particular BORMED™ medical-grade polymer, manufacturers can reduce their environmental impact without compromising product quality. With this Bornewables™ particular medical-grade polymer from Borouge International they don’t have to opt for re-certification,” explains Marc Gauthier, Global Principal Manager at IMCD Advanced Materials.
One of our customers was able to go to market with a new range of sustainable pipette tips and tubes made from 90-100% renewable materials.
A sustainable alternative with Bornewables™
Bornewables™ from Borouge International are a portfolio of ISCC PLUS certified polyolefins with reduced carbon footprint made from renewable feedstocks that offer the same material performance as virgin polyolefins from fossil-based feedstock.
These materials have proven their success in other applications for other clients. Our close relationship with Borouge International meant we were able to liaise and provide all the technical support, samples, and documentation required to satisfy regulatory and certification bodies.
These materials are allocated through the mass balance model, certified by ISCC PLUS, which tracks the flow of renewable feedstock to ensure a specific amount of fossil-based feedstock is replaced with sustainable alternatives.
Find what’s right for you
The shift to sustainability is a responsibility for every industry and every manufacturer. But when patient safety is on the line, the challenge becomes doubly complex. Finding the right material solutions is the key to success in medical device manufacturing.
At IMCD, we have expert teams to help you make the right material choices, with support from the earliest stages of concept and design, so you can make informed decisions. We are ISCC PLUS certified*, which allows us to offer ISCC certified renewable materials, like those in the Borouge International portfolio.
*IMCD Germany, Benelux, UK, Sweden and France are certified according to ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification). ISCC Plus is the world's top certification for sustainable raw materials and recycled materials in the chemical industry.