Sustainable product development

We create reliable and user-friendly products with as little environmental impact as possible.

Clinical reliability and sustainability are our unique selling points

We create more sustainable products without compromising the reliability and the clinical performance that our products are known for. The embedded leaflet summarizes how we decrease the environmental footprint of our products – making them a more sustainable choice for our customers and for the planet.

  • Introducing the world's first ecolabelled catheters

    Ecolabels are marks placed on product packaging to identify products that meet specific environmental performance criteria. The eco-labelling indicates that the products are “environmentally preferable”, helping thereby consumers make more sustainable choices when choosing between products. The "Swan" is the official Nordic ecolabel. As of 2022, it embosses our LoFric catheter range. To date, our LoFric catheters are the world's only eco-labelled catheters.

    The Nordic Swan Ecolabel applies to: LoFric Elle, LoFric Origo, LoFric Sense, LoFric Hydro-Kit and LoFric Primo.

  • POBE - the best possible catheter tube material available today

    The best material to use in a catheter today is POBE, a polyolefin-based elastomer- that consists of carbon and hydrogen. POBE catheter material combines very good physical characteristics with an exceptional environmental performance. POBE has the lowest carbon footprint and environmental impact compared to PVC and polyurethane.1,2

    When choosing a catheter made of POBE instead of PVC or polyurethane, every long-term user reduces the carbon footprint with up to 20kg CO2 per year.2

    As of 2009, the tube material of our Lofric catheters are all made of POBE.

Pioneering renewable plastic in medical devices

Finding more sustainable raw material sources to produce medical plastic devices is a game changer. By replacing fossil raw materials with bio-based raw materials, we reduce the end products’ environmental footprint without jeopardising the product’s clinical performance. In 2023, Wellspect successfully introduced bio-based raw materials into one of its products; a female urinary catheter with the name LoFric Elle.

In an industry that is heavily reliant on fossil based raw materials for its plastic, Wellspect's pilot can be a game changer. 

 

 

  • Product life cycle analysis

    At Wellspect we use Life Cycle Analysis as a tool to identify which factors within the manufacturing of our products have the highest environmental impact and through that we can identify potential product improvements and “hotspots”. The LCA process looks at all areas of the production process, from the sourcing of raw materials and manufacturing to distribution and eventually end of life.

  • A greener cathether surface more in balance with nature

    Innovation is key to product superiority and to reduced environmental footprint. In 2020, we introduced a new coating process for our LoFric catheters. The new coating process uses 98% less water, cutting down substantially on water consumption. It also requires fewer chemicals due to the use of a different solvent which is the most environmentally friendly alternative available for the process. The new coating process and our unique Urotonic Surface Technology have been thoroughly tested and validated according to the standards. Should you like to have more details on our greener manufacturing process, please contact our customer service representatives.

References 2 in total

  1. Stripple et al., Journal of Cleaner Production, 2008
  2. IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Report, 2021

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