Introduction to HPRC

The Business Case

Healthcare facilities in the United States generate approximately

14,000 tons of waste per day1, most of which is being

disposed of in landfills or by incineration.

It is estimated that between 20 and 25 percent of that 14,000

tons can be attributed to plastic packaging and plastic

products2.

In addition, 85 percent of the hospital waste generated is non-

hazardous, meaning free from patient contact and

contamination3.

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What is HPRC?

HPRC is a private, technical coalition of

industry peers across healthcare, recycling

and waste management industries seeking

to improve recyclability of plastic products

within healthcare.

Value Chain Approach

HPRC is unique in its

focus on identification

of plastics recycling

barriers and solution

development along the

entire value chain.

HPRC is seeking to

affect plastics recycling

from healthcare product

design and

manufacturing through

product use, disposal

and recycle.

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Vision

All healthcare plastics are safely and

effectively recycled and widely accepted as

a valuable resource.

Mission

Collaborate across the value chain to inspire

and enable the healthcare community to

implement viable, safe, and cost-effective

recycling solutions for plastics products and

packaging used in the delivery of healthcare.

What We Aspire To Do

Circular Economy

Aligned

Healthcare plastics have

unique potential to be

part of the Circular

Economy movement,

where nothing is lost or

wasted and all resources

are utilized to their

highest potential,

delivering better

system-wide economic

and environmental

outcomes.

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Members

Each HPRC member company is a leader in their respective

industry with a demonstrated expertise, commitment and

passion for shaping the future of plastics recycling and reducing

the environmental footprint of not only their own operations but

also the operations of their customers.

Current Members

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Healthcare Facility

Advisory Board (HFAB)

Established to provide valuable voice of the

customer insight to HPRC activities.

HFAB members help HPRC:

• Understand the plastic recycling barriers

that exist within healthcare facilities today

• Establish priorities for technical agenda

• Develop solutions through access to data,

information and resources

Current HFAB

Members

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External Stakeholder

Engagement

We recognize that there exists many

opportunities for collaboration in the

plastics recycling space.

Stakeholder engagement helps HPRC ensure:

• Our work is informed by a broad range of insights

and experiences

• We set common priorities, create synergies, and

avoid duplication of efforts

• We leverage shared learnings to promote

continuous improvement and drive mission

Currently Engaged

Stakeholders

A Value Chain Approach to

Inspire and Enable Recycling

of Healthcare Plastics

Plastics Sourcing

Product &

Packaging Design

Manufacturing

Warehousing

Distribution

Purchasing &

Receiving

Product Use

Waste Collection &

Processing

Collection

Sorting

Processing

FEEDBACK LOOP

Flagship Project: Product Design

Improving Recyclability

and Market Value

Work Product:

Design Guidelines for

Optimal Healthcare

Plastics Recycling

Looks at product and

packaging design

features that inhibit

post-use recycling

potential.

Articulates desirable

design practices and

less desirable design

practices.

Avoid multiple material

types used within one

discrete product

Avoid paper tapes or

labels attached directly to

products

Avoid metalized plastics

and paper/film packaging

combinations

Allow for the identification

and removal of product

residue

Minimize the use of

pigments in products

Desirable Design Practice

Less Desirable Design Practice

Flagship Project: Product Use

A Helping Hand for Hospitals

Work Product:

HospiCycle

“How to” guide and

collection of tools for

establishing plastics

recycling in patient

care settings.

Looks at economic,

regulatory, resourcing

and infrastructure

considerations

Materials accredited

for healthcare

continuing education

credits.

Experience the

Interactive Prezi at:

http://bit.ly/HospiCycle

Flagship Project: Disposal & Recycling

Chicago Project

Supply, Meet DemandSeeks to demonstrate economic

viability and business model for

regional approach to recycling

healthcare plastics.

Project Partners

Operating Model and Membership

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Operating Structure

Steering Committee

The primary decision making body responsible for setting

strategic direction, deciding tactical priorities, managing

fiscal resources, and deciding new membership

Technical Working Group

Responsible for executing meaningful technical activities

within each stage of the healthcare plastics value chain

Communications Working Group

Responsible for articulating HPRC activities and building

awareness across multiple stakeholder groups

Key Drivers for Membership

Corporate Goal Alignment

• Responsible product stewardship aspirations

• Goals for developing sustainable products

Customer Service

• Recognition for developing solutions

Doing the Right Thing

• Part of the social responsibility agenda

Create Business Growth Opportunities

• Stimulate product innovations

Develop Plastic Material Feedstock

• Looking for recycled content sources

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Project Spotlights

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Pilot Studies

Intended to collect and analyze data related to

materials, types, volumes and sources of

plastic waste generated within healthcare

facilities.

Will define, test and document best

practices as it relates to in-hospital mixed-

plastics recycling programs.

Focused on clean, non-infectious plastic

waste from patient care settings.

Pilot Studies to Date:

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Pilot Study Spotlight

Stanford Medicine

• Six-month pilot study that developed

comprehensive waste profiles across nine

hospital departments.

• Program diverts 110 Tons of non-infectious

packaging material from landfill annually.

– Plastics represent 70% of this material

• Offers 75 percent cost savings compared

to municipal waste collection.

“Clinical recycling is an

important part of our overall

sustainable waste

management strategy here at

Stanford,” says Krisanne

Hanson, Director of

Sustainability, Stanford

Hospital & Clinics and Lucile

Packard Children’s Hospital.

“We will continue to expand

our recycling efforts

throughout our hospital and

clinics using the data and

knowledge collected during

this study to estimate

diversion targets, inform

planning and rollout

strategies and drive program

improvements.

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Pilot Study Spotlight

Stanford Medicine

Clinical Area Profile

% Recyclable Material by Study Area

Material ProfileStudy Area % Generation by Material Type

Click here for

complete case study

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Pilot Study Spotlight

Stanford Medicine

Total Projected

Waste Diversion

114 tons

Total Plastics

76 tons

67% plastics diversion

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Materials Testing

Mapping the impact of the hospital

polymer film recycling stream

composition on the physical

properties of reprocessed polymer

material.

Preliminary testing determined best

practices for film recycling,

blending, and sample preparation

completed.

Created a series of samples with

varied recycled content in a virgin

PP matrix.

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National Hospital

Plastics Recycling Survey

Establishes a baseline characterization

of current plastics recycling activity

across the U.S. health care system.

Sent to healthcare professionals

across Facilities, EHS,

Environmental Services,

Procurement, Sustainability and

Clinical Staff.

Survey responses representative of

667 hospitals nationwide.

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National Hospital

Plastics Recycling Survey

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For more information

Visit www.hprc.org

Contact Peylina Chu

HPRC Operations Director

peylina.chu@anteagroup.com

+1 508 490 8606