BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a prominent global medical technology firm, and Envetec Sustainable Technologies, an Irish cleantech company, have announced a significant advancement in sustainable practices within the healthcare sector. On January 29, 2026, they revealed the successful completion of a joint feasibility study aimed at recycling polystyrene Petri dishes into high-quality manufacturing feedstock. This initiative paves the way for a sustainable future for various medical plastics, including PET tubes, medical tubing, and polypropylene syringes.
The pilot study demonstrated that polymers such as polystyrene, polyester (PET), polypropylene, and polyethylene could be effectively reused in the manufacturing supply chain following safe disinfection and processing. The findings suggest a new pathway for the healthcare industry to repurpose materials that are critical for medical devices.
Innovative Recycling Process
Envetec’s proprietary GENERATIONS® technology transforms regulated medical waste into recyclable polymer flakes through a validated low-energy chemical disinfection process. In the pilot conducted by BD, unused BD BBLTM prepared plated media were utilized as post-industrial material. This process involved shredding the plates, separating their contents, chemically disinfecting them, and converting the waste into clean polymer flakes. The flakes were subsequently extruded into polystyrene pellets, which were molded into new Petri dish prototypes.
Malcolm Bell, CEO of Envetec Sustainable Technologies, stated, “This pilot marks the first step in a broader effort to demonstrate the feasibility of recovering and recycling multiple types of plastic products across healthcare supply chains.” He emphasized that this proof of concept could lead to sustainable solutions that minimize landfill waste and keep valuable materials in circulation.
Implications for Healthcare Sustainability
Both BD and Envetec see substantial opportunities to expand this recycling initiative, which could reduce reliance on virgin plastics. “Single-use devices made of high-quality plastics play a critical role in modern health care due to safety, ease of use, and scalability,” said Nikos Pavlidis, Worldwide President of Diagnostic Solutions at BD. He acknowledged the environmental impact of these materials and described the pilot as a vital step towards implementing circular economy solutions for high-volume healthcare consumables, including blood collection tubes, syringes, and packaging.
Envetec’s GENERATIONS technology is already being utilized in various sectors, including biopharma, life sciences, and food and beverage industries across the United States and Europe. The technology effectively processes regulated medical and biohazardous waste, transforming it into clean polymer flakes suitable for recycling. Envetec is collaborating with customers and recycling partners to develop sustainable pathways for treated laboratory plastics, aiming to convert clean flakes into recycled pellets and, where feasible, new plastic products.
In summary, the collaboration between BD and Envetec marks a pivotal advancement in the healthcare industry’s approach to sustainability. By harnessing innovative recycling technologies, they are taking meaningful steps to mitigate the environmental impacts of medical plastic waste while maintaining the integrity and safety of healthcare practices.
