Suturion and partners awarded €600,000 in EU funding for sustainability project
The Lund-based MedTech company Suturion, in collaboration with Lund University, Zirq Solutions, and Redivivus Polymer, has been granted €610,000 by Eurostars to explore optimal recycling methods for Suturion’s unique medical device designed for open abdominal surgeries.
Each year, the healthcare sector generates more than 15 million tons of plastic waste, largely due to the extensive use of single-use products. Finding a way to recycle these products without compromising patient safety is a significant challenge for the industry. Suturion aims to lead the way in developing a recycling solution for their SutureTOOL™, which is set to launch later this year.
“The idea behind SutureTOOL™, which can be compared to an advanced sewing machine, is to reduce patient suffering while also being resource-efficient for the healthcare sector. Therefore, it is natural for us to consider resource efficiency from an environmental perspective as well, allowing us to contribute to a better tomorrow in multiple ways,” said Paan Hermansson, CEO of Suturion.
The joint project, named "Entrance", aims to develop a technical solution for recycling the device, alongside a logistics solution and a business model for the recycling program. The project partners have been awarded €610,000 by Eurostars, a funding program that supports small and medium-sized enterprises focused on research and development. The program is part of the international EUREKA network and is co-financed by the EU through Horizon Europe.
In the project, the Danish/Norwegian company Zirq Solutions, certified in MedTech product recycling, will be responsible for cleaning, sorting, and then shredding the plastic materials of the devices. Redivivus will handle the subsequent recycling of these materials. Lund University will conduct a life cycle analysis of the SutureTOOL™ to assess its environmental impact. Suturion will oversee the coordination and development of the project.
“Recycling advanced MedTech products is challenging. In addition to patient safety concerns, the devices may consist of multiple materials that are difficult to separate and recycle. Our hope is to establish a smooth recycling process, thereby easing the burden on hospitals facing increasingly stringent environmental requirements,” said Sophia Verheij-Engqvist, Product Manager at Suturion.
Launch planned for 2024
Suturion aims to address a global healthcare challenge: one in three patients undergoing open abdominal surgery suffer from painful complications, often requiring additional surgery. The innovative device, SutureTOOL™, resembling an advanced sewing machine, is designed to close the abdomen with higher quality, thereby increasing patient safety.
The company is awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and plans to launch the device in the U.S., likely in the fall of 2024. Launches in Europe and other parts of the world will follow. Earlier this year, Suturion, a member of the SMiLe Incubator, completed a funding round, securing an additional SEK 24 million in preparation for the launch.
More information on Eurostars here: https://eurekanetwork.org/
