It is not easy to switch from one plasticiser to another in medical devices. In the video Dr. Martin Stimpson from our member company Eastman explains the challenges of replacing DEHP in medical devices. One of the barriers is cost and time: it is a lengthy and expensive process, one that can take several years and cost up to €500,000-600,000 per device.

However, there also opportunities in DEHP replacement. PVC medical devices such as oxygen masks are well suited for recycling, and without the presence of DEHP there are endless possibilities with the recyclate, which is of very high quality. Already now about 120 hospitals recycle PVC medical devices in Australia and New Zealand, and in the UK around 10 hospitals are part of the RecoMed PVC take-back scheme for single-use PVC medical devices.

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