Finding sustainable paths to improved patient outcomes
Sustainability in action
We believe our collective health depends on the health of our planet. That makes environmental responsibility an essential complement to our core mission: advancing patient care through innovation and technology.
Our commitment to sustainability directly supports our customers’ sustainability goals.
Medtronic has committed to carbon neutral emissions across our operations by 2030, with aspirations to be net zero across our value chain by 2045.1
Improving our footprint operationally with reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy, water, and waste
Committing to reduce product-level emissions through supplier-led decarbonization, lower-carbon materials, and waste reduction
Continually focusing on waste reduction by investing in modular product design, reduced packaging, and measurable end-of-life solutions
Our near-term emissions reduction targets are validated by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and shared publicly.
We’re embedding sustainability in alignment with our Mission.
Responsible patient-centric innovation
Elevating outcomes for patients, healthcare professionals, and the environment
Circularity in MedTech
Extending product life by keeping products, materials, and components circulating within the economy through design improvements and end-of-life solutions
Minimizing use of resources
Reducing hospital waste, materials of concern, and environmental footprint of operations globally
What does reprocessing responsibly mean at Medtronic?
Driving responsible patient-centric innovation
Patients inspire our pursuit of innovation — and our mission drives us to put inspiration into action. That’s why we’re taking steps to elevate outcomes for patients, customers, and the environment.
LigaSure™ vessel sealing
Reliable performance†,2 and responsible progress.
Our trusted vessel sealing technology delivers reliable performance along with uncompromising sustainability.
By removing the black plastic wrap on the shaft of our LigaSure™ blunt tip and Maryland jaw devices, we are able to:
- Eliminate over 2.7 million feet of plastic per year3
- Reduce waste2
Refer to the IFU for more information on Indications, Contraindictions and Risks.
Sonicision™ 7 curved jaw ultrasonic dissector
The freedom to do more,‡,4 — while throwing away less.§,5
Experience the freedom of a cordless design while leveraging reusable components to reduce waste.
- Our autoclavable generator is reusable for 150 procedures before replacement.6
- Resuable components reduce the need for frequent production and disposal without compromising quality and safety.
- The Sonicsion™ 7 curved jaw cordless device produces 44% less waste than Harmonic HD1000i™* and 1100 devices.§,5
GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module
AI–assisted colonoscopy for enhanced polyp detection.7
Better detection leads to earlier intervention, which helps prevent more resource-intensive treatments down the line.
GI Genius™ improves Adenoma Detection Rate (ADR) by up to 14%,7 helping physicians identify polyps they might otherwise miss.
This device is not intended to replace clinical decision making. Refer to the IFU for more information on Indications, Contraindictions and Risks.
BIS™ monitoring system
Better insights. Lower emissions.
BIS™ technology individualizes dosing from beginning to end, helping you make efficient use of OR resources.8–12
By reflecting the anesthetic effect on each patient’s brain to personalize dosing, the BIS™ monitoring system can:
- Improve emergence times, with patients waking up 2–4 minutes faster8–12
- Allow clinicians to use up to 38% less anesthetic agents in a procedure8–12
- Reduce postoperative delirium up to 29%13
The BIS monitoring system should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis or therapy and is intended only as an adjunct in patient assessment. Reliance on the BIS monitoring system alone for intraoperative anesthetic management is not recommended.
Promoting circularity in MedTech
We’re exploring ways to extend product life by keeping materials and components efficiently circulating within the economy through forward-thinking product design and end-of-life solutions.
Signia™ stapling system
Intelligence built in. Waste left out.
The modular design of the intelligent Signia™ stapling system advances material efficiency in linear and circular powered stapling while upholding the highest standards of quality.
- The multiuse Signia™ platform reduces raw material use up to 90%.◊,14
- The rechargeable handle reduces waste up to 70% in select procedures¶,14 vs. the Echelon Flex™* device.
- The Signia™ circular stapler produces 88% less waste compared to the Ethicon Echelon Circular™* powered stapler.¶,15
- The rechargeable handle can be reused for 300 procedures.14
Risks may include, but are not limited to: acute/chronic pain, bleeding, infection, and tissue damage. Potential complications may include failure to anastomose, blood loss, ischemia, stenosis, bowel perforation, gastro-intestinal obstruction/occlusion, and tissue breakdown.
TruClear™ hysteroscopy system
Designed for optimum performance.
The TruClear™ system enables effective procedures#,16–18 while advancing environmentally responsible practices.
Reusable components like the TruClear™ handpiece reduce the need for frequent production and disposal and allow for reduced packaging.
By leveraging the TruClear™ system and HysteroLux™ fluid management you can reduce waste in the OR by:
- 10% vs. Hologic MyoSure™* REACH19
- 14.5% vs. Hologic MyoSure™* LITE19
- 33% vs. Hologic MyoSure™* MANUAL19
As with all operative hysteroscopy, adverse effects include but are not limited to intravasation, uterine perforation, exposure to body fluids, laceration, carcinogen exposure, electric shock, and air embolism.
Nellcor™ pulse oximetry sensors
Reliable every time.20
We produce millions of reprocessed Nellcor™ pulse oximetry sensors to extend product life, diverting 500k pounds from the landfill annually.1
- Restored to factory settings, comparable to brand-new sensors20
- Tested to ensure the same process and performance requirements as brand-new sensors20
- Reprocessed only one time20
McGRATH™ rechargeable battery
Always ready. Always reliable.21
The McGRATH™ rechargeable battery system powers the McGRATH™ video laryngoscopes to support higher first-pass success rates22,23 while providing hospitals with long-term cost savings24,25 and lowering the environmental impact of intubation.
- 97.8% reduction in waste generation by reducing the need for single-use batteries∆,26
Minimalist material use:
- 76% – 83% reduction in material waster vs standard disposible blade alternatives27
- 100% recyclable packaging28
For trained personnel only. For specific indications and instructions for use, please refer to the product manual.
Minimizing use of resources
We’re committed to developing initiatives meant to minimize customer waste, reduce materials of concern, and shrink the environmental footprint of operations globally.
IFU paper reduction
Cut paper. Not trees.
Medtronic will eliminate 2,500 tons of paper waste by FY30 by moving to eIFUs.
- Our LigaSure™ and Sonicision™ portfolios have streamlined, transitioning from six paper IFUs to one, saving 230 metric tons of paper in one year.29
- Our hernia mesh portfolio has transitioned to electronic instructions for use (eIFUs), eliminating 79 metric tons of paper waste in one year.30
- We're making eIFU the default choice for new product launches including our Hugo™ robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system, launching with eIFU in the U.S. market to avoid paper use.
Hugo™ RAS system: Risks may include arrythmia, bleeding, burns, infection, tissue damage, or other complications.
Endo Clip™ III devices
Secure. Stable. Sustainable.∞,31–33
We’ve removed the electric clip counter and lithium battery from Endo Clip™ III devices, instead color-coding the last three clips in the device blue to alert surgeons of low clip count to reduce waste without compromising quality.
This small design change allows us to:
- Reduce waste by approximately 2.4 tons each year31,32
- Lower expenses of hazardous waste31,32
- Annual supply chain shipping savings of 9,500 miles (15,000 kilometers) 31,32
Refer to the IFU for more information on Indications, Contraindictions and Risks.
VersaOne™ access system
Delivering access without the excess.
Our universal trocar platform provides versatility and efficiency34 in one complete solution.
The redesigned packaging configuration on VersaOne™ trocars is made from recycled materials††,35 and results in an 80% reduction in packaging material weight due to the redesigned soft pouch display packaging††,35
U.S. surgical collections program
Reduce landfill waste. Gain value and data.
Our collections program keeps surgical products out of landfills and ensures responsible management through a certified waste-to-energy facility.
- Keep waste management simple with our single-bin solution
- Earn a rebate for eligible energy surgical devices
- Get data and insights to support your ESG reporting and help track environmental goals
Reprocessing responsibly at Medtronic
The waste impact of medical devices creates a sustainability challenge for healthcare.
Operating rooms account for 30% of a hospital’s total waste, with single-use devices being a major contributor.36,37
- How we think about reprocessing
- How we approach reprocessing
- How we support the waste hierarchy
Medtronic is
investing in waste reduction through extended product life and end-of-life solutions.1
We opt for modular devices or reusable components like the Signia™ stapling system and TruClear™ hysteroscopy system whenever possible.
We consider reprocessing responsibly for select noninvasive devices like Nellcor™ pulse oximetry sensors when our testing and quality systems support it.
We seek innovative ways to reduce packaging and materials and divert waste from landfills for invasive or high-criticality devices when single-use is needed.
Medtronic holds a nuanced position regarding single-use device (SUD) reprocessing.
Patient safety is our top priority and is the overriding consideration.
If done in adherence to strict quality systems, SUD reprocessing may offer some reduction in overall healthcare costs and/or provide environmental benefits.
This is why Medtronic actively evaluates reprocessing of single-use devices on select, less invasive products.
By incorporating reprocessing, recycling, and reuse, we pair the right waste reduction and end-of-life solutions with the right products while keeping customers and patients in mind.
Reprocessed by Medtronic
Nellcor™ pulse oximetry
Noninvasive products
Noninvasive device: may be safely reprocessed using methodology tested and approved by Medtronic.
Not reprocessed by Medtronic
LigaSure™ vessel sealing devices
Energy-based surgical products
Invasive, high-criticality device designed for single use. No internal data to support reprocessing; collections go to waste-to-energy facility instead of landfill.
Circularity across the portfolio
Innovative offerings that pair the right solutions with the right products
