INDIANA - Berry Global has initiated a programme with Nexus Circular, Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Indiana, and Evansville Packaging Supply to keep healthcare fabrics in use and out of our environment.
The partnership will aim to safely and effectively recycle non-hazardous, sterile, plastic packaging and nonwoven fabric from the hospital’s surgical suite, pharmaceutical, laboratory and warehouse.
The effort is expected to divert around 500 pounds, or 350 bags, of clean, used healthcare plastics – from protective surgical tool packaging to unused nonwoven surgical cloths and gowns – from landfill per week.
The circular initiative was initiated by Madyson Partenheimer, a commercial sustainability manager at Berry Global and former healthcare worker who recognized an untapped opportunity to drive collective change. Madyson has been involved in all aspects of this effort, including educating and engaging hospital personnel and inspiring excitement for and confidence in the program amongst staff and the wider Deaconess community.
“The need for plastic in a circular economy will remain constant, but efforts focused on how we can evolve the plastic substrate to be optimal for a sustainable future are crucial," Partenheimer said: "I see this successful evolution through more reducing-reducing our use of virgin materials, reducing landfill waste, and reducing energy consumption-and I am confident that collaboration amongst value chain leaders and leveraging our unique resources can create this trusted pathway towards circularity.”
