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The Latest News from the Medical Device Industry's Top Suppliers
 

Code Green

Insight Product Development LLC
Press Release

 

As people become more conscious of how their product choices affect the environment, patients will look for their medical products to be aligned with the principles of sustainability

 

(CHICAGO) — Consumers find sustainability to be an important aspect of the products they use more than ever before. This movement towards green living forces companies to take a look at their products and how they fit into this consumer mind-set and Insight Product Development is committed to helping companies explore green design.

Consumer companies are already designing more sustainable products, and medical companies need to consider that environmental issues will be a factor for their products as well. Patients now have easier access to information and are more involved in decisions about the medical products they will use, especially with care being more frequently administered in the home environment. Having medical products align with their green lifestyle will help the environment but also create an emotive connection to the brand.

Safety concerns for medical products can hinder traditional approaches to sustainability, such as reuse and recycling. However, thinking about other ways to implement green design principles will help companies improve the overall sustainability of medical products. By exploring this approach, medical companies have a huge opportunity to reduce the amount of waste produced by the industry.

Insight analyzes many facets of a product's lifecycle to help companies design a more sustainable offering that also keeps business goals top of mind:

 

  • Material selection

    Helping clients select the right material for a product by considering factors such as renewable sources, recylabitly, reusability and biodegradability are just a couple of ways we evaluate the relative merits of potential materials, taking into consideration the typical constraints of cost and mechanical and aesthetic properties. Likewise, reducing or eliminating toxic materials, such as mercury and PVC can greatly improve a product's environmental impact.

     

  • Material Reduction

    We explore ways to help clients reduce the amount of materials used in a product. In addition to reducing cost, a reduction of materials minimizes the impact on the environment.

     

  • Production Process

    Helping clients understand the impact of design decisions on production processes and the tradeoffs surrounding manufacturing methods can reduce waste and optimize the amount of energy spent.

     

  • Assembly and Distribution

    Reducing energy in assembly and distribution by exploring ways to reduce the number of different materials used, facilitate single-site production and assembly and consolidate material sources.

     

  • Packaging

    Packaging reduction and sustainable packaging solutions lead to both cost-savings for clients and environmental benefits by reducing waste involved.

     

  • Product Endurance

    Making an object more robust and less likely to need replacement in the short term will lessen landfill content while increasing product quality and brand loyalty.

     

  • Upgradeability/serviceability
    Allowing for consumers to update an existing product can create less waste while prolonging the relationship with the customer.

     

  • Efficiency of Use
    Minimize resources and energy required to use a product to reduce waste and make the product operation more effective.

     

  • Alternative Technologies
    For products that require power sources, researching new and alternate technologies to ensure the most sustainable solution, such as fuel cells and solar power, are considered.

     

  • Disposal
    Design for disassembly ensures that all parts can be separated from each other, which can lead to cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manufacturer take-back programs. Easy disassembly for end-users also ensures possibility of recycling.

    Insight is equipped to help medical companies bring green design to their product development process. By evaluating stages of a product's lifecycle while considering the product characteristics and regulatory constraints, Insight can develop appropriate sustainable solutions.

    About Insight
    Insight designs meaningful products and experiences. From design strategy though development we align user-needs with business goals to ensure market success.

    With offices in Chicago, Boston, Raleigh and Shanghai, we have a global perspective that feels local. We work closely with our clients because we believe a collaborative relationship leads to the greatest innovation.

    Since our founding in 1988, we have worked with many industry leaders, including BD, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft and Motorola. Please visit www.insightpd.com for more information.

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    • published date: 01-23-2008