Sustainable Healthcare
In the Netherlands, the healthcare sector is responsible for 7% of greenhouse gas emissions, 4% of all waste, and 13% of raw material consumption. In providing care, the sector therefore contributes to the climate crisis, a paradox it now seeks to overcome. This Learning Community focuses on sustainable healthcare and interdisciplinary collaboration. This means that, as part of a community, you engage and exchange knowledge with others. You share information with fellow students and provide each other with feedback. Hospitals, suppliers, and procurement organizations also participate in the Learning Community and offer professional feedback. Communication plays a key role in carrying out your project, as does involving others in your research and maintaining contact with various stakeholders.
The Learning Community Sustainable Healthcare focuses on making the healthcare sector more sustainable by reducing, reusing, and recycling material streams. Healthcare is responsible for a significant share of national waste and CO₂ emissions, which presents major opportunities for innovation. Within this community, students, educators and companies work together to analyze waste streams, develop circular systems, and create sustainable value chains for medical materials, packaging, and instruments.
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Latest updates from our Sustainable Healthcare Learning Community!
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De doelstelling van de Learning Community is bij te dragen aan de Green Deal: Duurzame zorg met als doel 50% reductie van grondstofverbruik in 2030 en maximaal circulair in 2050.
Green Deal
Work together with stakeholders such as GreenCycl and gain real world experience in this sector.
Real experience
Visit presentations from professionals and present your own work to stakeholders and professionals from the field.
Presentations
Available assignments:
Design Personal Care Space Unit
Task: Based on recycled materials, work hands on on designing and building parts of a mobile personal care space unit using recycled materials.
Level: MBO-HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
Optimization of Hospital Waste Logistics
Task: Map and optimize hospital waste streams in collaboration with stakeholders such as waste processors, GreenCycl, and logistics companies.
Level: MBO – HBO – HU (project, internship, thesis)
CO2 Savings with Circular Healthcare
Task: Determine where the most CO2 savings can be realized with circular healthcare using Life Cycle Assessment.
Level: WO (project, internship, thesis)
LCA of Recycling Medical Devices
Task: Calculate the climate impact savings (CO2 emissions) using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) when recycling single-use and reusable medical devices.
Level: WO Industrial Ecology – Leiden/Delft (project, internship, thesis)
CRM Harvesting from Medical Waste for Electronics
Task: Investigate which type of CRM material can be harvested from a medical waste stream for use in consumer electronics (e.g., phones).
Level: HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
CAD Product Designs from Medical Waste
Task: Create three CAD drawings for product designs made from medical waste (polypropylene, PET, or stainless steel).
Level: MBO – HBO (project, internship)
Legal Adjustments for Climate Goals
Task: Identify legislative changes needed to achieve climate targets: 55% CO2 reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050.
Level: HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
Legal Barriers for Recycling Medical Waste
Task: Map out legal barriers, including guidelines and required permits, for collecting, recycling, and processing potentially contaminated medical waste.
Level: MBO – HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
Market Research for Recycled Medical Waste Products
Task: Conduct market research among the medical industry, hospitals, and care institutions to identify product demand as a basis for designing products from recycled medical waste. Distinguish between CE and non-CE products.
Level: MBO – HBO (project, internship
Heat Recovery System After Chemical Disinfection
Task: Design a system for heat recovery after chemical disinfection and autoclaving in hospitals in collaboration with Miele/SteelCo.
Level: HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
CAD Designs of Recycled Products for SEMICON and Hospitals
Task: Create CAD drawings in Inventor or SolidWorks of at least three products made from recycled polypropylene, PET, or stainless steel suitable for SEMICON companies and/or hospitals.
Level: MBO – HBO (project, internship
Safe Handling of Contaminated Medical Waste
Task: Design a safe method to place medically contaminated waste on the NGR conveyor belt without human contact.
Level: MBO – HBO – WO (internship, thesis)
Recycling Plan for SEMICON, Defense, and Medical Applications
Task: Create a plan, in consultation, for which recycled materials can be used in SEMICON, defense, or medical products.
Level: HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
Skills and Training Needs in Medical Mechatronics, Energy Transition, and SEMICON
Task: Conduct market research to determine which skills are needed in the medical mechatronics, energy transition, and SEMICON industries in the Netherlands. Identify modules for an online course and talent development.
Level: HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
PCB Clamping Method Design
Task: Design a clamping method for printed circuit boards that allows valuable materials to be harvested.
Level: MBO – HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
Design Plan Using CRMs as Raw Materials
Task: Create a plan for possible designs where critical raw materials (CRMs) are used as raw materials.
Level: MBO – HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
Harvesting Cobalt and Gold from Soft Assemblies
Task: Develop a method to harvest and reuse materials like cobalt and gold from soft assemblies for use by semiconductor companies such as ASML.
Level: MBO – HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
Market Research on CRM Waste in Dutch Hospitals
Task: Conduct market research on the amount of critical raw material (CRM) waste present in Dutch hospitals.
Level: MBO – HBO (project, internship)
Prototype Dust-Free Storage Bins for CRMs
Task: Design and prototype bins where critical raw materials can be stored dust-free per material type.
Level: MBO – HBO (project, internship)
Consumer Behavior and Climate Goals
Task: Investigate how consumer behavior can be aligned with climate targets.
Level: HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
Projectorganisation & Communication
The project organization of this Learning Community consists of Noa Buijsman and Bart van Straten.
Noa Buijsman is the Facilitator and Coordinator of this community. In addition, she fulfills several other roles within Even Groene Vrienden.
Bart van Straten is an expert in the field of sustainability and circular healthcare. He is affiliated with the companies Van Straten Medical and Greencycl, and collaborates with various educational and governmental institutions. Together, they are responsible for facilitating co-creation and partner sessions, managing related communications, and keeping the platform and learning pathway up to date. They are supported in this by Facilitator Support Tijmen Feitz.
What is expected from students
A student must meet the requirements of the course in which they are completing an assignment for the Learning Community (self-monitoring and coordinating with the relevant teacher).
What is further expected from students:
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Complete two reflection questionnaires: one before participation and one afterward (for internal research purposes).
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Attend two co-creation sessions.
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Participate in sprint sessions with fellow students.
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Deliver a presentation at the partner session.
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Write a reflection report.
Our partners.
