Learning Community
Sustainable Healthcare
Motivation
The climate crisis is the greatest threat to public health.
Climate change and environmental pollution are leading to an increasing number and variety of health concerns. For example, this includes infectious diseases and heat stress. In the Netherlands, the healthcare sector is responsible for 7% of greenhouse gas emissions, 4% of waste, and 13% of resource consumption. By providing healthcare, the sector thus contributes to the climate crisis. It is this paradox that the healthcare sector aims to break.
Learning Community
Sustainable Healthcare
This Learning Community focuses on sustainable healthcare and interdisciplinary collaboration. This means that as part of a community, you will be in contact with others. You exchange information with fellow students and provide each other with feedback. Hospitals, suppliers, and purchasing organizations also participate in the Learning Community and provide you with professional feedback. Communication is key when executing your assignment, as well as involving others in your research and maintaining contact with various parties.
Stakeholders:
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TU Delft
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Zorgservice XL
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Various Dutch hospitals
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The Hague University of Applied Sciences
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Utrecht University of Applied Sciences
Coaches:
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Dr. Bart van Straten (TUD)
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Jeroen Zoller, MSc (ZorgserviceXL)
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Representatives from hospitals in the South Holland region
Goal
The goal of the Learning Community is to contribute to the Green Deal: Sustainable Healthcare.
The goal is a 50% reduction in resource consumption by 2030 and maximum circularity by 2050.
Since there are many different ways to work towards this goal, it has been decided to use the R-Ladder with circular strategies as a framework to address the various challenges.
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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
Topic
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)
Topic
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
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
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)
Topic
Consumer Behavior and Climate Goals
Task: Investigate how consumer behavior can be aligned with climate targets.
Level: HBO – WO (project, internship, thesis)
What We Provide
01
Project Design
Describe the service and how customers or clients can benefit from it. It’s an opportunity to add a short description with relevant details, like pricing, duration and how to book.
02
Construction Management
Describe the service and how customers or clients can benefit from it. It’s an opportunity to add a short description with relevant details, like pricing, duration and how to book.
03
Site Evaluation
Describe the service and how customers or clients can benefit from it. It’s an opportunity to add a short description with relevant details, like pricing, duration and how to book.
04
Construction
Describe the service and how customers or clients can benefit from it. It’s an opportunity to add a short description with relevant details, like pricing, duration and how to book.
05
Cost Modeling
Describe the service and how customers or clients can benefit from it. It’s an opportunity to add a short description with relevant details, like pricing, duration and how to book.
Platform
On the website www.evengroenevrienden.nl, (potential) stakeholders can find general information about all available Learning Communities. Through the website, issues can also be submitted.
A platform is being developed where stakeholders, students, and educational institutions can connect with each other and upload deliverables. The online education platform from EdX will serve as the foundation for this. Once the platform is complete, a link will be provided on this page.
Projectorganisation & Communication
The project organization of this Learning Community is formed by Linette Bossen and Bart van Straten. Linette Bossen is the project leader of the projects "Streetwise: learning with society" and "ET-TLC: Energy Transition – Talent in Learning Communities." The Learning Communities within Even Groene Vrienden originated from these projects. Bart van Straten is an expert in sustainability and circular healthcare. He is affiliated with the company Van Straten Medical and several educational and government-related institutions.
Their role is to facilitate the various co-creation sessions and partner sessions, along with the associated communication, as well as keeping the platform and learning path up to date.
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.
Stakeholders & Meetings
We organize 2 partner sessions per year where students present their results through pitches. It is important for all participants to be present to enable meaningful discussions. These sessions are likely to take place in September and February.
In between, co-creation sessions are organized where students and stakeholders of a specific topic come together to discuss the assignment. Each 10-week cycle includes at least 2 co-creation sessions, each lasting approximately 2 hours. It is essential for organizations wishing to participate to commit to these sessions.
Expectations for Stakeholders:
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Attend 2 topic-specific co-creation sessions per year.
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Participate in the partner sessions.
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Facilitate students in their research, for example, by providing meeting spaces, assisting with interviews, offering guidance, providing contacts, or enabling shadowing opportunities in environments such as hospitals.
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If JIP (Joint Interdisciplinary Project) students are involved in the Learning Community, a coach from the organization will be available (see attachment for the Joint Interdisciplinary Project).
