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MedTech Sustainability by Design
MedTech Sustainability by Design is the podcast where the world's leading experts in medical device, sustainable plastics, eco-design, and regulatory compliance share their expertise. Each episode cuts through the complexity of plastic selection, regulatory changes, medical device engineering or sustainable plastics — so MedTech engineers and start-up teams can build devices that are good for the patient, good for the planet and profitable.
Your host, Lucas Pianegonda, is a globally recognized expert for plastics in medical technology. As founder of Gradical, a consultancy dedicated to making MedTech more sustainable with plastics, Lucas has guided dozens of medical device, IVD and pharma companies through some of the field's most complex material challenges. He asks the questions your R&D team would ask and gets you the answers you actually need.
Topics covered include:
• Sustainable plastics and eco-design strategies for MedTech
• Plastic selection for medical devices, in-vitro diagnostics and combination products
• Biocompatibility, sterilization and the medical grade concept
• Regulatory requirements and changes across global markets
• Recycling, medical waste, and the circular economy in healthcare
Is your team struggling to make your Device or Packaging more sustainable? Schedule a call with Lucas: https://calendly.com/lucas-pianegonda-gradical/discovery-call-gradical?
Learn more about Gradical and its services at www.gradical.ch
Episodes
37 episodes
Recycling is Just an Extension of Linearity with Patrick Zimmermann, Managing Director at FKuR Kunststoff GmbH
This episode is brought to you by FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, a leading producer and distributor of bio-based and compostable plastics."Recycling is just an extension of linearity."Patrick Zimmermann posts the same sentence on Li...
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45:52
How to Build a Medical Device That Actually Sells with Lisa Voronkova, CEO of OVA Solutions
If you want to make your medical devices more sustainable, let's talk—: https://calendly.com/lucas-pianegonda-gradical/discovery-call-gradicalMos...
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46:34
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How AI Can 10x Medical Device Development with Prof. Dr. Christian Johner
If you want to make your medical devices more sustainable, let's talk: https://calendly.com/lucas-pianegonda-gradical/discovery-call-gradicalWhat...
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44:39
Why Sustainability and Compliance Are Becoming the Same Thing with Julian Lotz, BIOVOX
If you're a MedTech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, let’s talk—BOOK A CALL HERE: https://calendly.com/lucas-pianegonda-gradical/di...
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53:40
The Real Cost of Medical Waste (And Why Hospitals Are Changing Their Approach) with Andy Marshall
This episode is sponsored by Sterilis Solutions: https://sterilissolutions.com"How much is medical waste actually costing us?" is one of the questions hospitals are finally asking out l...
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41:50
How Do You Know Your Medical Device Material Will Pass Biocompatibility Testing? with Marina Daineko
"Is this material going to be biocompatible?" is one of the most commonly asked questions in medical device development.The problem is, there's no such thing as a biocompatible material.In this episode, I speak with Marina Daineko...
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59:40
Can Chemical Recycling Solve MedTech's Sustainability Crisis? with Reinier Grimbergen
Chemical recycling is often presented as a silver bullet. But is it actually viable for medical-grade plastics?In this episode, I speak with Reinier Grimbergen, CTO of Blue Circle Olefins, about what chemical recycling really is, ...
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53:23
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How to Innovate Faster in MedTech: Solving the Speed-to-Market Problem with Spencer Jones
Why does it take so long to bring a medical device to market? And what can we actually do about it?Spencer Jones is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of XO MedTech and MedTech Vendors. In this episode, he breaks down the real problem...
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1:01:21
How Do You Choose The Right Sterilization Method For Your Device? with Manuel Grandy
If you are building or scaling a medical device, sterilization problems will catch up with you. Usually later in the process than you want.In this episode, I speak with Manuel Grandy, Consultant and Managing Partner at SteriComp GmbH<...
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43:22
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Is Sustainability Actually Strategic? with Casper Venbjerg Hansen
Many companies say sustainability matters, but only a few treat it as part of their strategy. One of them is Ambu, a global MedTech company and the market leader in single-use endoscopy. In this episode, Casper Venbjerg Hansen, Senior...
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43:30
Understanding LCAs: The Hidden Factors That Shape Environmental Impact with Thomas Kägi
Many organizations rely on LCAs (Life Cycle Assessments) to guide sustainability decisions, but the method is only as reliable as the data and assumptions used to build it. In this episode, Thomas Kägi, Member of the Board at Carbotech AG
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46:51
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Why Hospitals Say No: The Harsh Truth About MedTech Commercialization with Jim Surek
Hospitals review new devices through a process that is far more complex than most teams expect. In this episode, commercialization specialist Jim Surek explains how he evaluates medical technologies and the three-part funnel he uses to p...
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46:36
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What If Engineers Could Innovate Instead of Wasting Time on Documentation with Karl J. Larsson (Aligned)
Every MedTech company wants to innovate faster, but most are slowed down by one thing they barely realize is consuming half their development time: technical documentation.In this episode, Karl J. Larsson, co-founder of ...
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44:44
Is the Packaging of Implants the Next Big Sustainability Challenge in MedTech? with Marcel Kunz (Straumann Group)
Marcel Kunz, Head of Packaging at Straumann Group, has spent his career making dental implant packaging safe, sterile, and sustainable.In this episode, he joins Lucas Pianegonda to share Straumann’s six “Golden Rules” fo...
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41:51
Building the First Bio-Based Breathing Circuit with Thomas Willemsen (GaleMed Group)
When Thomas Willemsen became CEO of GaleMed Group, he saw an opportunity to redefine medical consumables for a sustainable future. In partnership with Gradical, his team created the BioVent-Circuit — the world’s first anesthesi...
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43:28
Redesigning a Single-Use Medical Device to SLASH Waste and Cost (Case Study) with Pablo Yániz González
Industrial design engineer Pablo Yániz González, who recently graduated in Integrated Product Design at TU Delft's Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, set out to make a single-use inflator more sustainable and ended up desig...
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39:55
How “Hybrid-Use” Medical Devices Can Cut Waste AND Save Hospitals Millions with Dr. Axel Boese
Dr. Axel Boese has spent years studying how hospitals can innovate sustainably — and one of his biggest insights challenges the status quo of “single-use.”In most hospitals, medical tools are used once and then thrown away. For so...
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Episode 22
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47:38
Arne Jaksch - Toxicological Risk Assessment
Arne Jaksch is an expert in toxicology and managing director of his own company Jaksch Life Science Consulting. He supports medical technology, pharmaceutical and chemical companies in the biological and toxicological evaluation of their produc...
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Season 20
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Episode 1
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41:17
Maximilian Hofmann - Challenges in MedTech Sustainability
Maximilian Hofmann is Sustainability Manager at Raumedic a leading component supplier, CDMO and medical device manufacturer for some of its products. In the 4 years at Raumedic he established sustainability management systems, ISCC-PLUS certifi...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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44:50
Isobel Filipova - Holistic MedTech Design
Isobel Filipova is an expert in sustainable design in medical technology and the founder of her own consultancy, where she helps medtech companies redesign medical device for sustainability. With a background in industrial design and medical de...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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51:06
Damian Carr - Catheter Technology
Damian Carr is a distinguished expert in catheter innovation and globally recognized for his pioneering contributions to minimally invasive medical technologies. He is the author of “The Catheter R&D Handbook and founder of Eyedea Medtech E...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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43:55
Monika Kriete - Medical TPUs
Monika Kriete is an expert for medical TPU and Technical Marketing Manager at Lubrizol Medical Solutions. She studied material science at the university of Berlin and then moved into the polymer industry working for Covestro before moving to Lu...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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43:10
Jim Giger - Product Development in MedTech
Jim Giger is an experienced leader in Innovation and product development. In his stellar career he managed development and innovation teams across multiple industries including medical device. Currently he is R&D Director at Hamilton Medica...
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47:19
Beat Keller - Safety of Electrical Medical Devices
Beat Keller is a regulatory expert and electrical engineer with deep knowledge in electric and electronic devices. He has over 15 years of experience in the medical device field and has been working in several standardization working groups fo...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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44:32
Daniel Delfosse - Regulatory Developments
Daniel Delfosse is an expert for Regulations and Innovation. He spent his career in R&D positions at Mathys Ltd Bettlach before joining Swiss MedTech 5 years ago where he now is Vice Director and Head of Regulation and Innovation. He summar...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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45:11
