Medical plastics are a global pollution crisis.
Why it matters to the medical industry
The medical industry creates a huge portion of our annual plastic waste. When it’s not dumped into our oceans or landfills, it’s burned, releasing toxic chemicals into our environment. In the United states alone, the numbers are staggering.
14K
Tons of medical trash is generated in healthcare facilities per day in the US.
25%
of that discarded medical trash is petroleum-based plastic.
300K
Tons of plastic is produced each year. That’s nearly the weight of our entire human population.
$8M
Tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans each year. That’s 1 garbage truck per minute.
2021 case study
3 Million face masks are discarded every minute of every day.
- Most of them are disposables made from plastic microfibers.
- Many cannot biodegrade and fragment into small plastic particles.
- These particles turn into potentially toxic micro and nanoplastics that spread into our ecosystems.
- Per PNAS, over 25,000 tons of pandemic-related plastic is polluting global oceans.
- They indirectly harm plants, animals, and humans.
And there’s even more to the story.
- As all this waste crowds our landfills, it releases toxins into the ground, air, and water.
- They’re also among the biggest contributors to soil pollution and greenhouse gasses, which contribute to climate change.
- Incinerators, a popular disposal alternative used for 25% of plastics worldwide, also wastes energy and pollutes the air.
- The biggest resulting problem—seemingly invisible to us—are toxic chemicals called dioxins.
What are dioxins?
Dioxins represent a family of 75 toxic chemicals, none of which occur naturally. They are produced when certain plastics are burned. Many scientists consider dioxins to be among the worst toxins on the planet—and are sometimes referred to by epidemiologists as the “Darth Vader” of toxic chemicals.
Dioxins are now a global health threat. The EPA has found them to be not just carcinogenic, but also the cause of severe health disorders such as birth defects, reproductive disorders, and immune system disorders. Currently, over 90% of potentially infectious medical waste is incinerated.
So, how do humans end up ingesting these dangerous chemicals?
Plastic are incinerated, releasing dioxins into the air.
Dioxins fall, settling in soil, water, and crops.
Animals eat dioxins. We then eat animals—and dioxins.
A far and wide problem
Dioxins can travel long distances through the air before falling to the Earth and entering the food chain. They’ve been found in wildlife worldwide, even in Arctic regions, far from any incinerators.
But paper? It really isn’t the solution.
- Apart from the substantial amounts of water used for paper and paper pulp manufacturing, forests are being cut down faster than they can grow.
- This leads to global deforestation, an increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases, and a decrease in atmospheric oxygen.
- Because trees affect the amount of water in the air by helping regulate the water cycle, fewer trees lead to dryer air, which can dry soil and lead to lost crops.
- Apart from contributing to the climate crisis, deforestation further endangers Indigenous peoples, who safeguard 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity.
- It also endangers 80% of the world’s plant and animal life.
We’ve got the best answer.
Our plant-based material provides a fundamentally sound, environmentally and socially responsible plastic alternative. In a few words? It’s simply the healthier choice.
Manufacturing
MedSafe products require 20% less energy to make and release 65% fewer greenhouse gases than PET products.
Disposal
Unlike current medical plastics that are incinerated, MedSafe products release no toxins when incinerated.
Technology
MedSafe provides are cleaner to use—fewer greenhouse gas emissions and zero environmental toxins.
And our timing is perfect.
We live in a time of one-touch commodities.
The global pandemic has changed everything. We need to meet the surging demand for disposable medical products.
Consumers are hyper-conscious.
The dangers of plastic and paper pollution are now well-known.
Global governments are rapidly banning disposable plastic.
This is a megatrend giving us a timely and competitive advantage.
We offer competitive pricing.
Our innovative technology is both cheaper and better for the environment. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Join the MedSafe revolution.
Interested in learning more?