The world needs BIOMATDB
As the European Green Deal is becoming a reality, so does
the need for information about the carbon footprint and the sustainability of
biomaterials.
Biomaterials have become a critical
component
in healthcare and medicine, offering new and innovative ways to improve patient
outcomes and overall quality of care. These materials have unique properties
that make them ideal for use in a variety of medical applications, including
implantable devices, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering. However, as
the use of biomaterials continues to grow, so does the need for information
about their properties, applicability, carbon and digital footprint, and their overall
sustainability.
For context, biomaterials are
synthetic or natural materials that are used in medical applications. They are
designed to interact with biological systems and can be used to replace or
repair damaged tissue, support tissue regeneration, and deliver drugs.
Biomaterials can be derived from a variety of sources, including metals,
ceramics, polymers, and natural materials such as collagen and silk.
And while biomaterials offer numerous
benefits, there are also sustainability questions that should be addressed. I was not necessarily
aware of them until I conducted the interviews with the hospital managers
responsible for tendering biomaterials for their organisations. One of those
interviews happened within the framework of the BIOMATDB project. The other one was conducted during
the Green Health session at the Digital
Health & Wellness Summit in Barcelona in February 2023 that I
moderated. Both managers agreed that, as the world and requirements and
expectations for the procurement procedures change, they need more detailed information on the source of the biomaterials,
how to dispose of them, if they can be reused or repurposed and how, and what’s
their carbon footprint. This is particularly important as many biomaterials
are derived from non-renewable resources and require significant energy and
resources to produce. Additionally, the disposal of biomaterials at the end of
their life can have significant environmental impacts.
The
need for this specific information is in line with the framework of green health or zero net healthcare. As a concept, zero net healthcare aims to
reduce the environmental impact of healthcare facilities and operations to net
zero, meaning that the environmental impact is offset by an equal or greater
amount of environmental benefit. It is part of the thinking behind the European
Green Deal and an important effort in
achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
That is why the world needs BIOMATDB – Advanced Database and Marketplace for Biomaterials – to
deliver a database with information that matters for healthcare professionals,
managers, suppliers and purchasers, so they have the ability to compare an even
larger number of biomaterials, giving them the chance to choose the best
product for their particular needs and requirements.
You can now make the BIOMATDB
solution better by helping identify gaps and needs within the biomaterials niche, or bringing
forward novel products to meet the market demand. Participate in the survey on
the BIOMATDB website: https://biomatdb.eu/2022/11/03/we-want-to-hear-from-you/
Author: Karolina Mackiewicz
Keywords
green health, digital health,
sustainability, net zero healthcare, green deal