ENKORE Project kicks off

On January 30-31, the kick-off meeting for the “Propelling the shift toward the future of circular, safe and sustainable packaging and single use device solutions ecoDesigned through healthcare environments”- ENKORE project was held in Madrid, Spain. The meeting was hosted by one of the consortium members, Polytechnic University of Madrid. This initiative, spearheaded by a multidisciplinary consortium comprising 39 partners and 13 industry affiliates from 15 EU countries (click here to see the full list), along with collaborators from the UK and the USA, is set to revolutionise how medical devices and packaging are designed and utilised. 

ENKORE: an ecoDesign framework for the healthcare sector 

The ENKORE project aims to develop an ecoDesign framework for the healthcare sector to promote circular economy principles. The framework aims to create safe, environmentally-compliant, and eco-responsible packaging for medical devices, minimising environmental impact, reducing carbon footprint, and maximising resource use. The project will be validated in five Reference Use Cases (RUCs) led by health regions, policy makers, large EU hospitals, and the European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA). The project is supported by associations, NGOs, packaging manufacturers, and specialists in circularity, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), social sciences, environment, circularity, and materials. The validation will provide evidence for policymakers to create new standards and engage in policy making and regulatory engagement. The methods and tools include Environmental and Social Life Cycle Assessment (ELCA/SLCA), Circularity Calculator (CC), and Digital Product Passport (DPP). ENKORE is co-funded by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) and unites a diverse consortium of partners committed to creating safe, circular, and sustainable-by-design medical solutions. 

The ENKORE project kick-off meeting was overwhelmingly positive, with strong engagement from all consortium members. Representatives from each partner organisation were present, making it a highly interactive and insightful session. Work package leaders outlined their key objectives and deliverables, setting the foundation for collaboration.

Salahuddin Sohag, Head of Product and Promotion at Technovative Solutions LTD (TVS), represented TVS at the meeting. We spoke with him about the project, TVS' contributions, and his key takeaways from the kick-off meeting.

Role of TVS in the ENKORE Project

TVS will play a critical role in providing the ENKORE Suite of Services. Here’s a closer look at the contributions that the organisation will make to the project.

• Cost and LCA Models: TVS will design and develop comprehensive cost and life-cycle assessment (LCA) models. These models will help evaluate the environmental impacts of healthcare products throughout their lifecycle, from raw material extraction through to disposal.
• Circularity Calculator (CC): As part of the suite of services, TVS will create a CC that will serve as a crucial tool for assessing the circularity of products at different stages.
• Digital Product Passport (DPP): TVS will develop an ontology and blockchain-based DPP. This innovative solution will ensure traceability, security, and authenticity of healthcare devices and packaging, facilitating a more sustainable and transparent supply chain. TVS will also provide guidance on circular design principles.

Through these initiatives, TVS aims to address key environmental and social challenges while promoting the adoption of circular economy principles within the healthcare sector.

What TVS Presented:

At the meeting, when it came to TVS' work package, it was encouraging to see strong industry interest, particularly from interdependent work-package task leaders. Mr. Sohag presented the DPP, CC, and LCA tools, all of which sparked lively discussions. There was notable curiosity around the DPP, with attendees keen to understand how it could support their work. The CC also prompted questions, reflecting the consortium’s strong focus on measurable sustainability outcomes.

What’s next:

Given the high level of interest, the co-lead for the work package, Pfizer, has suggested running a series of workshops to provide deeper insights into the DPP concept and potentially conduct a demonstration. Additionally, the project will need to align the LCA tool development with the methodology used by the Leiden University, ensuring a consistent and scientifically robust approach. According to Mr. Sohag, this level of engagement reaffirms the importance of their work and highlights the need for clear, practical tools to drive circular economy principles in healthcare. “We look forward to continuing these discussions and advancing our contributions to the ENKORE project", he said.

This project is funded by the European Commission’s Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) for Research and Innovation Actions under project no. 101166707.