HPRC is a private technical coalition of industry peers across healthcare, recycling and waste management industries seeking to improve recyclability of plastic products within healthcare. To date, HPRC is made up of twelve brand leading and globally recognized members. The council convenes biannually at meetings hosted by an HPRC member that include facility tours to further learning and knowledge sharing opportunities through first-hand demonstration of best practices in sustainable product and packaging design and recycling processes. Find more information about HPRC and all of our projects and work products at hprc.org.

1. Introduction to HPRC

2. The Business Case
Healthcare facilities in the United States generate approximately
14,000 tons of waste per day1, most of which is being
disposed of in landfills or by incineration.
It is estimated that between 20 and 25 percent of that 14,000
tons can be attributed to plastic packaging and plastic
products2.
In addition, 85 percent of the hospital waste generated is non-
hazardous, meaning free from patient contact and
contamination3.

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What is HPRC?
HPRC is a private, technical coalition of
industry peers across healthcare, recycling
and waste management industries seeking
to improve recyclability of plastic products
within healthcare.
Value Chain Approach
HPRC is unique in its
focus on identification
of plastics recycling
barriers and solution
development along the
entire value chain.
HPRC is seeking to
affect plastics recycling
from healthcare product
design and
manufacturing through
product use, disposal
and recycle.

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Vision
All healthcare plastics are safely and
effectively recycled and widely accepted as
a valuable resource.
Mission
Collaborate across the value chain to inspire
and enable the healthcare community to
implement viable, safe, and cost-effective
recycling solutions for plastics products and
packaging used in the delivery of healthcare.
What We Aspire To Do
Circular Economy
Aligned
Healthcare plastics have
unique potential to be
part of the Circular
Economy movement,
where nothing is lost or
wasted and all resources
are utilized to their
highest potential,
delivering better
system-wide economic
and environmental
outcomes.

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Members
Each HPRC member company is a leader in their respective
industry with a demonstrated expertise, commitment and
passion for shaping the future of plastics recycling and reducing
the environmental footprint of not only their own operations but
also the operations of their customers.
Current Members

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Healthcare Facility
Advisory Board (HFAB)
Established to provide valuable voice of the
customer insight to HPRC activities.
HFAB members help HPRC:
• Understand the plastic recycling barriers
that exist within healthcare facilities today
• Establish priorities for technical agenda
• Develop solutions through access to data,
information and resources
Current HFAB
Members

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External Stakeholder
Engagement
We recognize that there exists many
opportunities for collaboration in the
plastics recycling space.
Stakeholder engagement helps HPRC ensure:
• Our work is informed by a broad range of insights
and experiences
• We set common priorities, create synergies, and
avoid duplication of efforts
• We leverage shared learnings to promote
continuous improvement and drive mission
Currently Engaged
Stakeholders

8. A Value Chain Approach to
Inspire and Enable Recycling
of Healthcare Plastics
Plastics Sourcing
Product &
Packaging Design
Manufacturing
Warehousing
Distribution
Purchasing &
Receiving
Product Use
Waste Collection &
Processing
Collection
Sorting
Processing
FEEDBACK LOOP

9. Flagship Project: Product Design
Improving Recyclability
and Market Value
Work Product:
Design Guidelines for
Optimal Healthcare
Plastics Recycling
Looks at product and
packaging design
features that inhibit
post-use recycling
potential.
Articulates desirable
design practices and
less desirable design
practices.
Avoid multiple material
types used within one
discrete product
Avoid paper tapes or
labels attached directly to
products
Avoid metalized plastics
and paper/film packaging
combinations
Allow for the identification
and removal of product
residue
Minimize the use of
pigments in products
Desirable Design
Practice
Less Desirable Design
Practice

10. Flagship Project: Product Use
A Helping Hand for Hospitals
Work Product:
HospiCycle
“How to” guide and
collection of tools for
establishing plastics
recycling in patient
care settings.
Looks at economic,
regulatory, resourcing
and infrastructure
considerations
Materials accredited
for healthcare
continuing education
credits.
Experience the
Interactive Prezi at:
http://bit.ly/HospiCycle

11. Flagship Project: Disposal & Recycling
Chicago Project
Supply, Meet Demand
Seeks to demonstrate economic
viability and business model for
regional approach to recycling
healthcare plastics.
Project Partners

12. Operating Model and Membership
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13. Operating Structure
Steering Committee
The primary decision making body responsible for setting
strategic direction, deciding tactical priorities, managing
fiscal resources, and deciding new membership
Technical Working Group
Responsible for executing meaningful technical activities
within each stage of the healthcare plastics value chain
Communications Working Group
Responsible for articulating HPRC activities and building
awareness across multiple stakeholder groups

14. Key Drivers for Membership
Corporate Goal Alignment
• Responsible product stewardship aspirations
• Goals for developing sustainable products
Customer Service
• Recognition for developing solutions
Doing the Right Thing
• Part of the social responsibility agenda
Create Business Growth Opportunities
• Stimulate product innovations
Develop Plastic Material Feedstock
• Looking for recycled content sources

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Project Spotlights

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Pilot Studies
Intended to collect and analyze data related to
materials, types, volumes and sources of
plastic waste generated within healthcare
facilities.
Will define, test and document best
practices as it relates to in-hospital mixed-
plastics recycling programs.
Focused on clean, non-infectious plastic
waste from patient care settings.
Pilot Studies to Date:

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Pilot Study Spotlight
Stanford Medicine
• Six-month pilot study that developed
comprehensive waste profiles across nine
hospital departments.
• Program diverts 110 Tons of non-infectious
packaging material from landfill annually.
– Plastics represent 70% of this material
• Offers 75 percent cost savings compared
to municipal waste collection.
“Clinical recycling is an
important part of our overall
sustainable waste
management strategy here at
Stanford,” says Krisanne
Hanson, Director of
Sustainability, Stanford
Hospital & Clinics and Lucile
Packard Children’s Hospital.
“We will continue to expand
our recycling efforts
throughout our hospital and
clinics using the data and
knowledge collected during
this study to estimate
diversion targets, inform
planning and rollout
strategies and drive program
improvements.

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Pilot Study Spotlight
Stanford Medicine
Clinical Area Profile
% Recyclable Material by Study Area
Material Profile
Study Area % Generation by Material Type
Click here for
complete case study

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Pilot Study Spotlight
Stanford Medicine
Total Projected
Waste Diversion
114 tons
Total Plastics
76 tons
67% plastics diversion

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Materials Testing
Mapping the impact of the hospital
polymer film recycling stream
composition on the physical
properties of reprocessed polymer
material.
Preliminary testing determined best
practices for film recycling,
blending, and sample preparation
completed.
Created a series of samples with
varied recycled content in a virgin
PP matrix.

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National Hospital
Plastics Recycling Survey
Establishes a baseline characterization
of current plastics recycling activity
across the U.S. health care system.
Sent to healthcare professionals
across Facilities, EHS,
Environmental Services,
Procurement, Sustainability and
Clinical Staff.
Survey responses representative of
667 hospitals nationwide.

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National Hospital
Plastics Recycling Survey

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For more information
Visit www.hprc.org
Contact Peylina Chu
HPRC Operations Director
peylina.chu@anteagroup.com
+1 508 490 8606