HARTMANN’S shared commitment to a greener industry
"As a provider of single-use medical products for hospitals, we work hard every day to reduce the environmental footprint of the products. Our priority is to prevent infections and provide even more sustainable products in the future, so that together we can reduce CO2 emissions in the healthcare sector."
HARTMANN fosters close relationships with hospitals and understands the balance that hospitals must strike. Hospitals can’t simply choose the most sustainable product. They must also have affordable, medical-grade products from a partner who ensures quality safety and supply security. “We can make a difference here,” says Ms Kentischer, “because we already have the MDR-compliant products and strong supply chains. Now we must better communicate how hard we’ve worked over the years to reduce the carbon footprint of our products for hospitals.”
The challenge for hospitals lies in navigating the many products and sometimes conflicting information. For example, many believe eliminating single-use medical products will improve sustainability. In fact, they only constitute 3% of a hospital’s CO2 emissions, and the choice between reusable and disposable is more intricate. Quick claims such as “100% biodegradable” or “plastic-free” don’t always help hospitals, because medical waste disposal must follow strict regulations, and often plastic packaging is a must to ensure medical safety. Ms Kentischer add, “We can play a pivotal role for hospitals, guiding them through these choices to achieve meaningful results.”
Offering the products that hospitals need requires a multi-faceted approach. HARTMANN meticulously assesses the values of a high-medical standard and eco-consciousness through the entire Product Life Cycle from product design, production, packaging, to shipping. In Risk Prevention, this has led to many improvements which together have culminated in significantly cutting the carbon footprint of products. The examples are many: reducing product volume, streamlining production processes, using renewable raw materials where possible, reducing packaging, optimizing supply routes, and more. These improvements go on to assist hospitals in waste management, streamlining work processes and reducing storage needs – all of which help improve their own carbon footprint.
The Risk Prevention division has recently completed communication materials for sales teams that lay out the many sustainable facets of our products for hospitals. “It will be key as we move forward,” emphasizes Ms Kentischer, “that we not only better communicate the sustainability of our products, but also deliver the guidance that hospitals need. We can also help them by tailoring orders, so they get exactly what they need and no excess.” HARTMANN’s broad product portfolio covers the entire patient journey at a hospital, so clients can be assured whether they are ordering Incontinence Management, Wound Care, Disinfection or Risk Prevention products that they are getting the same commitment to safety and quality. For HARTMANN, the protection of patients and healthcare professionals is paramount.
HARTMANN also fosters unified communication on the topic of sustainability across all its divisions. Ms Kentischer explains, “We learn so much from each other. One innovation in Incontinence Management inspires us to look at something anew in Risk Prevention and vice versa. It’s really exciting when we share with each other what we are doing.” By fostering collaboration, HARTMANN fortifies its sustainability messaging, while also integrating insights from evolving product domains.
Looking ahead, HARTMANN is keen to work alongside its peers, shaping sustainability norms and benchmarks. Through these concerted efforts, HARTMANN reaffirms its dedication to driving excellence and sustainability in healthcare – a commitment it's proud to share with its global network of hospital partners. Together, the shared vision of a sustainable future in healthcare becomes not just a dream, but an attainable reality.
