Norwegian innovation tackles the healthcare sector's environmental challenge

As the healthcare sector becomes increasingly digitalised and more treatments move into patients' homes, a little-discussed environmental challenge is emerging: the volume of electronic medical waste is rising dramatically. This waste often contains batteries, valuable metals and plastics that usually end up in landfill.

The Norwegian company GRIN is tackling this challenge through the EU project DiCE (Digital Health in the Circular Economy), which aims to develop circular electronic healthcare products.

'The root cause of most of our environmental problems is our linear society: we extract resources, make a product and throw it away. This is behind a range of environmental problems, including CO2 emissions, plastic in the oceans, and the loss of habitats and forests. If we are to achieve any environmental targets at all, society must become much more circular,' says Daniel Millet, Director of Business Development at GRIN.

GRIN drew inspiration from the Nordic deposit return system, which has achieved a recycling rate of almost 100 per cent for bottles and cans. They have now applied this approach to other product categories, focusing on smart return solutions.

The DICE project has a total budget of more than €9.2 million, of which GRIN receives nearly €690,000. It is funded by Horizon Europe, the world's largest research and innovation programme, with a budget of €95.5 billion.

The project, coordinated by global healthcare company Johnson & Johnson, brings together organisations working across the different stages of the circular value chain. The solutions will be tested in Belgium, Slovenia, Spain and Germany.

'This May, we will finally install reverse vending machines in pharmacies and hospitals across several European countries. They will collect electronic healthcare products for recycling and reuse,' says Millet.

‘The challenge with the circular economy is that no one can do everything alone. Johnson & Johnson can focus on designing products that are easy to recycle or reuse, but they need partners who can handle logistics, disinfection and recycling. And they need someone to manage the return solution itself – that’s where we come in.’

GRIN has worked with us since it was founded in 2018, and our startup funding enabled Millet to start working full-time for the company. Our EU adviser, Greta Karine Juul, now helps the company identify new calls for EU projects in the circular economy.

She says that many people are unaware of the opportunities available through EU partnerships and the benefits they offer companies looking to grow and expand internationally.

'What we see is that companies that embark on EU projects rarely stop, because they gain so much added value. They gain access to capital, strong networks and new markets – as well as the opportunity to help solve global societal challenges and influence policy and legislation.'

'The EU project has undoubtedly opened many doors for us. It has been financially beneficial, providing a steady stream of funding for technology development. But what is truly invaluable is the network and market opportunities we have gained in Europe,' says Millet.

Crucially, GRIN also has a say in shaping future policy and legislation in its field. The DICE project is the first of its kind in the world, and the results will be presented directly to the European Commission.

'We will make recommendations and identify barriers, such as legal obstacles to transporting waste across national borders. This is pioneering work, and we hope it will mark the beginning of circular innovation in the healthcare sector, which accounts for a significant share of global emissions,' says Millet.

– But another area where we can make a difference right away is single-use packaging. Solutions already exist, and we can deliver systems that have a real impact on the environment – right now.

Although the healthcare sector opened the door to EU collaboration, the company now focuses primarily on circular packaging, particularly for food and drink. Its customers range from fast-food chains in the Netherlands to Norway's government quarter, which has eliminated millions of single-use packages through GRIN's system.