By Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief

Plastics are seemingly synonymous with healthcare. From packaging to devices to syringes and more, plastics are used for a variety of applications within the industry. However, it’s not always clear if this is done for specific reasons or if the industry is simply playing “follow the leader” and failing to consider alternatives. Are plastics used because they’re what everyone else is using or because they are the best choice?

Fortunately, with their widespread use in the healthcare space, experts have a complete understanding of their benefits, ideal application areas, physical properties, and best practices for their use. Plastics are used for a variety of advantages; it’s not simply a case of doing what’s always been done before. There are clear reasons for their use, and what types are best suited for specific instances.

To help address current issues surrounding the use of plastics in healthcare, as well as to share those aforementioned benefits, is John Faulkner, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BMP Medical. In the following Q&A, he addresses what favorable characteristics plastics offer for healthcare and medtech, the concerns over PFAS, and sterilization compatibility.

Sean Fenske: Plastics are common throughout healthcare and the medtech industry. What physical properties do they offer that align so well with the industry?

John Faulkner: There are many different reasons why plastics are the main choice in healthcare and medtech; several of these would relate to how versatile they can be. Plastics can be sterilized, are lightweight, are biocompatible, and have the durability and toughness to be used to produce many different applications in our industries.

Fenske: Are there new areas of healthcare in which plastics are being used where they weren’t previously? What’s driving the adoption or the switch to plastics?

Faulkner: I believe there has been a steady evaluation of products that were previously made with alternative materials that have been transitioned to plastic. In healthcare and medtech, cost is always a concern, and not just for the manufacturer and OEM. Cost concerns trickle all the way down the care chain through to the patients who benefit from the devices. Being able to provide a product that is manufactured more efficiently and cost consciously can drive medical device OEMs to consider moving to a plastic solution.

Fenske: While many of the primary benefits of plastics are fairly well known, what additional benefits does this material offer that many medical device manufacturers don’t consider or are unaware of?

Faulkner: Some of the benefits medical device manufacturers may not consider would be design for manufacturability and integration, color coding and branding, low thermal conductivity, surface modification flexibility, and global supply chain flexibility. These are just a few of the different aspects that may be attractive to a start-up company considering plastics or an existing manufacturer seeking to build out a new project.

Fenske: As companies seek new or alternative methods for sterilization, does the use of plastics and concerns with their compatibility with different modalities decrease the number of options?

Faulkner: Plastic is very versatile when it comes to compatibility with sterilization. Gamma, E-beam, and X-ray can all be used with plastics. In addition, plastics are autoclavable. This versatility provides companies with a wide variety of options when identifying a method of sterilization.

Fenske: As a supplier of plastic components, how do you address concerns about the amount of plastic waste? What is the industry doing to address this?

Faulkner: Plastic waste is a valid concern when we look at the industry as a whole, but there are different ways OEMs and manufacturers can help with this issue. Some options include emphasizing plastic’s role in reducing overall environmental impact, investing in and promoting the use of biodegradable medical-grade materials, improving sustainability in the manufacturing process, and offering and innovating with sustainable alternatives.

Fenske: Another area of concern is PFAS or “forever chemicals.” What can medical device and plastic component manufacturers do to address this?

Faulkner: PFAS can be found in:

• Fluoropolymers (e.g., PTFE and PVDF)—Used in coatings, tubing, and wire insulation
• Processing aids (e.g., mold release agents)
• Water-, oil-, and chemical-resistant materials or barriers

As a manufacturer of medical components and devices, we conduct regular audits on all our materials to ensure we are always compliant. We do not use mold release in our shop and always use medical-grade resins we know do not contain these chemicals.

Fenske: Do you have any additional comments you’d like to share based on any of the topics we discussed or something you’d like to tell medical device manufacturers?

Faulkner: The versatility of plastics is enormous, and the number of applications is limitless. As a US-based medical manufacturer of consumables and devices, we pride ourselves on having the flexibility to achieve what our customers are seeking while maintaining strict quality standards. BMP Medical has been a trusted partner in the healthcare and medtech space for over 48 years and looks forward to continuing that well into the future.

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