After the Single Use at Med-Tech Insights Expo 2026

Body

After the Single Use researchers Alice Street and Millie Marriott Webb participated in Med-Tech Insights Expo 2026, engaging with healthcare professionals, manufacturers, designers, and sustainability practitioners working across the medical technology sector.

As part of the Innovation Stage programme, Millie Marriott Webb presented What Comes After the Single Use for MedTech, introducing the project’s research on the material composition, regulation, and environmental impacts of single-use medical devices. The session explored how a better understanding of device materials and product lifecycles can support more informed conversations around procurement, sustainability, and future alternatives within healthcare systems.

Alongside the presentation, Alice Street and Millie Marriott Webb showcased Deconstructing Devices, a public engagement project that physically dismantles everyday medical technologies to reveal the complex assemblies of plastics, polymers, and components hidden within seemingly simple products. The display prompted discussions about the material realities of healthcare technologies and the environmental challenges associated with products that are designed for a single use before disposal.

The event provided an opportunity to connect with a wide range of stakeholders across the med-tech sector at a time when sustainability, product lifecycles, and carbon reporting are becoming increasingly important considerations for manufacturers and healthcare providers. Conversations throughout the day highlighted growing interest in understanding the environmental impacts of medical devices and the role that research can play in supporting more sustainable approaches to healthcare innovation.