Better than reusable: Medicel launches sustainable single-use range

Press release

Altenrhein, Switzerland – 05.09.2024

Better than reusable:
Medicel launches sustainable single-use range

At the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) Congress in Barcelona (Spain), Medicel will be showing why it is one of the most innovative companies in the industry with its new terralution range: The single-use injectors and I/A handpieces of the brand new product family are not only safe, clean and powerful, but also more environmentally friendly than comparable reusable systems.

This result even surprises experts: The carbon footprint of Medicel’s new terralution range is up to 51 per cent smaller than that of comparable reusable systems ¹⁾. In addition to the less sustainable raw materials used for reusables, the reason for this are the reprocessing and disposal methods which consume a great deal of energy.

Medicel from Altenrhein (Switzerland) therefore proves that single-use products and sustainability for ophthalmic surgery are no longer contradictions – on the contrary. The key environmental data of terralution is so impressive that companies, hospitals and surgeries can achieve their environmental and sustainability goals more effectively with the new system than with reusables. “The result of the life cycle analysis, which was carried out by an independent, external institute, even raises the question for me as to whether reusable systems can be sustainable at all,” comments Medicel CEO Mauro Bühler.

A holistic, radical approach
The impressive product properties of terralution have been made possible by a development process that is fully focused on consistent eco-design: Product dimensions and packaging have been minimised and optimised, conventional raw materials have been replaced by bio-based, recyclable or renewable materials, production processes have been optimised and modifications have been made along the entire value chain to enable minimum use of natural resources. ²⁾³⁾

The effort was worth it: Not only material consumption and the related amount of waste, but also water consumption, CO2 emissions and various other environmental indicators have been massively improved. “It’s incredible what the team was able achieve with the terralution range with regard to
sustainability without having any compromise on performance, safety and quality,” the CEO comments with a smile. “Such a performance with brilliant environmental values – this has really exceeded our expectations.”