HealthBeacon PLC (EURONEXT:HBCN) has launched a Green Labs facility today in Dublin.
The event was officiated by Ireland's Tánaiste (deputy head of government) and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar.
The lab facility is described as “an innovative space” that will enable a circular economy for pharmaceutical clients and a research & development (R&D) centre for sustainable solutions for sharps (i.e. syringes, scalpels, etc.) waste in Ireland.
The Irish digital therapeutics company has partnered with Novartis Ireland on the Green Labs initiative, which seeks to create a platform to provide innovative sustainability solutions quickly and easily for patients on Novartis treatments.
“The first chapter of this partnership is the provision of reusable sharps bins to rheumatology, dermatology and neurology patients. Smart technology reminds the patient to take their medication and notifies them when their sharps bin is nearing capacity. The full sharps bin is then collected from the patient's home, undergoes a validated washing regime and can then be returned to the patient for re-use, ensuring an environmentally friendly service for patients,” the stock market statement from HealthBeacon said.
“We need to take better care of our planet,” said Varadkar.
“This generation should aim to pass it on to the next in a better condition than we inherited it. A big part of this involves using fewer of the earth's resources and recycling, repairing and reusing materials more often. It's called the circular economy. Medical waste I know can be a particular challenge given the need to make sure quality and safe standards are high and consistent and sterile to prevent infection but there are solutions. I'm really happy to officially open this Green Labs facility from HealthBeacon,” he added.
Jim Joyce, the co-founder and chief executive officer of HealthBeacon, said it was regrettable that billions of injectable waste devices and hundreds of millions of sharps bins end up in household trash, landfills or incineration facilities.
“Today, in partnership with Novartis in Ireland we are taking a major step in reversing those unsustainable practices by launching our new EPA licensed Green Labs facility. This facility will allow us to sustainably process Sharps Bins and Injectable waste across Ireland. Together through innovative solutions and partnerships we can improve patient care in a more sustainable way,” Joyce said.