The University of Manchester and Bupa are teaming up to tackle healthcare’s sustainability challenges, focusing on reducing waste and promoting eco-friendly practices without compromising care quality.
The University of Manchester and Bupa are collaborating on a revolutionary attempt at reducing the healthcare sector’s environmental footprint.
This collaboration aims to address the industry’s pressing sustainability concerns by focusing on innovative approaches to reduce waste while maintaining high-quality care.
The three-year research program focuses on the issue of plastic waste in healthcare settings. It explores the role of material selection, reuse, and recycling, as well as how social practices affect waste management. The goal is to identify barriers, discover new opportunities, and create circular solutions that make healthcare environmentally friendly even more.
Co-funded by the EPSRC Prosperity Partnership Award, this collaboration combines academic expertise with industry insights. Professor Mike Shaver, director of sustainable futures at The University of Manchester, expressed his enthusiasm: “Collaborating with Bupa gives us a chance to extend our understanding of plastics and sustainability in healthcare. Together, we can reshape how materials are managed and turn research into real-world solutions.”
Healthcare’s reliance on single-use items (SUIs) presents a significant challenge to sustainability. While many countries have introduced restrictions on household plastic waste, SUIs remain vital in healthcare for infection control and operational efficiency. Unfortunately, this reliance adds significantly to carbon emissions and plastic pollution.
The partnership will focus on four key areas:
- Social practices in healthcare: Examining how behaviours affect material use, segregation, and disposal.
- Reuse and sterility: Investigating ways to balance material selection, sterilisation, and reuse to enhance sustainability.
- Recycling innovations: Developing efficient waste streams for mechanical and chemical recycling.
- Environmental impact assessments: Quantifying the effects of material usage and creating sustainability hierarchies for healthcare.
Anna Russell, director of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Bupa, said: “Tackling healthcare’s environmental challenges requires bold thinking and collaboration, and this partnership is a fantastic opportunity to lead the way in creating sustainable, industry-wide solutions. By combining cutting-edge research with Bupa’s real-world expertise, we can drive meaningful change that reduces the healthcare sector’s impact on the planet while maintaining the highest clinical standards. This is a vital step forward in our journey to help create a greener, healthier future.”
This initiative benefits from The University of Manchester’s robust research capabilities and Bupa’s practical expertise, drawn from a network of over 500 healthcare facilities, including dental practices, care homes, and The Cromwell Hospital. It also aligns with Unit M, the University’s innovation hub, which promotes collaborations to advance regional and global innovation.
Professor Lou Cordwell, CEO of Unit M, said: “Ahead of the formal launch of Unit M, the founding leadership team has been working to develop this partnership with Bupa to highlight the benefits of organisations engaging with Unit M to drive real-world impact and innovation.
“The collaboration has taken shape over the past two years to establish a long term, University wide innovation partnership.”
Both organisations bring strong sustainability credentials to this initiative. The University of Manchester recently ranked among the world’s top 10 in the 2025 QS World University Sustainability Rankings. Meanwhile, Bupa has established ambitious science-based CO2 reduction targets, aiming for net zero by 2040.
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