PhD Transition from disposable to reusable: optimization and implementation challenges
Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Belonging to the best research universities of Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.
Faculty of Economics and Business
The Faculty of Economics and Business offers an inspiring study and working environment for students and employees. International accreditation enables the Faculty to assess performance against the highest international standards. It also creates an exciting environment of continuous improvement. FEB's programmes, academic staff and research do well on various excellence ranking lists.
FEBRI, the graduate school and research institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business has one PhD position available with the topic:
“Transition from disposable to reusable: optimization and implementation challenges”
Project description
The transition to reusable medical products is key to a more sustainable Dutch healthcare sector. Hospitals spend about 32% of their costs on procurement, totaling €25 billion in specialised care. Reducing consumption and increasing reuse can cut costs and lower environmental impact. This project aims to provide insights for regional material use reductions and process improvements, while simultaneously achieving cost reductions. A regional approach in the North enhances expertise, cleaning and production capacity, and logistics, benefiting healthcare institutions, businesses, and citizens.
While reuse can lower CO₂ emissions and waste, it may also introduce higher costs and logistical as well as organizational complexity. The first goal is to understand the impact, logistics, and collaborations required for transitioning to more reuse of medical products. This involves developing business cases, pilots, and care protocols for various medical and lab products. Lessons from pilots will lead to new insights on implementing reusable products, thereby speeding up the transition.
A second project focuses on optimizing surgical set composition, cleaning, and transport logistics. A comparative study will assess the sustainability of sterilization using blue wrap versus aluminium containers. Pilots will optimize surgical set reuse, waste reduction, digital improved inventory management, and automated tracking. Regional logistics will be analysed to determine whether hospitals can share products and cleaning facilities, improving efficiency and minimizing transport-related environmental impact.
Organisation
The PhD position is integrated into the OPERA research programme of FEB’s Research Institute, and the University Medical Center Groningen. The PhD candidate will be guided by supervisors from both organisations. This PhD project forms part of the Care2Change initiative, organized by the consortium "Sustainable Healthcare Noord-Nederland," which includes hospitals, companies, and knowledge institutes predominantly based in the northern region of the Netherlands. Collaboration with these entities aims to acquire data, identify compelling case studies, and disseminate research findings effectively.
