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Peering into the OR's dirty, wasteful secret

While corporate America eagerly touts sustainable packaging, operating rooms are anything but green. Should that matter?

Kudos to MDs Roy K. Esaki and Alex Macario for shining the light on operating room waste in an article on Medscape.com. Packaging materials contribute to overall OR waste, yet packaging’s primary function is to maintain the sterility and safety of medical devices, drugs, and/or biologics for surgical patients. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and restriction practices, say the authors, can help combat waste. So could the development of recycling programs at hospitals, costly as they may be. While environmentally friendly packaging will likely make inroads in the OR, job one for manufacturers is to package a product that will benefit the patient, perhaps even save her or his life. Beyond that goal, manufacturers also must address the packaging demands of surgical room personnel.
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
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List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Annual Outlook Report: Automation & Robotics
What's in store for CPGs in 2025 and beyond? Packaging World editors explore the survey responses from 118 brand owners, CPG, and FMCG Packaging World readers for its new Annual Outlook Report.
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Annual Outlook Report: Automation & Robotics