Global Green Careers: On the way to more sustainability

The role of sustainability specialists in the field of disposables is rapidly gaining in importance both nationally and internationally as ecological pressure and regulatory requirements are constantly increasing.

Companies are under great pressure to make consumer goods more sustainable and at the same time, ensure patient safety. Initiatives such as the EU Green Deal, the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and new ESG reporting obligations require specialists who can combine technical, normative and economic aspects. At the same time, young talents expect meaningful fields of activity in which impact, technology and ethics converge. This is precisely why the role of the sustainability specialist is now becoming the focus of training institutions, HR and young talent.

The profession is in demand worldwide, but the paths to it vary greatly. In Germany, dual and engineering study models (“dual studies” plus Master's/certificates) are common. In the USA, flexible Bachelor's degrees with practical experience and specific sustainability certificates often count. In Northern Europe (Sweden, Netherlands) specialized Master's programs such as Industrial Ecology and Circular Economy dominate. And in Asia (China, Japan), careers are shaped by large manufacturing groups with internal training programs and growing academic sustainability programs. The focus is always on efficiency, scaling and regulatory requirements.

In detail, the training paths can look as follows:

Three short stories show how companies around the world are implementing sustainable solutions that require sustainability specialists:

• Green endoscopy Würzburg: a pilot at UKW reduces CO₂ footprint in endoscopy through optimized consumables and green electricity.
• ecoFluorecare rapid test: Okos Diagnostics replaces plastic housing for lateral flow kits with bio-based, compostable materials and reduces waste.
• Antiviral disposable gloves uvex phynomic silv-air: Antibacterial treatment minimizes cross-contamination, offers high wearing comfort and more sustainable material solutions.

These brief examples show: Sustainability issues can be addressed in very different ways, but implementation is actively being worked on everywhere.

Disposables are a cornerstone of sustainable medtech: any producer who wants to make disposable instruments, packaging or diagnostic kits more environmentally friendly needs talented people with green skills. Sustainability specialists combine technology, environmental and standards knowledge and business expertise - and are therefore not just a passing trend, but a future-oriented profile. As an international platform, MEDICA offers the opportunity to discuss training paths, present best practices and set networking impulses. Young talent and HR managers, in particular, can find valuable points of contact here to shape sustainable career paths in medical technology.