How supply chain choices affect the life cycle impacts of medical products

The natural resource based view (NRBV) suggests there are two main models used by businesses to achieve short-term sustainability outcomes. They are the product stewardship and pollution prevention models. Here is the case of a New York-based wholesaler of medical supplies. The business aims to develop a more environmentally sustainable supply chain for one of its products - an emesis basin. The emesis basin is currently only offered in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, which has negative effects on the natural environment. This study aimed to assess how the new business model might affect the overall life cycle impacts of this product. To achieve this, we compared the environmental impacts of the conventional product (Scenario 1- an HDPE basin) with equivalent products supplied via pollution prevention (Scenario 2 - a bioplastic basin) and product stewardship (Scenario 3 - green supply chain management and improvements) scenarios, as well as a combination scenario (Scenario 4). The results show that, in line with expectations, the pollution prevention option - switching to a bioplastic product - has the lowest environmental impacts. Unexpectedly though, the product stewardship option had a greater impact on the natural environment than the conventional HDPE, business-as-usual option. We suggest there may be greater environmental gains to be obtained by focusing on one's core business, than by extending influence across the supply chain.