Hospira, a leading manufacturer of hospital products, is the first to launch a full-service PVC-free, phthalate-free IV container, signaling an important shift in the medical device market toward safer alternatives.
Hospira’s new IV container is PVC/DEHP free and weighs 40-60% less than other flexible IV containers, resulting in significant waste reduction.
PVC medical devices are a health concern because they contribute to dioxin formation during manufacture and incineration; and during use, the devices can leach the phthalate DEHP, a reproductive toxicant linked to birth defects in laboratory animals. The FDA warned health care providers in 2002 that some patients may be at risk from DEHP leaching from PVC medical devices and recommended switching to alternatives.
Baxter International also announced a limited launch of a new specialty PVC-free IV system.
Baxter and Hospira are the top two manufacturers of medical devices in the US.
Arden Architectural Specialties announced it is phasing out PVC production and introducing a new line of corn-based, bio-polymer blend wall production products.
“These developments indicate a significant market shift away from PVC plastic,” said Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international coalition working to reduce the environmental impact of the health care industry.”
Health Care Without Harm also announced that more than 100 health care organizations are undertaking efforts to reduce PVC and/or DEHP, including six of the largest Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs)and some of the leading health care systems and largest hospitals in the country.
The announcements were made at CleanMed 2006 in Seattle, where more than 500 health care leaders are gathered this week for the world’s largest health care conference on environmentally preferable medical products and green buildings.
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