Swirling, succeeding in ‘circular economy’ knows no bounds By: Rick Dana Barlow  – November 18, 2019 To some, environmental sustainability represents one of those “damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don’t” idiomatic exercises in that whatever you decide likely will attract criticism, debate and some form of ridicule. Either it is is too burdensome and costly, it panders to the hippie…

Experts advise starting small, thinking big By: Rick Dana Barlow  – November 18, 2019 Establishing an environmental sustainability movement, process or project can be an arduous exercise, competing heavily between higher-priority issues and among numerous multitasking executives, clinicians and practitioners. But it doesn’t have to be such a daunting task so long as aims and…

By: Norbert Sparrow –  October 8, 2019 The juggernaut to remove single-use plastics from our lives largely has spared the medical sector. There are good reasons for that, starting with improved safety for the patient because single-use devices reduce the risk of infection. Also, injection molded and extruded plastic devices allow for design innovation and…

Sugarcane plants and operating rooms have nothing in common, and yet when Rob Chase, president and founder of NewGen Surgical in San Rafael, struck on an idea to bring them together, it was a logical pairing that had the potential to deliver benefits for generations to come. His concept was to create surgical equipment out…

At Dominican, Rob Chase MBA ’00 gained the tools to develop and build a successful healthcare business. Now he’s paying it forward, creating internships for Dominican students and serving as a mentor as they embark on their own careers. Marco Estebez ’19, and Jacquelyn Jacinto ’20 began their internship with the marketing department of NewGen…

By: Sister Mary Ellen Leciejewski Three years ago in Paris, Dignity Health was privileged to be among the delegations from around the world that came to consensus on how we needed to urgently curb our carbon emission rates or face irreparable harm. Now, as many of those same representatives meet at COP24 in Poland, disaster…

By: Norbert Sparrow, Plastics Today Medical, Sustainability, Materials We have expectations of efficacy and safety in medical products that are brought to market; should we also factor in sustainability? Absolutely, says Rob Chase, founder and President of NewGen Surgical, a medical products company based in San Rafael, CA. NewGen Surgical’s skin stapler is made with 69%…

The U.S. healthcare sector is the second most intensive commercial user of energy. Hospitals are one of the largest energy users, contributing 8 percent of the U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the purchase of healthcare goods and services, and produce more than 4.67 million tons of waste each year. Realizing the significance of these…

By HPN Online – April 23, 2018 Sustainable needle counter NewGen Surgical’s latex-free, Prop 65-compliant sustainable needle counter combines good clinical performance with a sustainable, plant-based material for eco-conscious healthcare providers. Features include easy-to-read numbers for securing of needles, a secure latch with audible closure feedback, compliance with OSHA requirements and ASTM F2132 for puncture…

In celebration of Earth Day, the “Green Team” of Sutter Health CPMC Pacific Campus O.R. San Francisco will be hosting a week of activities and interactive exhibits, April 23-27. Activities will create awareness of how small sustainable changes can help “green” the O.R. and lead nurses to be more conscious as the “Green Team”. NewGen…