Greenhealth Exchange and NewGen Surgical enter into agreement for sustainably designed surgical products for greener operations.

RESTON, Virginia – May 21, 2018 – Greenhealth Exchange (GX) announced during CleanMed 2018, the premier national environmental conference for leaders in health care sustainability who are on the leading edge of greening the health care sector, an agreement with NewGen Surgical for sustainably designed surgical products. GX is a purchasing cooperative that makes it easy for their members to source products and services used in health care settings that are good for people, the planet and the bottom line – and have added surgical skin staplers and a range of needle counters to the surgical products category.

Not only does NewGen Surgical’s product line pass the GX innovative product requirements, NewGen Surgical’s Smart Sustainable Design^TM criteria ensures that these chemicals of concern are not considered in the first place. GX currently offers the only national GPO agreement with NewGen Surgical, and hospitals across the US can access the contract and its competitive pricing with a simple membership application. To become part of this work, contact info@greenhealthexchange.com.

Sister Mary Ellen Leciejewski, Board member of Greenhealth Exchange and Vice President of Corporate Responsibility of Dignity Health said, “As one of the founders of GX and a sustainability leader of a health care system, I am pleased to welcome NewGen Surgical. Their commitment to environmental stewardship embedded in product design is exactly the kind of company and product lines that support our shared missions for healthy communities.”

Much like the health care industry’s emphasis on treating root cause by focusing on wellness and prevention, NewGen Surgical does the same by redesigning products with more sustainable materials to achieve an overall source reduction of plastic production; therefore, reducing plastic pollution in the waste stream. Their current product lines are made with upcycled plant-based material, the agricultural by-product of harvested sugarcane.

By rethinking and redesigning disposable single-use surgical products used every day in the operating room, NewGen Surgical reduces or eliminates plastic waste while still delivering clinical performance at a comparable price. For example, the 40 count needle counter eliminates 93% of the plastic in the outer box resulting in 1,000 pounds of plastic pollution eliminated for every 12,500 needle counters. Given these are used in almost every surgical procedure nationwide, year after year, converting to a sustainable option can have a measurable impact on continuously reducing plastic waste.

Rob Chase, Founder and President of NewGen Surgical shared, “I am excited about working with Greenhealth Exchange as I believe they provide a critical solution for hospitals interested in sustainable surgical products and the manufacturers creating them.”

“GX is pleased to be moving forward with NewGen Surgical to reduce plastic waste, improve patient and staff safety by eliminating chemicals of concern, and to create a more sustainable OR.  NewGen Surgical products offer the kind of positive environmental and health benefits that our members are aiming for,” said John Strong, President, Greenhealth Exchange.  “By working together, we will further our mission of making a real impact on the health of patients and the planet.”

“With the recent announcement from Heath Care Without Harm Global and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with an increased focus on sustainable procurement, along with the upcoming UNEP World Environment Day on June 5 themed Beat Plastic Pollution, there could not be a better time to join a GPO with a sustainably-minded membership,” added Chase. “We look forward to working with each one of them to eliminate tons of plastic waste from their surgical suites.”

About Greenhealth Exchange

Greenhealth Exchange (GX) is a Public Benefits Corporation structured as a purchasing cooperative created by Practice Greenhealth, Health Care Without Harm, and leading health systems deeply committed to environmental sustainability in health care. GX makes it easy to source products and services used in health care settings that are good for people, the planet and the bottom line. We work with our members to spark innovation in the supply chain: getting to next generation products, smarter and faster. www.GreenhealthExchange.com

About NewGen Surgical, Inc.

NewGen Surgical, Inc. develops and manufactures sustainably designed, single-use medical devices and products. With a mission to reduce plastic waste in healthcare, NewGen Surgical offers hospitals and surgery centers a solution to their sustainability programs and meet Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) objectives. Founded in 2012 in the San Francisco Bay Area, NewGen Surgical is a member of Practice Greenhealth’s Greening the OR^® Initiative and Think Beyond Plastic Accelerator, was commended in the 2015 Circular Economy Awards of the Young Global Leaders at the World Economic Forum, and a finalist at the 2018 edie Sustainability Leaders Awards and the 2017 Sustainable Brands Innovation Open. For more information, visit www.newgensurgical.com.