Plastic Free July Mobilizes Action Across the Planet to Reduce Single-Use Plastics, as NewGen Surgical Participates by Replacing Millions of Single-Use Plastic Products in Healthcare with Plant-Based Alternatives

Plant-based surgical products help health systems reduce plastic waste at the source while supporting sustainable procurement and clinical performance.

San Rafael, California — July 1, 2026 — As millions of people and organizations around the world take part in Plastic Free July to reduce single-use plastic waste, NewGen Surgical, Inc. is participating by helping healthcare providers replace conventional plastic surgical products with plant-based alternatives. Designed for adoption across health systems, NewGen Surgical’s solutions help hospitals and surgical centers reduce plastic waste, support sustainable procurement, and advance Scope 3 goals without compromising clinical performance or workflow.

U.S. healthcare generates more than one million tons of single-use plastic waste each year, underscoring the scale of the challenge and the need for upstream material change in the healthcare supply chain. Against that backdrop, NewGen Surgical is working to redesign everyday surgical essentials with plant- and bio-based materials that reduce plastic use at scale in the operating room.

Since 2012, NewGen Surgical has focused on transforming healthcare through sustainable innovation by developing clinically proven products that replace traditional petroleum-based plastic consumables used in the operating room. With more than 13 million sustainable products delivered globally, the company continues to help healthcare providers reduce waste and strengthen environmental stewardship in surgical settings.

“Healthcare systems remain heavily dependent on single‑use plastic products across the care pathway,” said Rob Chase, Founder and CEO of NewGen Surgical. “Our goal is to provide clinically reliable alternatives that help hospitals and surgical centers reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining the efficiency and performance clinicians expect.”

NewGen Surgical recently reached a major milestone as the first company to earn USDA BioPreferred Program Certification for medical products. With the certification of its One- and Two-Compartment Trays and Sponge Bowls, the company’s full portfolio of surgical products is now USDA BioPreferred-certified. This achievement reinforces NewGen Surgical’s leadership in verified, plant-based alternatives for the healthcare supply chain.

Designed for demanding clinical environments, NewGen Surgical products can withstand exposure to surgical fluids for up to 12 hours and integrate seamlessly into custom procedure packs. This makes it easier for health systems to implement renewable-material alternatives across facilities without adding complexity for clinicians or supply chain teams.

Plastic Free July is a global movement that engages 174 million participants across 190 countries, reflecting the scale of worldwide action to reduce plastic waste through everyday choices and organizational change. NewGen Surgical is contributing to that broader effort by helping healthcare providers reduce single-use plastics in one of the world’s most resource-intensive care environments: the operating room.

About NewGen Surgical

Founded in 2012 in the San Francisco Bay Area, NewGen Surgical, Inc. designs and manufactures sustainable surgical products and packaging that replace millions of plastic consumables used in healthcare. Its clinically proven product lines meet patient-safety standards and are distributed in custom surgical packs to hospitals worldwide, reducing plastic waste and Scope 3 CO2 emissions. With more than 13 million plant-based products delivered globally, NewGen Surgical, the first company to earn USDA BioPreferred Certification for surgical products, continues to advance material innovation and support the adoption of sustainable surgical solutions in healthcare. NewGen Surgical is committed to reducing plastic waste in healthcare by replacing single-use petroleum-based products with plant-based alternatives that are better for patients, the environment, and the communities healthcare serves.

To learn more about NewGen Surgical’s sustainable product solutions or request samples, visit newgensurgical.com