The University of Manchester and Bupa have announced an innovative new collaboration to develop new methods and strategies to drastically reduce the healthcare sector’s environmental impact upon our planet.
The research programme aims to address the challenges of plastic waste in healthcare settings by exploring the relationship between social practice, material selection, reuse, and recycling while maintaining high-quality clinical outcomes. In response to complex sustainability challenges in the sector, the work will explore circular pathways, identify barriers and unintended consequences, and unlock opportunities to minimise the environmental impacts of materials in healthcare settings.
The three-year partnership brings together two organisations striving for authentic environmental sustainability, backed by innovative research and real-world practice. The collaboration is co-funded by an EPSRC Prosperity Partnership award, UKRI’s flagship co-investing programme building business and academic research collaboration.
Professor Mike Shaver, Director of Sustainable Futures and academic lead for the new partnership said: “We are thrilled by the opportunity to work with Bupa on this ambitious new project, extending our systemic understanding of plastics, waste management, social practice and environmental impacts to reshape material provision in healthcare. These collaborations are essential to translating our research efforts into real world impact.”
A key challenge for a sustainable future is the way we use and dispose of materials. Over 60% of countries have implemented bans or taxes on household waste, particularly plastics, yet healthcare is much more complex. The sector’s reliance on single-use items (SUIs) for infection control, consistency, and cost efficiency has led to significant environmental and health challenges, with SUIs contributing to carbon emissions, waste, and plastic pollution.
The crucial new interdisciplinary collaboration will tackle four key urgent areas:
- Understanding social practice in medical practices – Understand the interconnectedness between social practice and material selection, use, segregation and disposal.
- Reuse and sterility – Understand the relationship between material selection, sterilisation and reuse to improve environmental sustainability
- Mechanical and chemical recycling – Establish high volume clinical waste streams to create value in mechanical recycling and chemical depolymerization.
- Environmental sustainability assessment – Quantify environmental impacts and develop materials hierarchies in the provision of healthcare.
Anna Russell, Director of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Bupa, said: “This partnership with The University of Manchester is groundbreaking for our sector. Tackling healthcare’s environmental challenges requires bold thinking and collaboration, and this partnership is a fantastic opportunity to lead the way in creating sustainable, industry-wide solutions. By combining cutting-edge research with Bupa’s real-world expertise, we can drive meaningful change that reduces the healthcare sector’s impact on the planet while maintaining the highest clinical standards. This is a vital step forward in our journey to help create a greener, healthier future.”
This new partnership has been recognised by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for bringing together The University of Manchester’s interdisciplinary collaborative researchers and knowledge-base, with data from and access to more than 500 Bupa dental practices, clinics, care homes and The Cromwell Hospital. The necessity of tackling these challenges was highlighted by The University’s Sustainable Futures research platform and Bupa. These are challenges which can only be tackled by marrying academia and industry
This new collaboration was kick-started by Unit M, The University of Manchester’s recently announced innovation capability tasked with supercharging the region’s innovation ecosystem. Unit M is now live and actively engaging with entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers eager to shape the future of the region.
Professor Lou Cordwell, CEO of Unit M and Chair of the GM Business Board said: “Ahead of the formal launch of Unit M, the founding leadership team has been working to develop this partnership with Bupa to highlight the benefits of organisations engaging with Unit M to drive real-world impact and innovation. The collaboration has taken shape over the past two years to establish a long term, University wide innovation partnership.”
The new collaboration builds on the shared commitment of both the University and Bupa to the region. Last month, The University of Manchester reaffirmed its status as a global leader in sustainability by retaining its position in the top 10 worldwide in the 2025 QS World University Sustainability Rankings. Meanwhile, Bupa was one of the first healthcare companies to set science-based CO2 reduction targets and an ambitious 2040 net zero pathway.
