A Roadmap for Circular MedTech
The UK government has launched the Design for Life Roadmap, a forward-looking programme that sets out a vision for circularity in medical devices. Pd-m is proud to have contributed to the workshops led by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), joining over 80 stakeholders from industry, the NHS, academia, and regulatory bodies in shaping this milestone initiative.
The roadmap highlights how circular design can transform MedTech by moving away from single-use products and towards systems that enable reuse, remanufacture, and recycling. By extending product lifespans, the programme aims to preserve value, foster innovation, and support the transition to a net-zero NHS while delivering better patient outcomes and cost efficiency.
The Vision
The Design for Life Roadmap sets an ambition for 2045: a resilient, circular MedTech system that reduces environmental impact while strengthening the UK economy. It underscores that product design is a critical lever in achieving this vision, with decisions at the earliest stages determining the majority of a device’s environmental footprint.
Six Key Challenges
The roadmap identifies six challenges that must be addressed to enable a circular future:
Aligning strategies across organisations and supply chains
Driving behavioural and cultural change
Updating regulatory frameworks to support reuse and remanufacture
Embedding lifecycle thinking into procurement and product design
Accelerating innovation in sustainable materials and processes
Fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the sector
Addressing these challenges will require systemic change and close cooperation between healthcare, industry, and academia.
Pd-m’s Contribution
As a design consultancy specialising in MedTech, Pd-m brought its expertise in lifecycle thinking to the roadmap workshops. Our belief is that design is the entry point to circularity—the stage where environmental impact is locked in or avoided. By embedding sustainability principles from the outset, we help businesses create products that are not only future-ready but also commercially viable and resilient.
Looking Ahead
The release of the Design for Life Roadmap is a significant step forward in formalising a national vision for sustainable MedTech. Pd-m is committed to supporting this transformation by working with clients today to design products that can adapt to reuse, remanufacture, or recycling—paving the way for a more sustainable and competitive sector.
Read the full roadmap here: UK Government: Design for Life Roadmap