CIRCULAR HEALTHCARE · ARTICLE 17 · JUST TRANSITION
Reprocessing SUMD(SINGLE-USE MEDICAL DEVICES)& Global South Impact
Explore how safely reprocessing medical devices labelled for one use could reduce hospital costs, carbon and waste—and where lower demand for new materials may ease extractive pressure.
What is Article 17?
Article 17 of the EU Medical Device Regulation allows single-use medical-device reprocessing only when national law permits it, under strict safety and quality rules.
Read the simple explanation
10
of 30 study countries allow reprocessing
EC reporting period: Dec 2022–Dec 2023
6
of 38 surveyed notified bodies offer certification
No certificates reported in the study period
<10
manufacturers identified
Only two active and operating in the EU
44%
illustrative average GHG reduction
Scenario default; device-specific LCAs vary
Two tools · Two different questions
Measure the value. Then explore who could benefit.
The tools work together, but they do different jobs.
In one line: The Impact Model calculates the value created. → The Global South Calculator explores how that value could be shared.
Global South justice allocation tool
Take the value already calculated.Explore how it could be shared.
This tool does not recalculate the environmental and financial impact. It takes the results from the Impact Model and explores a separate question: what could a voluntary share of those savings support in mineral-producing Global South countries?
Imported from the Impact Model
These figures change when you adjust the Impact Model.
66,667
devices displaced
€10.5m
savings created
12 t
material retained
55,733 t
CO₂e avoided
One justice input
Choose a voluntary transition allocation
Select what percentage of estimated hospital savings could be directed towards fair-transition priorities.
1%
of modelled savings
Potential transition fund
€0.1m
Illustrative allocation—not an existing commitment.
Illustrative funding mix
What the transition value could support
Potential source-country exposure
Countries requiring traceability—not assumed beneficiaries
Justice safeguard
Reduced material demand is not automatically a social benefit. The calculator therefore measures possible funding and exposure pathways—not “mining stopped,” community benefit delivered or device-level sourcing proven.
Take these results with you
Preview a colour infographic PDF of this allocation, then download it for $1.99.
Evidence architecture
Five steps from estimate to evidence
Each step adds information that makes the dashboard’s results clearer, stronger and easier to verify. Tap a step for a simple explanation.
01
Regulatory status
What the law allows ·
02
Hospital activity
What hospitals are doing ·
03
Device inventory
What devices contain ·
04
LCA impacts
Environmental effects ·
05
Mine traceability
Where minerals come from ·