GLOBAL MEDTECH COMPANY BRINGS DEVICE REPROCESSING PLANT TO AUSTRALIA Cardinal Health announces regional facility to support processing of hospital collected devices
With
Jane Crowe, Managing Director
Cardinal Health Australia and New Zealand &
Vice-Chair Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA)
Sabrina Lichtnegger, Lead Author
ECOFIDES Consulting GmbH, Vienna, Austria
Adam Walczak, Director of Innovation,
Hunter New England Local Health District
Ivan Waterfield, CEO
HunterNet
Australian Health Journal segment
Filmed in Sydney, Newcastle (NSW) and online | July 2024 to March 2025
It is estimated that healthcare contributes 1%–5% of the total global environmental footprint (source: The environmental footprint of health care: a global assessment, Lenzen, Manfred et al. The Lancet Planetary Health, Volume 4, Issue 7, e271 – e279)
And that Australia’s health system contributes 5.3% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions via direct and indirect sources. Indirect sources include emissions generated in the manufacture of medical equipment and those generated from the incineration of waste. (Source: National Health and Climate Strategy, Commonwealth Government of Australia, Department of Health and Aged Care, 3 December 2023. ISBN: 978-1-74186-001-6)
Cardinal Health is global medical products manufacturer and leading provider of single-use device reprocessing services in the U.S. In Australia and New Zealand, as one of the largest suppliers of medical devices, announced on 23 May 2024 that it will be opening a single-use medical device reprocessing facility in Australia – its first reprocessing facility outside the United States.
On 18 March 2025 at the Health Innovation Living Lab at the John Hunter Hospital, a further announcement was made, on the chosen single-use medical device remanufacturing facility in Beresfield, Newcastle, set to commence operation late 2025, supported by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Jane Crowe, Managing Director Cardinal Health Australia and New Zealand, about Cardinal Health’s reprocessing investment being a key part of Australia’s healthcare ESG efforts. Crowe talks about creating new jobs in Australia, as well as reducing medical waste and reducing landfill. Equally important, it will enhance Australia’s sovereign healthcare capability and boost supply chain resiliency for Cardinal Health’s customers.
Single-use device reprocessing is a well-established industry in the U.S., with growing global adoption. Single-use medical product reprocessing has the potential to extend the life of medical devices, and significantly reduce waste. This will enable health systems in Australia and New Zealand lower waste management costs while also supporting their sustainability goals.
In 2024, a peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study* conducted by a third-party engaged by Cardinal Health showed the overall environmental footprint of a reprocessed device was on average to be 43% lower than that of a single-use device. The assessment also showed that reprocessed compression sleeves had a 40% lower carbon footprint than single-use sleeves and reduced hospital compression sleeve waste disposal costs by 90%.
The facility will utilise a TGA-approved cleaning and disinfection process to remove soil, contamination and bio-burden from single-use medical devices. They then undergo functionality and quality testing, before being returned to hospitals for reuse, rather than contributing to landfill.
As noted by Invest Regional NSW, remanufacturing offers a significant opportunity to strengthen Australia’s health technology manufacturing capabilities. A well-established industry in the U.S., it has shown to substantially reduce the environmental impact of hospitals and medical device usage.
Source: Adapted from Cardinal Health supplied copy and March 2025 Invest Regional NSW Newsletter
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From paediatric nursing to leadership & private hospital general management
With over 20 years of experience in the Australian and international healthcare sectors, Georgia Banks is a dedicated and results-driven health professional with a proven track record in clinical, financial, human resources, and strategic management. Passionate about delivering high-quality patient care, Georgia possesses an authentic leadership style that fosters engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Currently serving as General Manager at Hobart Private Hospital within Healthscope, Georgia has been instrumental in driving operational excellence, enhancing patient experience, and supporting staff development. Her leadership has played a key role in aligning hospital services with strategic priorities while fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.
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Health equity
For 30 years the Humpty Dumpty Foundation has worked to help bridge the gap that often exists between available resources and actual needs through the donation of paediatric medical equipment. Humpty, like many other charitable initiatives, began with a humble goal. Its Founder and Executive Chairman, Paul Francis OAM, together with Patron Ray Martin AM, set out to raise some money to paint the walls of the Children’s Ward at Royal North Shore Hospital.
To date more than 440 hospitals and health services have shared in over $85 million of essential and lifesaving medical equipment for sick and injured paediatric patients.
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Caring for community
With a passion for helping people, Carina Fernandes in her final year at Western Sydney University received accolades as a nursing student. Now a recent graduate, having completed her Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced) degree, and recognised as an Emerging Nurse Leader 2021 by the Australian College of Nursing, Carina has her sights set on her new role in healthcare, at the same time keeping sustainability top of mind.
