Innovation and Sustainability Trends for 2023: Interview with Jesper Jonsson, Director of Medical Devices at Owen Mumford

The medical device industry is driven by constant innovation, and the annual Medica conference offers the chance to discover the latest advancements propelling the sector forward.

Jesper Jonsson, Director of Medical Devices at Owen Mumford, has provided insights fresh from this year’s Medica Trade Fair in Dusseldorf. One topic that continues to gain traction is sustainability, and how the industry can approach it successfully to ensure innovative and safe devices and technology embrace sustainable practices.

In an interview, Jesper expands.

Andrii: Can you tell our readers a little about yourself and your role at Owen Mumford? 

Jesper: As Director of Medical Devices, I am responsible for sales and marketing in the division. I am also the executive sponsor for the company’s sustainability strategy, driving the ESG agenda and supporting initiatives such as our B Corp certification and commitment to Net Zero by 2045.

Owen Mumford has been promoting a culture of innovation and developing life-enhancing medical devices for 70 years and I’m extremely proud to be a part of its future. 

Andrii: What are some key trends you expect to see in the medical devices market?

Jesper: Healthcare professional (HCP) well-being, technology innovation and sustainability promises are three trends which stood out at this year’s Medica conference. 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to place pressure on healthcare professionals around the world and it’s clear that burnout is an increasingly severe problem. Current energy supply issues and the rising cost of living crisis are exacerbating the problem on a human level with. 

Aside from HCP well-being, safety and reliability factors were also prevalent discussion topics among medical device manufacturers. We understand that we are responsible for making life easier for HCPs with products that work safely and reliably, supporting them with strong partnerships and effective collaboration.  

There is a rapidly growing presence of apps and robot technology within the space. This technology can be leveraged to advance medical devices within clinical environments, as well as patient homes – providing holistic support in various settings. The key is that technology should strengthen connections between patients and healthcare professionals. From visibility and management of conditions to easing the burden on health services. As global financial and logistical challenges grip health providers worldwide, innovations in automation could be a welcome advancement in the industry. 

Andrii: Tell us about the current sustainability challenges within MedTech and how Owen Mumford is approaching the problem. How do you see innovation and sustainability impacting your role next year?

Jesper: The MedTech industry is beginning to recognise the importance of embracing sustainability but also facing the challenge of how to approach it successfully. At Owen Mumford, the key to our strategy is taking a holistic approach that accounts for all our operations to identify areas of improvement. This is underpinned by accreditations and partnerships with leading sustainability organisations to provide support and an opportunity to share insight with like-minded businesses and also look at ways we can innovate internally. 

Internally, one of our biggest moves has been the implementation of our LCA(Lifecycle Assessment Tool) throughout our production processes. The LCA tool measures carbon impact to identify the emissions output of any aspect of a product, whether material, physical, or systemic. Our internal tool lets us measure this across the entire lifecycle of a product’s development and distribution – allowing us to revolutionise and future-proof the next stages of medical device production. We expect to see these types of innovations increase in use in 2023 across the sector.  

In addition, our accreditation as a B-Corp company has only accelerated our desire to become a beacon in the industry when it comes to sustainability. The certification represents our commitment to balancing people, profit and planet across the business and has offered us the chance to network with businesses who are starting their sustainability journey and looking for advice.

A significant part of our sustainability strategy is emissions reduction targets. We have committed to a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2045, mirroring the UK NHS target. Achieving this requires an analysis of our entire operations to identify opportunities to improve, reimagine or replace processes. This year we welcomed a Sustainability & CSR Manager who is leading on gathering and analysing the huge amount of data required for this.

Approaching sustainability for medical device companies can feel daunting, but there are some fantastic initiatives, organisations and resources out there to help get started on the journey.

At Owen Mumford, we are incredibly proud of the milestones we have already achieved in our sustainability strategy and look forward to sharing more in 2023.