Key highlights
- Cook Medical joins the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC), a coalition focused on advancing the recyclability and circularity of healthcare plastics.
- HPRC membership supports Cook’s commitment to advancing sustainable solutions across the healthcare value chain.
- Collaboration with industry leaders will help identify innovative approaches to addressing shared challenges in healthcare plastics recycling.
Cook Medical has joined the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC), a coalition of industry leaders committed to improving the recyclability of the plastics used in healthcare.
Cook is focused on developing innovative technologies that improve patient outcomes while continually exploring new ways to reduce its environmental impact and support more sustainable healthcare. Joining HPRC enables Cook to collaborate with industry partners to address sustainability challenges and advance innovative solutions.
“Cook Medical has demonstrated their commitment to sustainability through a number of initiatives, including focuses on minimizing waste, conserving energy, and promoting the use of recyclable and renewable materials,” said Tracy Taszarek, executive director of HPRC. “We welcome their technical expertise and extensive experience in the medical device industry and look forward to collaborating with their team to achieve our shared goals.”
“We are excited to engage with other members to address common challenges and develop innovative solutions that benefit the entire healthcare plastics value chain,” shared Barry Slowey, chief sustainability officer at Cook Medical. “We look forward to contributing to the advancement of sustainable practices within the healthcare plastics industry.”
HPRC is currently engaged in multiple initiatives aimed at enabling the recycling and circularity of healthcare plastics, including assessing recycling infrastructure, evaluating opportunities for labeling standardization, and developing a scalable playbook for implementing regional hospital recycling programs.
Joining HPRC aligns with Cook’s broader commitment to social impact and sustainability, which encompasses efforts to incorporate sustainable packaging, increase resource efficiency, and develop responsible solutions that support a more circular economy.
FAQs
What is the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC)?
The Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) is a private technical coalition of healthcare, recycling, and waste management organizations working together to improve the recyclability of the plastics used in healthcare. The group focuses on advancing solutions that support a more circular healthcare plastics economy.
Why has Cook Medical joined HPRC?
Cook Medical joined HPRC to collaborate with industry partners on addressing shared sustainability challenges and advancing innovative solutions for healthcare plastics recycling. This membership supports Cook’s commitment to responsible operations and to reducing our environmental impact across the healthcare value chain.
What sustainability initiatives is Cook Medical currently focused on?
Cook Medical’s sustainability initiatives include launching a five-year sustainable packaging strategy, improving energy efficiency, expanding environmental certifications such as ISO 14001, and conducting product life cycle assessments. The company also works with suppliers to strengthen sustainability across its value chain, and have received external recognition for its progress.
Where can I find more information about Cook Medical’s sustainability efforts?
More information is available in Cook Medical’s Social Impact & Sustainability (SI&S) Report 2026, which outlines the company’s environmental goals, actions, and progress.