[Washington, DC / Berlin Germany – 22 April 2025] In commemoration of Earth Day, the Association of Medical Device Reprocessors and its members released the results of its 2024 member survey. Among the key findings (all data for 2024):
- Members helped health systems save $451,183,153 through cost savings (reprocessed “single-use” medical devices (SUDs) cost 30 to 50% less than virgin devices) as well as from reduced waste disposal fees.
- By using reprocessed SUDs instead of virgin materials, participating health systems and reprocessing partners reduced CO2 emissions by 115,382,133 pounds (52,336,445 kilograms), which is equivalent to eliminating 5,889,103 gallons (22,292,680 liters) of gasoline – enough to fill 693 tanker trucks.
- Two new countries, France and Australia, join the list of 17 countries with strict regulations to support robust commercial SUD reprocessing programs.
- Year-over-year growth for AMDR members is roughly 10%; for the past five years, the industry has grown 52%.
Reprocessing not only reduces costs, but it also strengthens the supply chain by keeping more products available domestically. Examples of regulated reprocessed SUDs that are labelled for “single-use” by their original manufacturer include lateral transfer mats, pulse oximeters, harmonic scalpels and EP catheters and cables.
AMDR member reprocessors sold 36.3 million reprocessed SUDs back to hospitals and surgical facilities for safe reuse in 2024, according to the member survey.
Seventy-four (74) U.S military institutions, including those that treat the President, use regulated, reprocessed SUDs. Interestingly, the U.S Veterans Health Administration refuses to use FDA regulated products, a practice that AMDR estimates wastes approximately $167 million in taxpayer dollars every year.
“Our members are proud to work in partnership with their hospital customers who increasingly want to strengthen the supply chain in addition to reducing cost and waste through reprocessing programs,” said Daniel J. Vukelich, President and CEO, Association of Medical Device Reprocessors. “We are thrilled that hospitals in France and Australia have joined their counterparts in 15 other countries in benefiting from commercial SUD reprocessing programs.”
AMDR offers a free greenhouse gas emissions calculator, which enables AMDR to publish the industry-wide greenhouse gas emissions reductions figure. The calculator uses peer reviewed data from life cycle assessments comparing the environmental impact of reprocessed SUDs to their virgin counterparts. AMDR’s analysis also uses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalence calculator.
Infographics that illustrate the AMDR member survey data are available here. Methodology for AMDR’s Member Survey is available here.
Click here to view the full news release.