Safe and sustainable waste management of self-care products

About: The global growth rate of self-care medical devices is estimated to rise from $10.5bn (£8bn, €9.2bn) in 2013 to $16.8bn in 2019—a compound annual growth rate of 7.0%. This increase directly correlates with the level of disposables entering the waste stream. Additionally, over half of the world’s population is now at risk from occupational, environmental, or public health threats due to improper management of healthcare waste. Waste management of products used for self-care is largely unregulated and evidence is limited. The World Health Organization defines self-care as the “ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.”Self-care products include a variety of sexual and reproductive health commodities such as condoms, tampons, sanitary pads, and self-administered injectables. An analysis of these commodities shows the magnitude of waste management challenges facing individuals, communities, and governments worldwide. Read more>>>