Developing innovative medical devices to improve diagnostic processes

Company and project background

We are a healthtech company that develops innovative non-invasive medical devices for the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases. Our first product is The Smart Lollipop One, a lollipop-shaped device designed to collect saliva samples in a simple, safe, and user-friendly way, especially for children and vulnerable patients, which performs the diagnosis with laboratory support.

What motivated you to make your business more circular?

We realized that The Smart Lollipop One also fell into this single-use category, and that sparked an internal reflection: could we redesign part of the product to allow for reuse or recycling, without compromising safety or functionality, and while still keeping it financially viable? That question became a key driver of our circularity efforts.

Implementation Process

What were the objectives of your project?

The main objective of our feasibility study was to evaluate whether one of the components of The Smart Lollipop could be reused safely and efficiently, instead of being discarded after a single use. To do that, we needed to assess technical performance, environmental impact, and financial viability.
Reducing environmental impact was a central goal from the beginning of the project. Specifically, we aimed to:
•Minimize the amount of medical waste generated.
•Lower the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and logistics.
•Reduce the consumption of raw materials.

What activities did you carry out as part of your project?

First, we mapped out a take-back and reconditioning system, identifying how the used components would be collected, transported, cleaned, and reintroduced into circulation.

Next, we carried out physical and mechanical testing on the reusable component to verify that it could withstand multiple sterilization cycles without losing performance.

Finally, we sought feedback from public authorities, key stakeholders and regulatory experts to ensure the proposed model could be implemented within existing healthcare systems and legal frameworks.

What feedback did you receive from stakeholders (customers, suppliers etc.)?

Many stakeholders were genuinely interested in the circular approach and appreciated the initiative. They saw it as a forward-thinking move that aligns with the broader shift towards responsible innovation in healthcare.
However, we also encountered some skepticism, particularly from healthcare professionals who are used to highly standardized and disposable products. For some, the idea of reusing components (even with proper cleaning and testing) raised concerns about complexity, responsibility, and logistics.

Impact & Outcomes

What are the main results and outcomes of the project for your company?

One of the most valuable outcomes was realizing that the circular model works best when the complexity is not transferred to the healthcare professionals. This insight helped shape our take-back system in a way that’s much more realistic for future adoption.

Did you detect a positive impact of circular transition for your company and for the environment?

The circular transition had a clear positive impact, both environmentally and strategically.
From an environmental perspective, we measured:
• A 92% reduction in waste generation, which means hundreds of kilos of waste avoided for every few thousand units.
• A 28.6% reduction in CO₂ emissions per unit, even accounting for cleaning and transport.
However, it’s important to be honest: transitioning to a circular model is not simple. It requires in-depth studies on regulatory compliance, product safety, and the logistics of reuse, as well as the identification of qualified partners capable of managing reconditioning under medical-grade standards before a circular model can be deployed.

Which changes have you already implemented?

We have already made changes to the design and carbon footprint analysis of the product. These changes aim to reduce its environmental impact from the start and will make a future transition to circularity smoother and less disruptive to our production model.

Lessons learned

What key lessons did you learn regarding circular innovation?

One key lesson we learned is that circular innovation needs to start early. If you wait until the product is already launched, changing materials, logistics, or legal pathways becomes much harder and more expensive. Integrating circularity into the design phase allows you to spot opportunities and prevent barriers before they become blockers.
Another important lesson is that circularity isn’t just about environmental benefits, it also needs to be practical, financially viable, and simple enough for users and partners to adopt, specially in healthcare.

Did you encounter any challenges?

From a technical perspective, validating reuse in a medical device requires testing beyond typical product development, including mechanical resistance, sterilization compatibility, and potential degradation over time. This required additional time, equipment, and coordination with external experts.

Financially, one of the key challenges was estimating the real cost of a circular model. Some costs like reconditioning or traceability are difficult to quantify in early stages.

From a regulatory standpoint, the biggest challenge was the lack of specific frameworks that support reuse models in medical devices.

If you could do your project again, what would you do differently?

If we could start the project again, one of the main things we would do differently is to involve more healthcare professionals earlier on, ideally through pilot tests in real-life settings. Understanding the day-to-day realities of clinical workflows is crucial when you’re proposing a circular model that requires components to be collected, cleaned, and reused.

Future plans & recommendations

What are your next steps towards circular transition?

Our next steps focus on preparing the ground for a future transition, rather than implementing it immediately.

At this stage, our focus is to continue collecting real-world data, validating the standard model, and refining the product design to make future circular adoption smoother and less disruptive. We see circularity as a long-term goal, and the project has helped us lay the foundation to get there responsibly and realistically.

Is there any advice you would give to other SMEs looking to implement a circular project?

Our first advice is to start by analyzing the regulatory framework. Especially in highly regulated sectors like healthcare, it’s essential to check whether a circular model is even legally viable. Some regulations were written with linear, single-use products in mind, and they may not easily accommodate reuse, refurbishment, or reverse logistics.

We also recommend starting small and focused. Don’t try to make your entire business circular at once. Identify the component or process where it makes the most sense, and use that as a learning experience.

How can policymakers or financial institutions better support businesses in adopting circular practices?

One of the most important forms of support is access to regulatory and legal expertise. For a small company, investigating whether a circular model is legally possible, especially in complex sectors like healthcare, can be overwhelming and distract from core development efforts. If this support is not easily available, many companies will simply postpone or abandon circular innovation altogether.

Do you have any additional comments or reflections about your participation in the Up2Circ project?

The project helped us understand the real challenges and opportunities of circularity in the medical field. Thanks to the project, we now have a validated model, clear next steps, and better tools to make sustainable decisions as we scale.