Options
December 25, 2024
Journal Article
Title
EPH185 How Digital Tools Support a Sustainable Supply Chain in Healthcare: A Scoping Review on the Status Quo of Circular Economy
Abstract
Objectives: The healthcare sector is characterized by high resource consumption and considerable amounts of plastic waste while being directly affected by health-related social and economic impacts of climate change. Digitalization offers various measures to reduce the environmental burdens of the healthcare sector for instance by reducing waste and resource consumption while the extension of contribution to a more sustainable healthcare sector is not clear. This study explores the impact of digital components of industry 4.0 on the circular economy (CE) and their distribution in the healthcare supply chain.
Methods: A systematic literature analysis, using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, on digital solution approaches and circular economy in the healthcare supply chain was conducted. The approaches were evaluated, focusing on their impact on supply chain sustainability and their contribution to 10R-strategies for CE. In a focus group all approaches were clustered regarding the respective industry 4.0 digital component facilitating the analysis. A distribution model for the digitalization clusters was applied, evaluating their 10R-strategies and supply chain applicability.
Results: Out of 844 hits in the initial literature survey, 19 publications were extracted as relevant, from which 100 approaches in 7 clusters were derived. Many approaches focused on Disposalin healthcare supply chains, while only few approaches addressed the section Production.A clear gap in the section (direct patient) Care became visible. According to the applied distribution model the “Additive and advanced manufacturing” and “Data and analytics” clusters showed a rather broad distribution. In turn, the “Automated Systems” and “Tracking and monitoring” clusters had a comparatively narrow focus applied mostly in Disposal.
Conclusions: Based on our distribution model, we conclude an untapped potential of digitalization, supporting circular economy, especially in patient care. The identified gaps may indicate that existing solutions in healthcare are not yet sufficiently associated with a circular economy.
Methods: A systematic literature analysis, using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, on digital solution approaches and circular economy in the healthcare supply chain was conducted. The approaches were evaluated, focusing on their impact on supply chain sustainability and their contribution to 10R-strategies for CE. In a focus group all approaches were clustered regarding the respective industry 4.0 digital component facilitating the analysis. A distribution model for the digitalization clusters was applied, evaluating their 10R-strategies and supply chain applicability.
Results: Out of 844 hits in the initial literature survey, 19 publications were extracted as relevant, from which 100 approaches in 7 clusters were derived. Many approaches focused on Disposalin healthcare supply chains, while only few approaches addressed the section Production.A clear gap in the section (direct patient) Care became visible. According to the applied distribution model the “Additive and advanced manufacturing” and “Data and analytics” clusters showed a rather broad distribution. In turn, the “Automated Systems” and “Tracking and monitoring” clusters had a comparatively narrow focus applied mostly in Disposal.
Conclusions: Based on our distribution model, we conclude an untapped potential of digitalization, supporting circular economy, especially in patient care. The identified gaps may indicate that existing solutions in healthcare are not yet sufficiently associated with a circular economy.
Author(s)
Conference