Abstract
My capstone project addresses the lack of recyclability of blue wrap, a single-use sterilization material heavily relied upon in hospitals across the United States, and explores how improving its disposal and processing can contribute to a more sustainable healthcare waste stream—and, by extension, a more sustainable society. At UVA Hospital, my team quantified blue wrap waste to inform strategies for material reuse. Although we initially planned to design a shredder to facilitate processing, insights from a workshop revealed this step was unnecessary. We subsequently redirected our efforts toward investigating methods for continued processing and repurposing of the material through injection molding, conducting material analysis, and preparing our findings for publication to enable replication at other institutions. While the capstone centers on immediate technical solutions, my STS research examines the broader societal context. Using the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework, I analyze how blue wrap is not simply a neutral tool but a socially constructed technology—its form and continued use shaped by negotiations between healthcare workers, manufacturers, and institutional standards. Through my STS research, I found that institutional policies and stakeholder power dynamics significantly influence the adoption of sustainable innovations in healthcare, often hindering or enabling the success of technical solutions. SCOT shows that technological artifacts are molded by social values and power structures, not just technical needs. Framing the project within Sustainability Theory further highlights how technological innovations must align with systemic environmental goals, particularly reducing carbon emissions, pollution, and waste.
Looking toward future implementations, our project incorporates Environmental Justice Theory by advocating for changes that reduce the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by marginalized communities near landfills and waste incinerators. Recommendations include designing sterilization materials that are inherently reusable or biodegradable, integrating formal recycling protocols into hospital operations, and improving labeling methods to enhance recyclability. To gather evidence for our Life Cycle Assessment, we are shadowing UVA Hospital staff and procurement teams to track blue wrap usage, waste generation, and disposal practices firsthand. Alongside the technical analysis, my research investigates how cultural norms, institutional policies, and stakeholder relationships influence the success of sustainable innovations in healthcare. Together, the capstone work and research reveal that solving sustainability problems requires addressing not only the material challenges but also the deeper social systems that sustain them. By addressing both the technical and human dimensions of blue wrap waste, this project ultimately aims to contribute to a healthcare system that is more sustainable, equitable, and resilient.
