Project Title: Creating a Circular Supply Chain for Single-Use Medical Devices in the UK Healthcare System
Applicant: Rabeya Basari
MBA (Merit), University of South Wales | BBA (Distinction), University of Chittagong
Researcher | Supply Chain Professional | Advocate for Sustainable Healthcare
Overview
This project is a research-based PhD aimed at transforming the way healthcare systems in the UK use and manage single-use medical devices (SUMDs). These are items like surgical masks, gloves, syringes, and catheters—used once, then discarded. While these devices are essential for infection control, they create enormous amounts of waste, generate high carbon emissions, and cost the NHS hundreds of millions annually.
I am raising money to help cover the tuition fees and associated research costs for my PhD at the University of Bradford. My research proposes a supply chain integration (SCI) framework to transition the healthcare system from a linear “take-make-waste” model to a circular supply chain, where medical resources are reused, remanufactured, or recycled safely.
The outcomes of this research could lead to:
- Substantial reductions in healthcare waste and emissions
- Significant cost savings for the NHS
- More sustainable procurement policies
- Scalable solutions for other high-emission industries
This is not only a research project. It’s a mission to make UK healthcare greener, cleaner, and more cost-effective.
Why This Project Matters
Healthcare is essential—but it is also one of the world’s most wasteful sectors. Globally, the sector contributes around 4.4% of all carbon emissions, and in the UK, 71% of these emissions come from supply chain activities. A major contributor is the vast volume of single-use medical devices that are used once and then incinerated or sent to landfill.
These devices are:
- Costly to manufacture
- Resource-intensive (often made from virgin plastics and metals)
- Hazardous to dispose of due to contamination
- Rarely recycled, despite growing awareness and capability
Yet the healthcare industry, including the NHS, relies heavily on them—especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with the NHS committing to net-zero emissions by 2040, finding sustainable alternatives to single-use items is a critical national priority.
This research will address these issues by creating a practical, evidence-based model for integrating circular economy principles into healthcare supply chains.
What I’m Researching
The project is titled:
“Circular Supply Chain in Single-Use Medical Devices (SUMDs): The UK Perspective”
The goal is to design a framework for Supply Chain Integration (SCI) that supports:
- The reuse, refurbishment, and recycling of SUMDs
- Eco-friendly product design for easier sterilisation and reprocessing
- Integration of circular business models into NHS procurement and logistics
- Policies that remove barriers to innovation and encourage sustainable practices
Key Questions:
What kind of supply chain structure enables circularity in healthcare?
What are the barriers and enablers to adopting circular practices?
What impact would such a transformation have on the environment, costs, and patient care?
Methods:
- Mixed methods approach: quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews
- Participants: NHS supply managers, manufacturers, clinicians, and regulatory bodies
- Analytical tools: Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM), Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)
My Background and Motivation
I come from a background of resilience and reinvention. I spent my childhood in care and built my academic path independently. I graduated with Distinction in Business Administration in Bangladesh and then moved to the UK, where I completed a Global MBA with Merit and a Distinction in Dissertation at the University of South Wales.
My dissertation, focused on Supply Chain Resilience in Healthcare, was the stepping stone for this PhD project. I am also currently working in the UK healthcare sector as a Care Assistant and previously worked as a Supply Chain Executive in the marine manufacturing industry for over six years.
These diverse experiences—across countries, sectors, and roles—have given me:
- Firsthand insight into the complexities of healthcare logistics
- Academic training in strategic procurement, sustainability, and operations
- Real-world understanding of how waste is generated and managed on the ground
What drives me is a deep belief in system-level change—and the knowledge that sustainability isn't just about the planet, but also about efficiency, fairness, and cost savings.
How the Funds Will Be Used
I am applying for tuition and research support over the full duration of the PhD. Here’s how the funding will be used:
ExpenseEstimated Cost (per year)
PhD Tuition (International Rate)£20,000+Research expenses & travel£2,000–£3,000Conferences & knowledge sharing£1,000Learning materials & software£500Total (minimum needed annually)£20000–£27,000
Your support will go directly toward tuition costs and fieldwork expenses, enabling me to carry out impactful research without delay or interruption.
Expected Outcomes
This PhD will deliver both academic and real-world impact:
1. Academic Contribution
- Original research on integrating circular economy in healthcare supply chains
- A tested framework for SCI application in public sector procurement
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Potential for further postdoctoral research or collaboration
2. Environmental Impact
- Reduced waste in hospitals
- Optimised use of raw materials
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions
- Measurable support for the NHS’s 2040 net-zero target
3. Economic and Policy Impact
- Cost savings for healthcare providers
- Scalable recommendations for supply chain transformation
- Input into future government and NHS policy frameworks
Why Support Me?
This is more than an academic project—it’s a chance to:
- Fund research with measurable environmental and financial benefits
- Support a woman of colour, a care leaver, and a determined professional breaking new ground in UK academia
- Help create a model for circular healthcare that could eventually be applied globally
I’m not only researching a sustainable future—I’m living it. Every step of my journey, from my early years in care to studying while working in the UK, has taught me resilience, purpose, and clarity of vision. With your help, I can complete this PhD and create real change in a system that needs transformation.
How You Can Help
If you believe in a future where healthcare is sustainable, where innovation drives efficiency, and where circular economy models are more than buzzwords—please support this research.
Whether through funding, partnerships, or helping share this story—every action counts.
Thank you for being part of something that truly matters.
– Rabeya Basari