MediFlex: Human-Centred Design for Sustainable PPE

** 该项目旨在解决已确定的环境、医疗保健和商业需求，即一次性塑料个人防护设备（PPE）的可持续替代品。作为英国应对COVID-19的一部分，卫生和社会护理部（DHSC）PPE战略确定需要额外的50亿件PPE物品，以满足卫生和社会护理提供者不断增长的需求，然而，只有70%将在英国生产。DHSC战略还确定了创新和可持续PPE的需求，以及改进设计以解决不合适/不舒适的项目。在临床环境中用于PPE的石油衍生塑料在焚烧时由于化石碳的释放而对环境产生负面影响，导致全球变暖。如果处置不当，它们不会生物降解，导致陆地和海洋污染，对野生动物和食品供应链造成不可接受的影响。该项目的目的是通过开发可持续的生物塑料薄膜来解决这些问题，以取代或减少目前石油基塑料PPE的使用。来自农业食品副产品的生物塑料已被用于生产包括柔性薄膜在内的材料。这些材料可以取代现有的一次性塑料，这些塑料被用作PPE，在非手术情况下大量使用，例如围裙/医疗废物袋。该项目建立在农业食品副产品（AFBP）加工技术的最新进展基础上，使商业上可用的柔性薄膜的制造成为可能。在英国，AFBP的数量很大（每年160万吨），但是，它们通常不被利用，经常被填埋或焚烧。例如，每年生产45，000吨苹果渣，作为果汁或苹果酒生产的副产品。残渣可以进一步加工以生产柔性膜，同时与其他AFBP衍生材料混合以产生新的特征，例如抗微生物活性。将采用以人为中心的设计方法，根据可持续的生物技术，将使用HCD方法来加强和鼓励使用生物塑料薄膜作为个人防护设备的防护围裙。项目活动包括：（一）通过访谈评估利益攸关方对目前基于柔性薄膜的个人防护设备的行为;（二）确立以人为本的特征，并记录关键的设计规范，以鼓励采用新型柔性生物塑料并广泛采用;（iii）评估用户期望，如产品的舒适性和可用性，以及必要的性能特征，包括物理性能、机械性能、耐久性，该项目的重点是生产市场需求巨大的柔性生物塑料。成功生产一次性PPE应用的可持续材料将减少进口，促进英国经济增长，创造就业机会，同时确保供应安全。其他好处包括为农业种植者提供额外收入，减少送往垃圾填埋场的废物数量。联合王国在2040年前实现二氧化碳净零排放方面的进展也将得到支持。

**This project addresses an identified environmental, healthcare and commercial demand for sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic personal protective equipment (PPE).** As part of the UK's COVID-19 response, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) PPE strategy identifies a need for an additional 5 billion PPE items to address the increased demands from health and social care providers, however, only 70% will be produced in the UK. The DHSC strategy has also identified the need for innovative and sustainable PPE as well as improved designs to address ill-fitting/uncomfortable items.Oil-derived plastics used for PPE in clinical settings negatively impact the environment when incinerated due to the release of fossil carbon, contributing to global warming. If disposed of incorrectly, they do not biodegrade leading to contamination of land and sea with unacceptable effects on wildlife and the food supply chain.**The aim of the project is to address these issues through the development of sustainable bioplastic films to replace or reduce current oil-based plastic PPE usage.**Bioplastics derived from agri-food by-products have been used to produce materials that include flexible films. These materials can replace existing single-use plastics used as PPE that are used in large quantities in non-surgical situations, for example aprons/clinical waste bags. This project builds on recent advances in processing techniques for agri-food by-products (AFBPs), enabling the manufacture of commercially usable flexible films. AFBPs are available in the UK in large quantities (\>1.6 million tonnes per year), however, they are generally not exploited and frequently disposed to landfill or incinerated. For example, 45,000 tonnes of apple pomace are produced each year as a by-product of juice or cider production. The pomace can be further processed to produce flexible films, whilst blending with other AFBP-derived materials to produce novel features e.g. anti-microbial activity.To address issues relating to PPE performance and usability, a Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach will be used to establish the specifications and user requirements for PPE materials based on sustainable bio-based alternatives.HCD methods will be used to enhance and encourage the use of bioplastic films for PPE in the form of a protective apron. The project activities include:(i)Evaluation of stakeholder behaviour with respect to current PPE based on flexible films through interviews;(ii)Establishing human-centred features and documenting key design specifications that will encourage the uptake of novel flexible bioplastics for widespread adoption;(iii)Evaluation of user-expectations such as comfort and usability of the product, as well as requisite performance characteristics including physical properties, mechanical, durability, shelf-life and end-of-life treatment.The project focuses on production of flexible bioplastics for which there is a substantial market need. Successful production of sustainable materials for single-use PPE applications will reduce imports, grow the UK economy and create employment opportunities, whilst ensuring security of supply.Additional benefits include providing additional income for agricultural growers and reducing the quantity of waste sent to landfill. The UK's progress towards achievement of net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide by 2040 will also be supported.