Gradical Podcast - The Podcast about Plastics in Medical Technology

Lucas Pianegonda
  • 0.0 (0)
  • LIFE SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Gradical is the plastics expert for medical technology. We help medical technology companies to select the right plastic for their application. This takes into account technical suitability, regulatory requirements and sustainability aspects. The Gradical podcast covers all topics relating to plastics in medical technology. Sustainability, sterilization, the medical grade concept, biocompatibility and many other topics await you in this podcast. The host Lucas Pianegonda is a plastics expert for medical technology and asks the guest experts the right questions. For more information on gradical and it's services visit www.gradical.chRecommended Reading "Plastics in Medical Device": https://amzn.to/4gVldHf

  1. The Real Cost of Medical Waste (And Why Hospitals Are Changing Their Approach) with Andy Marshall

    FEB 11

    The Real Cost of Medical Waste (And Why Hospitals Are Changing Their Approach) with Andy Marshall

    This episode is sponsored by Sterilis Solutions: https://sterilissolutions.com "How much is medical waste actually costing us?" is one of the questions hospitals are finally asking out loud. The problem is, most facilities don't realize they're dealing with a 10-20% annual cost increase—plus safety risks and sustainability pressure that isn't going away. In this episode, I speak with Andy Marshall, CEO of Sterilis Solutions, about how onsite sterilization changes the equation for hospitals, what's actually driving the shift away from third-party waste haulers, and why waste is the number one sustainability focus for healthcare facilities—not CO2. This conversation is practical, data-driven, and based on real implementations. We talk about needlestick injuries (over 1,000 per day in the US alone), the difference between landfill, incineration, and onsite treatment, and why medical device companies need to think about material selection from a disposal perspective. If you work in MedTech and want to understand what hospitals actually care about when it comes to sustainability, this episode will help you design better devices and communicate value to customers who are tired of watching waste costs climb every year. 🔗 CONNECT WITH ANDY MARSHALL: Sterilis Solutions: https://sterilissolutions.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewrmarshall1/ Connect with us: 🎧 Subscribe to the Gradical Podcast for insights on MedTech materials and innovation 🟣 Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gradical-podcast-the-podcast-about-plastics-in/id1773569554 🟢 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4vNQ6rPE2CQUGgQtEY3sYq 📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@GradicalGmbH 🌍 Learn more about Gradical: https://gradical.ch/ 📩 Work with Lucas and the team: lucas.pianegonda@gradical.ch #GradicalPodcast #MedTech #MedicalDevices #Sustainability #MedicalWaste #WasteManagement #HealthcareSafety #Plastics Do you enjoy this podcast? Then subscribe, rate it on your platform, and join the discussion on LinkedIn! Your feedback and comments help us improve the podcast and bring you relevant topics. Let’s form a better world with plastics! If you are a Medtech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, let’s talk—BOOK A CALL HERE.

    42 min
  2. How Do You Know Your Medical Device Material Will Pass Biocompatibility Testing? with Marina Daineko

    JAN 28

    How Do You Know Your Medical Device Material Will Pass Biocompatibility Testing? with Marina Daineko

    "Is this material going to be biocompatible?" is one of the most commonly asked questions in medical device development. The problem is, there's no such thing as a biocompatible material. In this episode, I speak with Marina Daineko, Biocompatibility Consultant at Intrinsic Medical Group, about how biological risk assessment actually works, what mistakes companies make early in development, and how to incorporate biocompatibility thinking during prototyping without running full testing on every grade. This conversation is technical, practical, and based on real consulting work. We talk about the ISO 10993-1 framework, extractables and leachables, CMR substances, and why a structured plastic selection process helps you mitigate biological risk before it becomes a costly problem. If you work in MedTech and want to understand how to think about biocompatibility earlier in development, this episode will help you make better material decisions and avoid expensive surprises late in the process. 🔗 CONNECT WITH MARINA DAINEKO:  Intrinsic Medical Group: https://www.intrinsicmedicalgroup.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinadaineko/ Connect with us:  🎧 Subscribe to the Gradical Podcast for insights on MedTech materials and innovation  🟣 Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gradical-podcast-the-podcast-about-plastics-in/id1773569554  🟢 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4vNQ6rPE2CQUGgQtEY3sYq  📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@GradicalGmbH  🌍 Learn more about Gradical: https://gradical.ch/  📩 Work with Lucas and the team: lucas.pianegonda@gradical.ch #GradicalPodcast #MedTech #MedicalDevices #Sustainability #Biocompatibility #Plastics #ISO10993 #MaterialSelection Do you enjoy this podcast? Then subscribe, rate it on your platform, and join the discussion on LinkedIn! Your feedback and comments help us improve the podcast and bring you relevant topics. Let’s form a better world with plastics! If you are a Medtech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, let’s talk—BOOK A CALL HERE.

    1 hr
  3. Can Chemical Recycling Solve MedTech's Sustainability Crisis? with Reinier Grimbergen

    JAN 21

    Can Chemical Recycling Solve MedTech's Sustainability Crisis? with Reinier Grimbergen

    Chemical recycling is often presented as a silver bullet. But is it actually viable for medical-grade plastics? In this episode, I speak with Reinier Grimbergen, CTO of Blue Circle Olefins, about what chemical recycling really is, how it differs from mechanical recycling, and where it actually makes sense for MedTech. This conversation is technical, practical, and grounded in industrial reality. We talk about pyrolysis vs gasification, energy trade-offs, feedstock constraints, economics, and why some recycling routes can deliver virgin-quality polymers suitable for medical and food-contact applications. Inside this episode, you will learn: ✔ What chemical recycling actually means at the molecular level ✔ Why mechanical recycling alone likely caps out around 40 percent ✔ Why higher energy use can enable higher-quality recycled polymers ✔ How chemical recycling could unlock circular plastics for medical applications ✔ What determines the economics of chemical recycling at scale If you work in MedTech and want to understand where chemical recycling actually fits, this episode will help you think more clearly about materials, sustainability claims, and long-term feasibility. 🔗 Connect with Reinier Grimbergen: Blue Circle Olefins: https://bluecircle-olefins.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reiniergrimbergen/ Connect with us: 🎧 Subscribe to the Gradical Podcast for insights on MedTech sustainability and innovation 🟣 Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gradical-podcast-the-podcast-about-plastics-in/id1773569554 🟢 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4vNQ6rPE2CQUGgQtEY3sYq 📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@GradicalGmbH 🌍 Learn more about Gradical: https://gradical.ch/ 📩 Work with Lucas and the team: lucas.pianegonda@gradical.ch If you're a MedTech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, CLICK here: https://lucaspianegonda.clickfunnels.com/optin1756907952105 Do you enjoy this podcast? Then subscribe, rate it on your platform, and join the discussion on LinkedIn! Your feedback and comments help us improve the podcast and bring you relevant topics. Let’s form a better world with plastics! If you are a Medtech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, let’s talk—BOOK A CALL HERE.

    53 min
  4. How to Innovate Faster in MedTech: Solving the Speed-to-Market Problem with Spencer Jones

    JAN 7

    How to Innovate Faster in MedTech: Solving the Speed-to-Market Problem with Spencer Jones

    Why does it take so long to bring a medical device to market? And what can we actually do about it? Spencer Jones is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of XO MedTech and MedTech Vendors. In this episode, he breaks down the real problems slowing innovation in medical technology and shares practical solutions that work. This isn't about motivation. It's about the structural issues that make MedTech innovation slow, expensive, and isolating—and the systems that can fix them. Inside this episode, you will learn: ✔ Why clinical innovators struggle to translate their ideas into manufacturable devices  ✔ How the "glue person" who connects clinical needs to engineering is rare and critical  ✔ Why most innovators should try to get their competitors to steal their ideas (seriously)  ✔ How lean development and rapid customer feedback prevent year-long mistakes  ✔ Why engineers should see surgical cases and clinicians should visit manufacturing facilities ✔ Where AI can save massive time in MedTech (hint: it's documentation)  ✔ Why most MedTech teams need better vendor selection frameworks Spencer shares real examples from his experience taking devices from idea through FDA clearance, raising $10M in venture capital, and working across vascular access, laparoscopic surgery, and orthopedic devices. If you want to move faster, work smarter, and stop burning time on preventable mistakes, this conversation will help. If you're a MedTech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, CLICK here: https://lucaspianegonda.clickfunnels.com/optin1756907952105 Connect with Spencer Jones: XO MedTech: https://xomedtech.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/medtech-innovation/ Connect with us: 🎧 Subscribe to the Gradical Podcast for insights on MedTech sustainability and innovation 🟣 Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gradical-podcast-the-podcast-about-plastics-in/id1773569554 🟢 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4vNQ6rPE2CQUGgQtEY3sYq 📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@GradicalGmbH 🌍 Learn more about Gradical: https://gradical.ch/ 📩 Work with Lucas and the team: lucas.pianegonda@gradical.ch Do you enjoy this podcast? Then subscribe, rate it on your platform, and join the discussion on LinkedIn! Your feedback and comments help us improve the podcast and bring you relevant topics. Let’s form a better world with plastics! If you are a Medtech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, let’s talk—BOOK A CALL HERE.

    1h 1m
  5. How Do You Choose The Right Sterilization Method For Your Device? with Manuel Grandy

    12/31/2025

    How Do You Choose The Right Sterilization Method For Your Device? with Manuel Grandy

    If you are building or scaling a medical device, sterilization problems will catch up with you. Usually later in the process than you want. In this episode, I speak with Manuel Grandy, Consultant and Managing Partner at SteriComp GmbH, about what sterilization actually means in practice and why so many teams underestimate it until regulators start asking uncomfortable questions. We talk about ETO gas, gamma radiation, and why there is no universally “correct” sterilization method. The right choice depends on materials, device design, supply chain constraints, and how well you understand the science behind the standards. Manuel explains why sterile does not mean clean, why following a standard word-for-word is sometimes not enough, and how small decisions like where you place a biological indicator can delay approval by months. If you work in MedTech development, quality, regulatory, or manufacturing, this episode will help you avoid painful surprises and make better decisions much earlier. Connect with Manuel Grandy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterilisation/ Connect with us: 🎧 Subscribe to the Gradical Podcast for insights on MedTech sustainability and innovation 🟣 Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gradical-podcast-the-podcast-about-plastics-in/id1773569554 🟢 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4vNQ6rPE2CQUGgQtEY3sYq 📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@GradicalGmbH 🌍 Learn more about Gradical: https://gradical.ch/ 📩 Work with Lucas and the team: lucas.pianegonda@gradical.ch #GradicalPodcast #MedTech #MedicalDevices #Sustainability Do you enjoy this podcast? Then subscribe, rate it on your platform, and join the discussion on LinkedIn! Your feedback and comments help us improve the podcast and bring you relevant topics. Let’s form a better world with plastics! If you are a Medtech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, let’s talk—BOOK A CALL HERE.

    43 min
  6. Is Sustainability Actually Strategic? with Casper Venbjerg Hansen

    12/24/2025

    Is Sustainability Actually Strategic? with Casper Venbjerg Hansen

    Many companies say sustainability matters, but only a few treat it as part of their strategy. One of them is Ambu, a global MedTech company and the market leader in single-use endoscopy. In this episode, Casper Venbjerg Hansen, Senior Director, Sustainability, Public Affairs, Risk and Compliance at Ambu A/S, explains how sustainability guides their decisions and why Ambu committed to it early. Casper walks through Ambu’s long history with sustainability, including why they redesigned their endoscopes in 2009 to make future recycling possible. He shares how sustainability became strategic in 2022 when hospitals began asking for better environmental performance. We talk about single-use and reusable systems, the real footprint of reprocessing, and why raw materials drive a large part of emissions. Casper also explains how Ambu introduced bioplastics across all endoscope categories, how their takeback and recycling program works, and what it means to design for circularity from the start. If you want a practical look at how sustainability becomes a business advantage, this episode gives you a clear introduction. Connect with Casper Venbjerg Hansen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casper-venbjerg-hansen-322853/ Connect with us: 🎧 Subscribe to the Gradical Podcast for insights on MedTech sustainability and innovation 🟣 Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gradical-podcast-the-podcast-about-plastics-in/id1773569554 🟢 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4vNQ6rPE2CQUGgQtEY3sYq 📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@GradicalGmbH 🌍 Learn more about Gradical: https://gradical.ch/ 📩 Work with Lucas and the team: lucas.pianegonda@gradical.ch  #GradicalPodcast #MedTech #MedicalDevices #Sustainability Do you enjoy this podcast? Then subscribe, rate it on your platform, and join the discussion on LinkedIn! Your feedback and comments help us improve the podcast and bring you relevant topics. Let’s form a better world with plastics! If you are a Medtech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, let’s talk—BOOK A CALL HERE.

    44 min
  7. Understanding LCAs: The Hidden Factors That Shape Environmental Impact with Thomas Kägi

    12/17/2025

    Understanding LCAs: The Hidden Factors That Shape Environmental Impact with Thomas Kägi

    Many organizations rely on LCAs (Life Cycle Assessments) to guide sustainability decisions, but the method is only as reliable as the data and assumptions used to build it. In this episode, Thomas Kägi, Member of the Board at Carbotech AG, explains how to structure an LCA so that the results reflect real environmental impact and not just guesses or incomplete boundaries. Thomas describes how the functional unit sets the entire frame for an analysis, why the use phase can overshadow production in environmental impact, and how to work with supplier-specific data when it is available. He also breaks down when uncertainty matters, how to start with a screening LCA, and why rules such as ISO standards and EPDs are essential for making comparisons that are fair. In this conversation, we cover: Why an LCA only makes sense when the underlying question is clearHow system boundaries shape the outcome of a studyWhy the use phase can account for most of a product's impactHow to work with databases and supplier-specific dataWhen uncertainty in LCA data matters and when it does notHow standards create comparability across different products🎧 If you want a practical understanding of how environmental impact is measured and how to avoid common mistakes, this episode provides a grounded and straightforward guide. Connect with Thomas Kägi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-k%C3%A4gi-262648a0/ Connect with us: If you're a MedTech company evaluating commercialization risk or sustainability challenges, let’s talk: https://lucaspianegonda.clickfunnels.com/optin1756907952105 🎧 Subscribe to the Gradical Podcast for insights on MedTech sustainability and innovation: 🟣 Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gradical-podcast-the-podcast-about-plastics-in/id1773569554 🟢 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4vNQ6rPE2CQUGgQtEY3sYq 📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@GradicalGmbH 🌍 Learn more about Gradical: https://gradical.ch/ 📩 Work with Lucas and the team: lucas.pianegonda@gradical.ch Do you enjoy this podcast? Then subscribe, rate it on your platform, and join the discussion on LinkedIn! Your feedback and comments help us improve the podcast and bring you relevant topics. Let’s form a better world with plastics! If you are a Medtech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, let’s talk—BOOK A CALL HERE.

    47 min
  8. Why Hospitals Say No: The Harsh Truth About MedTech Commercialization with Jim Surek

    12/10/2025

    Why Hospitals Say No: The Harsh Truth About MedTech Commercialization with Jim Surek

    Hospitals review new devices through a process that is far more complex than most teams expect. In this episode, commercialization specialist Jim Surek explains how he evaluates medical technologies and the three-part funnel he uses to predict whether a product will find traction. Jim describes how clinical performance, economic outcomes, and strategic or operational effects shape hospital decisions and why progress in only one area is not enough. In this conversation, we cover: Why clinical gains must connect to measurable economic valueHow Jim structures a commercialization assessmentHow hospitals view workflow changes and resource requirementsHow reimbursement shapes the path from prototype to adoptionWhat separates market-changing ideas from incremental improvements🎧 If you want to understand how hospitals make purchasing decisions and how to position your device for success, this episode is a focused and practical guide. Connect with Jim Surek: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimsurek Connect with us: If you're a MedTech company evaluating commercialization risk or sustainability challenges, let’s talk: https://lucaspianegonda.clickfunnels.com/optin1756907952105 🎧 Subscribe to the Gradical Podcast for insights on MedTech sustainability and innovation: 🟣 Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gradical-podcast-the-podcast-about-plastics-in/id1773569554 🟢 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4vNQ6rPE2CQUGgQtEY3sYq 📺 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@GradicalGmbH 🌍 Learn more about Gradical: https://gradical.ch/ 📩 Work with Lucas and the team: lucas.pianegonda@gradical.ch #GradicalPodcast #Sustainability #MedTech #MedicalDevices Do you enjoy this podcast? Then subscribe, rate it on your platform, and join the discussion on LinkedIn! Your feedback and comments help us improve the podcast and bring you relevant topics. Let’s form a better world with plastics! If you are a Medtech company struggling to make your devices more sustainable, let’s talk—BOOK A CALL HERE.

    47 min
See All (33)

About

Gradical is the plastics expert for medical technology. We help medical technology companies to select the right plastic for their application. This takes into account technical suitability, regulatory requirements and sustainability aspects. The Gradical podcast covers all topics relating to plastics in medical technology. Sustainability, sterilization, the medical grade concept, biocompatibility and many other topics await you in this podcast. The host Lucas Pianegonda is a plastics expert for medical technology and asks the guest experts the right questions. For more information on gradical and it's services visit www.gradical.chRecommended Reading "Plastics in Medical Device": https://amzn.to/4gVldHf

Information