Bupa is on the lookout for the next breakthrough start-up with big ambitions to improve the health of people and the health of the planet.
Today, the healthcare leader has launched its annual eco-Disruptive competition, which sees teams from across its UK and global businesses seek out sustainable start-ups to bring new and transformative concepts to the mainstream.
Budding eco start-ups can submit their forward-thinking products and inventions to the competition for a chance to collaborate with Bupa and roll out their solutions across its business and beyond.
Carlos Jaureguizar, CEO for Bupa Global & UK, said: “At Bupa, we’ve been looking after people’s health for the past 75 years. Today, this also means taking care of the planet as we know human health is dependent on planet health – the two are intrinsically linked. Through eco-Disruptive, we want to collaborate with innovative start-ups to tackle some of the biggest sustainability challenges and reduce impact of healthcare on the environment.”The impact of healthcare on the environment is well established: healthcare's climate footprint is 4.4% of the global total; meaning if it were a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter on the planet.
To address this, Bupa’s eco-Disruptive challenge is focusing on six areas that positively impact the environment and human health: decarbonisation; circular solutions; sustainable products and services; sustainable healthcare choices, healthy buildings; and urban restoration and regeneration.
Six start-ups working in each of these areas will receive initial funding to further develop business plans and share expertise in the health and care industry. The selected start-up will then go through to a global final to compete against teams in nine countries and regions that Bupa operates and be in the running to win up to £200,000 to further develop its solution.
Linda Ball, Director of Upcycled Medical and eco-Disruptive 2021 regional winner, said: “Upcycled Medical’s participation in Bupa’s eco-Disruptive programme and what we learned from it really helped accelerate our path to commercialisation. Despite finishing runner-up, our innovative work is now playing an important role in helping Bupa to create an ecologically sound, circular re-use system. I’m incredibly proud that we recently delivered our first order of medical scrubs and aprons which are made from recycled plastic to the Cromwell Hospital.”
Start-ups from across the UK can express an interest in taking part in Bupa’s eco-disruptive programme until 12 October. For more information and to apply, visit ecoDisruptive Challenge.
Notes to editors:
About eco-Disruptive
Eco-Disruptive is a global talent programme that brings together three key elements of Bupa’s strategy: sustainability, digital transformation and agile culture. The goal is to find and support sustainable, scalable start-ups and innovative solutions that will improve people’s health and the health of the planet. Now in its second year, eco-Disruptive will run from September 2022 to December 2022 across nine countries or regions where Bupa operates: Australia, Spain, UK, Hong Kong SAR, Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Panama.
This year’s eco-Disruptive is focussing on six challenge areas:
1. Decarbonisation: CO2 reduction for Bupa, its suppliers, customer journeys and employee commuting
2. Circular solutions: Reduce use of natural resources for Bupa and its suppliers.
3. Sustainable products and services: Solutions that reduce usage of natural resources and emissions.
4. Sustainable healthcare choices: Solutions that engage patients and clinicians in reducing the environmental impact of healthcare.
5. Healthy Buildings: that support better healthcare, wellbeing and environmental outcomes.
6. Urban restoration and regeneration: Solutions for better physical health with benefits for local communities.
To find out more about our latest eco-Disruptive programme which runs from September 2022 to December 2022, see the programme page.
About Upcycled Medical
Upcycled Medical manufactures medical scrubs, gowns and workwear providing full traceability from waste plastic collected from the sea and landfill. The medical garments consist of either 100% post consumer waste, or 65% post consumer waste combined with 35% organic cotton. Per linear metre its products save 36% CO2, 39% energy and 34% water. It also takes back end of life products and ‘Upcycles’ them.
Upcycled Medical was selected as Bupa Global & UK’s regional winner in 2021 and competed in the global grand finale. It is now working with the Cromwell Hospital in London to provide scrubs and aprons.
Upcycled Medical was selected as Bupa Global & UK’s regional winner in 2021 and competed in the global grand finale. It is now working with the Cromwell Hospital in London to provide scrubs and aprons.
