Medical devices: sustainability is already a reality in one in two companies
The 2025 Impact Report paints a picture of an evolving sector: 58% report on their impact, 62% hold certifications, but SMEs are lagging behind
Key points
58% of medical device companies report on their ESG performance and 62% hold relevant certifications, whilst over half of small businesses do not yet have staff dedicated to sustainability. This is the picture that emerges from the 2025 Impact Report and the survey carried out by Confindustria Dispositivi Medici amongst its member companies, presented in Milan at the Association’s general meeting.
A new industrial dimension
“The data tells us that sustainability in the sector has already reached an industrial scale,” said Fabio Faltoni, president of Confindustria Dispositivi Medici. “However, this transition is still uneven: large companies are better organised, whilst many SMEs need the tools and expertise to navigate this path. The challenge today is to make sustainability accessible and tangible throughout the entire supply chain.”
Organisational challenges facing small businesses
The survey highlights that sustainability is a process that is already underway, but is not consistent across the entire supply chain. 33.3% of companies have already developed a structured sustainability programme, and 24.4% plan to do so over the next three years. However, organisational challenges still persist amongst small businesses: 53 per cent do not have dedicated staff, and the presence of specialist staff is closely linked to the ability to report on and integrate ESG objectives into business processes.
A driver of competitiveness
“Sustainability can no longer be viewed solely as a matter of reputation or compliance, but also – and above all – as a matter of development,” continues Faltoni. “It is a tool for guiding corporate strategies and is becoming a factor in competitiveness for the medical devices sector.” The healthcare system “is increasingly aware of the need to contribute to reducing environmental impacts, improving social equity and increasing the system’s overall efficiency in line with a One Health approach”. For this reason, Confindustria Dispostivi Medici will continue to support businesses, particularly SMEs, “with practical tools, expertise and proportionate reporting models, so that the ESG transition can translate into innovation and growth for the entire supply chain”.
