EcoStitch

Waste silicone has been recycled into a suture pad training device. Doctors can practice closing wounds on a pad that has true to life textures and retention of sutures. At the end of its life, it can be recycled again. This comes with a stand to improve user experience. 

Due to the nature of silicone moulding and high production standards. An estimated 500 tons of silicone ends up in landfill each year. To redirect waste produced by a medical training device company, a recycled silicone suture pad has been designed. The skin tissue layer is 100% repurposed silicone offcut. The fat tissue layer uses a formula developed to simulate the soft texture of adipose tissue and provide a true to life layer. It contains 60% recycled silicone particles. The pad is anatomically accurate and holds sutures in a realistic manner.

The pad comes in a kit with a stand. This allows the user to adjust the tension a wound is under so they can practice more difficult sutures including deep tissue sutures. The stand has considered eco design principles and is easy to disassemble and recycle at the end of its life. When the pad comes to the end of its life replacement pads can be purchased.