As a trusted global partner to the medical device and drug delivery sector, Lesjöfors is contributing to the shift toward more sustainable manufacturing. Our precision springs, pressings/stampings, and wire forms are not only engineered for performance – they also play a central role in advancing circular design, product circularity, resource efficiency, and resilient value chains for the long term, addressing global challenges linked to finite resources and responsible material use.
Circular design in drug delivery: a growing priority
Over the past year, conversations around sustainability and circularity have accelerated across the industry. While momentum is building, the Circularity Gap Reports 2024 and 2025 show that real-world progress remains slow, with few large-scale initiatives currently in place and limited documented case studies.
For manufacturers working with steel components, however, opportunities already exist to integrate circular thinking into the design process and production. Unlocking this potential requires strong collaboration throughout the value chain – from suppliers and partners to customers and end-users – supported by upstream innovation and a shared responsibility for product environmental impact across the full life cycle.
The circular economy: circularity in a global context
In a world defined by unpredictability and resource constraints, efficient use of materials is becoming a strategic imperative. Resilient, future-ready supply chains depend on responsible resource management, high energy efficiency, and a shift away from the traditional linear model. This shift is increasingly connected to the adoption of low-carbon or fossil-free alternatives and broader environmental sustainability strategy goals.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation defines the circular economy as a system in which “materials never become waste and nature is regenerated.” This vision aims to regenerate nature, protect natural systems, and reduce pressure on resources and the environment. The concept is now embedded into business strategies worldwide and is a core pillar of the EU’s Green Deal. The Circular Economy Action Plan (2020) further links business competitiveness to the transition toward more sustainable products and services.
Three pillars of the circular economy
Circularity is built on three foundational principles: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – or in broader terms, efficiency, sufficiency, and consistency. These circular economy principles span everything from eco-design and material selection to renewable energy, biodiversity protection, and waste management.
Despite its potential, adoption is still limited. In 2024, secondary materials represented only 6.9% of global material consumption (Circularity Gap Report 2025), highlighting gaps in recycling infrastructure and consistent recycling programs.
Within healthcare and drug delivery, circularity can drive improvements through:
- Eco-design and regenerative design
- Reduced product and material waste
- More durable and reusable materials
- Lower reliance on single-use plastics and plastic packaging
- Increased use of sustainable materials and renewable resources
- Take-back and recovery programmes (EFPIA White Paper on Circular Economy)
Key elements of circularity
Some of the most important areas influencing circular performance include:
- Carbon footprint: Mapping emissions and setting reduction targets across the full product life cycle.
- Waste and recycling: Creating closed-loop systems and generating value from residual materials.
- Supplier cooperation: Establishing joint targets and fostering long-term collaboration across the value chain.
- Circular design: Embedding circular design principles into day-to-day engineering practices.
- Innovation: Enabling knowledge-sharing, cross-functional projects, and new ideas that support a circular economy.
Lesjöfors’ approach to circular design and sustainability
As a key supplier of components for drug delivery systems, Lesjöfors integrates circularity throughout its sustainability roadmap. Innovation, resource efficiency, and circular design form the foundation of this environmental sustainability strategy, supporting long-term resilience and responsible material use.
“Our focus areas make it easier to engage employees and partners in what we aim to achieve,” explains Anna Haesert, Head of Sustainability.
Milestones in the Lesjöfors sustainability journey
Key achievements include:
- Science-based targets validated in April 2024, making Lesjöfors the first in its sector to reach this milestone.
- Strong performance in CDP and EcoVadis ratings, supporting structured improvements.
- Completion of the first life cycle assessments (LCAs) in 2023–2024, which led to the creation of a proprietary Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) calculation method.
Across multiple locations, teams are working on reducing emissions, increasing renewable energy use, improving energy efficiency, and strengthening collaboration in procurement, waste, recycling, and transport.
Lesjöfors’ PCF methodology is based on specific product data, developed as part of the SBTi validation process, and follows a bottom-up calculation structure that supports improved understanding of product environmental impact.
Eco-Thought principles
At Lesjöfors, sustainability is incorporated into product development from the start, regardless of whether customers request it – embodying principles of circularity and regenerative design throughout the design process.
“This mindset is essential for meeting our emissions reduction goals and for positioning ourselves as a leading supplier of springs and pressings for drug delivery devices,” adds Haesert.
The company’s Eco-Thought principles are grounded in long-standing engineering expertise and aligned with frameworks from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan.
Engineers also consider practical factors such as application requirements, available space, and customer-specific expectations. Often, product design involves balancing trade-offs – for example, reducing weight may improve transport emissions but could shorten the lifespan of a component.
Integrating Eco-Thought and PCF calculations
Combining Eco-Thought principles with PCF data strengthens Lesjöfors’ product offering. It enables more informed discussions with customers and suppliers and supports collaborative sustainability projects.
By modelling PCF reduction scenarios, Lesjöfors advances its own climate ambitions while helping customers decrease greenhouse gas emissions and boost supply chain transparency. Close cooperation between procurement and sales ensures that these principles are embedded across the organisation.
The role of steel in circular design
While steel may initially appear to have a higher environmental footprint due to its weight and energy-intensive production, it is inherently circular – steel can be recycled indefinitely without losing integrity. Its magnetic properties also make separation and recycling more efficient.
Recycling rates for standard steel products, however, remain lower than desired and need improvement. Plastics are lighter but pose more significant challenges in recycling and reuse.
As a steel and metal specialist, Lesjöfors actively promotes higher recycled content in raw materials and supports innovations that contribute to more circular steel solutions.
“When assessing the footprint of our products, raw materials represent the largest share of emissions, followed by manufacturing processes and transport,” says Haesert.
Collaboration across the value chain
Lesjöfors collaborates with strategic suppliers by requesting detailed sustainability data, PCF information, and options with higher recycled content or lower emissions. Early customer partnerships are already demonstrating measurable progress in emission reduction targets.
Driving sustainability in drug delivery systems
In drug delivery applications, Lesjöfors uses PCF insights, hotspot analysis, and eco-design methodologies to support more sustainable outcomes. These early-stage conversations create new opportunities for joint value creation, regenerative value, and improved product circularity between customers and suppliers.
“We aim to lead our industry toward a more sustainable future – and that means staying ahead in sustainable innovation,” concludes Haesert.
To learn more about Lesjöfors’ sustainability work and its role in medical device manufacturing, explore:
- Sustainability – Lesjöfors
- Springs and Pressings for the Medical Industry – Lesjöfors