Rethinking the future of injectables

Autoinjectors are widely used to deliver medications for chronic conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis and arthritis. But most of these devices are single-use, contributing significantly to medical waste. Reusable alternatives exist but often compromise usability and come with higher costs.

Bamboo challenges this paradigm by offering a novel solution that balances sustainability with enhanced user experience. Our design team achieved an 84% reduction in environmental impact compared to single-use autoinjectors, and a 49% reduction compared to reusable ones. This was accomplished by dramatically simplifying the device’s internal mechanisms – reducing the component count from 166 to just 40.

Creating Bamboo from a culture of experimentation

The sustainable autoinjector concept wasn’t born from a client brief – it was an internally-driven initiative, sparked by a desire to rethink the industry’s trajectory.

As Charlie Dean, Head of Sustainable Medtech, explains: “We wanted to step back and ask: what’s the most optimal vision for this space? Not just what’s commercially viable today, but what’s truly possible if we prioritise sustainability and user experience? Developing Bamboo internally meant we had the freedom to explore that without compromise.”

Having gathered insights from across the community, the team recognised that current innovations were constrained by prevailing business models and cultural norms. By treating Bamboo as a ‘concept car,’ they were able to explore a broader range of stakeholder needs and imagine a future where sustainability is not a trade-off but a core feature.

Innovation without compromise

What sets Bamboo apart is its ability to integrate advanced features without sacrificing sustainability. For example, the device includes a novel mechanism for sharps injury prevention. The syringe is loaded with its cap on, and the device automatically removes and reattaches the cap during use. This ensures the user is never exposed to a bare needle. Remarkably, all of this is achieved using a single motor – a feat of engineering that enables uncapping, recapping, dosing and plunger actuation in one streamlined system.

A win for human centred design

Winning the A’ Design Award serves as a validation of our approach to innovation. The team continues to push boundaries, combining deep tech expertise with a human centred design philosophy – putting sustainability and usability at the forefront.

If you would like to find out more about this project, please read the following insight.

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