History of Halyard’s Blue Renew Program and BlueCON™ Resin Products

For nearly 40 years, Halyard* Sterilization Wrap, made of strong reliable SMS nonwoven fabric, has been helping keep sterilized instruments and supply sets ready for use at a moment’s notice. The company pioneered the development of SMS fabric and today is one of the largest global suppliers. Halyard* Sterilization Wrap is made in the USA and is the industry standard worldwide.

In 2010, based on customer demand, Halyard developed the Blue Renew Program to assist hospital customers in recycling used, clean Halyard Sterilization Wrap from their Operating Rooms. The program has assisted over 250 hospitals in diverting approximately four million lbs. of wrap from landfills each year.

In 2017, Halyard expanded the program and signed a licensing agreement for The BlueCON Company, formerly Sustainable Solutions’ BlueCON Resin products derived from Halyard’s Blue Renew Program. All of the Environmental Preferred Purchasing (EPP) products, including distribution totes, healthcare apparel, wash basins, bed pans and Circular Blu’s Patient Belonging Bags are made with recycled sterilization wrap. By purchasing BlueCON Resin products and creating a circular economy, the hospital is creating demand for its waste and thus ensuring a successful recycling program. BlueCON Resin products are also made in the USA and are available to all companies not just those recycling sterilization wrap.

In 2019, The BlueCON Company partnered with Iron Mountain for National Blue Wrap collection support. While this solution is not mandatory to participate in the Blue Renew program, it is filling the void left by collectors and recyclers which stopped collecting the blue wrap due to the depressed recycling market.

The BlueCON Company can also provide the hospital system an annual environmental impact report showing landfill diversion volume and cost savings, along with oil and KwH indirect savings which measures the hospital’s effort in reducing carbon emissions.