Sustainable material selection for medical equipment through life cycle assessment and multi-objective optimization

Abstract Material selection for medical equipment manufacturing requires balancing environmental sustainability, economic feasibility, and energy consumption. Despite increased focus on sustainability, few studies have integrated multi-objective optimization frameworks to simultaneously evaluate these factors. This study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with the ReCiPe endpoint method and uses Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) and Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) to optimize material selection for eight equipment categories: hydrophilic urinary catheter, disposable feeding tube, laryngeal mask airway (LMA), laryngoscope handle, laryngoscope blade, central venous catheter kit, breathing circuit, and face mask. Results show reusable items (e.g., central venous catheter kit) have higher impacts on human health (DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year)) and resource depletion due to intensive maintenance, whereas single-use alternatives present lower per-use impacts but higher cumulative burdens. Reusable equipment (e.g., laryngoscope blades, face masks) reduces waste but has higher environmental impacts from energy-intensive sterilization, while single-use items have lower per-use impacts but create cumulative burdens over time. Optimization results identify Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as a cost-effective material. MOPSO outperforms MOGA in terms of energy efficiency and environmental impact, making it more suitable for applications where sustainability is prioritized. This study emphasizes balanced material selection, integrating environmental and economic goals to guide sustainable healthcare procurement. This study advances LCA–optimization by incorporating hospital-specific factors and directly comparing MOGA and MOPSO to guide sustainability-focused decisions.