IMCD will showcase three advanced polymer solutions for medical devices at COMPAMED 2026, taking place from 16 to 19 November at Messe Düsseldorf, Germany.
Experts from IMCD Advanced Materials and its supplier partners will be available at Stand D01, Hall 8B, to demonstrate how material innovation can help medical device manufacturers accelerate sustainability without compromising performance or regulatory compliance.
IMCD will put the spotlight on three polymer technologies designed to address the industry's evolving material requirements.
The first is ISCC PLUS-certified medical-grade ABS, a pre-coloured material containing certified recycled content allocated through mass balance. Its ready-coloured formulation eliminates the need for a separate colouring process, potentially simplifying manufacturing.
The second is renewable-based polyolefins for laboratory consumables. Manufactured using renewable feedstock, these materials retain the same grade name, certifications, packaging and labelling as their conventional counterparts, making the transition to more sustainable alternatives easier for manufacturers.
The third innovation is bioresorbable polymers for implantable medical devices. Designed to be absorbed by the body after serving their purpose, these materials can eliminate the need for a second surgical procedure. Their degradation rates and material properties can also be tailored to specific applications.
Beyond these three innovations, visitors will be able to explore IMCD's broader portfolio of medical-grade polymers for applications ranging from surgical instruments and medical tubing to drug delivery systems, diagnostics and medical packaging.
Two powerful global trends are accelerating demand for advanced medical materials: an ageing population and the growing importance of sustainability.
By 2050, approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide are expected to be aged 65 or older, while the population above 80 is projected to triple. The demographic shift is expected to increase demand for chronic disease management, surgical procedures and medical devices, creating sustained opportunities for medical technology and the high-performance materials that underpin it.
At the same time, sustainability is emerging as a competitive differentiator for medical device manufacturers.
According to IMCD's 2025 industry survey, 29% of medical customers identified developing more sustainable products as their top priority. Half of respondents already use sustainability to differentiate themselves from competitors, while another 28% expect to adopt this approach within five years.
The findings highlight how material selection is increasingly becoming a strategic business decision, extending beyond technical performance to market positioning and long-term competitiveness.
"Sustainability is now a lasting selling point in medtech. It adds to the pressure manufacturers already face from strict regulation and complex global supply chains," says Jana Zietzling, Global Market Lead, Medical & International Principal Manager, IMCD Advanced Materials.
"Because we work closely with both polymer producers and device manufacturers, we see early where materials and market needs are heading. We bring that knowledge into our customers' projects at the start of development, when it makes the biggest difference."
For medical device manufacturers operating across international markets, navigating multiple regulatory requirements, repeated material qualifications and fragmented supply chains can significantly increase costs and delay production.
IMCD is positioning its global network and local market expertise as a solution to these challenges, helping manufacturers qualify materials and maintain consistent production across regions.
The strategy reflects the growing importance of combining international reach with local technical and commercial support.
"Device manufacturers think globally, but materials are chosen and qualified close to where devices are designed and made," says Olivier Champault, Global Business Group Director, IMCD Advanced Materials.
"That's why we combine global expertise with local teams in each market. When a partner hands us its US business after years of working together in EMEA, it's the clearest sign that this model works, for our suppliers and for the manufacturers they serve."
