Medical Residue is More Than Waste; It is an Opportunity

Q: What market needs was Derimed created to address?

A: Derimed began as a spin-off from a company that initially focused on generating medical waste receipts. Over time, we realized there was a gap in Mexico: regulated medical waste needed proper treatment, and existing providers mostly offered linear disposal services without opportunities for revalorization. Initially, we acted as transporters, but we quickly expanded to provide a full-service solution, from collection and sterilization to sustainable disposal, aiming to ensure compliance with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and other authorities while introducing circular practices to the sector.

For the past 60–70 years, medical waste management in Mexico followed a linear model. Hospitals complied with regulations using traditional technologies like incineration and autoclaves, which are effective but leave residues wet, limiting potential reuse. Most of these wastes are plastics, cellulose, and some metals, yet they were largely treated as disposables. We identified an opportunity to apply new methods that improve sustainability, enabling the revalorization of medical waste while remaining fully compliant with regulations.

Q: What mindset shift is required to enable circularity in medical waste?

A: Waste is often labeled as garbage, but in reality, it is an opportunity. The opportunity for industries lies in adding value to that treated waste and converting it into a new resource. Shifting this perception is critical to advancing circular models in highly regulated sectors like healthcare.

Q: How does your microwave sterilization process differ from traditional methods?

A: Our process uses microwaves to sterilize medical waste in a two-step method. First, we grind the waste to increase surface area, then microwave it, converting inherent moisture into steam that sterilizes the material. Unlike autoclaves, this yields a dry product, suitable for revalorization. This method minimizes water usage, reduces CO₂ emissions, and avoids reliance on boilers, while remaining compliant with Mexican norms. We were the first in Mexico to implement this technology, bringing it from France and demonstrating its effectiveness to local authorities.

Q: How does Derimed’s onsite sterilization technology benefit hospitals?

A: Our technology can be deployed directly at the hospital, eliminating the need for transportation and reducing associated emissions and risks. By treating waste at the source, hospitals gain full control over compliance, lower operational costs, and ensure immediate destruction of sensitive materials. This also minimizes the risk of improper handling or downstream exposure.

Q: What advantages does your technology offer hospitals compared to traditional methods?

A: Our microwave technology enables hospitals to achieve measurable ESG outcomes at a competitive cost. Compared to traditional autoclaves, it reduces water consumption, lowers emissions, and minimizes operational risk while maintaining full regulatory compliance. This allows hospitals to quantify and report environmental impact, turning waste management into a strategic ESG lever rather than a compliance function. In addition, the treated waste can be revalorized into new applications, such as alternative fuels, supporting circular economy models.

Q: Which other potential uses of waste is Derimed exploring?

A: Using studies conducted alongside the Faculty of Chemical Sciences at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), we evaluated the calorific value and other physicochemical properties of sterilized medical waste. This enabled us to explore its potential as an alternative fuel for industries like cement manufacturing. Beyond compliance, our microwave sterilization produces dry, odorless waste that can operate in industrial zones without emissions, supporting a Zero Waste to Landfill approach.

Q: How do you ensure safety and traceability in your process?

A: Safety and traceability are central to our model. We validate sterilization with viral panels and other pathological tests, ensuring the process neutralizes all biological risks. Our system records treatment temperature and duration for each batch, providing verifiable compliance. Additionally, QR codes allow hospitals to track every step, from collection to treatment, giving them full transparency and confidence that their waste is handled properly.

Q: How does Derimed engage with pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders?

A: We are exploring partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to address extended producer responsibility. By recovering and properly treating the medical plastics they supply, we reduce their environmental liabilities. This allows them to recover emissions and material impact directly through the reuse of their products, instead of relying on offsets like Scope 2 or Scope 3 reductions. Our goal is to close the loop and integrate circularity into the lifecycle of medical materials.

Our model applies to any facility generating regulated biological and infectious waste, including veterinary clinics, pharmacies, funeral homes, tattoo parlors, and cosmetic clinics. These sectors must comply with COFEPRIS regulations, and we provide certified collection and treatment. Our goal is to scale a standardized, circular model across all regulated generators, ensuring compliance while delivering measurable environmental impact.

Q: What are the main barriers to adoption, and how does Derimed help clients overcome them?

A: The primary barrier is awareness. Many stakeholders do not fully understand the downstream impact of medical waste or the operational advantages of circular solutions. In addition, there is a persistent perception that sustainable technologies come at a premium, even when they are cost-competitive. Addressing this requires clear data, transparency, and demonstrated business value.

Adoption is steadily increasing among healthcare facilities. We serve over 450 clients across Mexico, from small clinics to large hospitals, with service models adapted to each generator’s scale. Growth is driven by the ability to deliver compliance and measurable ESG outcomes at competitive costs, positioning circular waste management as a practical and scalable solution.

Q: How is Derimer engaging remote areas and households in circular waste practices?

A: We are exploring strategies for remote regions in partnership with authorities like SEMARNAT, including deploying collection containers and promoting public programs to safely manage medical waste. Household medical waste — like expired medications or syringes — poses risks if disposed improperly. Our goal is to build awareness, establish safe collection points, and extend circularity beyond hospitals.

Q: How do financial incentives tie into your circular model?

A: Environmental savings from using our service, such as CO₂ and water savings, can potentially enable hospitals to access better financing or “green” credits. Additionally, the new taxonomic regulations require companies to disclose environmental and social impacts in their financial statements, making quantifiable sustainability efforts a competitive advantage.

Q: What are Derimerd’s goals for 2026?

A: Our primary goal is to have a fully operational circularity model across Mexico, demonstrating measurable environmental impact and recovering medical plastics for reuse. We plan to expand regionally, including in remote areas, and continue partnerships with universities for research. The objective is to provide hospitals and pharmaceutical companies with a cost-effective, transparent, and sustainable solution that quantifies impact for investors, regulators, and the public.

Derimed is a Mexican company that treats and transforms regulated medical waste (RPBI) using microwave sterilization technology.