Okos Diagnostics and Promisemed Partner to Develop a Biodegradable Lancet for At-Home Diagnostics

At Okos Diagnostics, we believe sustainability in healthcare must extend beyond packaging and into every component of diagnostic products — even the smallest ones.

Today, we are proud to announce a strategic partnership with Promisemed Medical Devices Inc. focused on the development of an eco-friendly lancet designed to reduce the environmental footprint of at-home diagnostics.

"While a lancet may seem insignificant in size, its environmental impact is anything but small."

Globally, more than 2 to 3 billion rapid diagnostic tests are used every year, with each test typically requiring a single-use lancet. At approximately 1 to 2 grams of plastic per unit, this translates into an estimated 12,000 metric tons of plastic waste annually — generated by one small disposable component alone.

As the at-home diagnostics market continues to expand, projected to reach 22 to 25 billion USD by 2030, the volume of single-use waste generated worldwide is expected to grow alongside it.

At the same time, the pressure for change has never been clearer.

European Union policy targets a 55 percent reduction in single-use plastics by 2030, while healthcare providers and procurement teams increasingly prioritize environmentally responsible alternatives. More than 60 percent of healthcare buyers report preferring sustainable products when performance remains equal.

Despite this shift, there is currently no widely adopted biodegradable or low-impact lancet available on the market.

Through this collaboration, Okos Diagnostics and Promisemed combine expertise in sustainable biomaterials, medical device engineering, and scalable manufacturing to develop a next-generation lancet that maintains the reliability and safety expected in diagnostics while significantly reducing environmental impact.

This partnership represents another step toward a future where sustainable healthcare is no longer a niche concept, but the industry standard.

Because even the smallest devices can leave a lasting footprint — or help eliminate one.