- link Copy URL - [ Share on X ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Biopharma Circular Systems Will Move Beyond Park Benches https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1320346?absolute=1&via=3blnews "Share on X") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1320346?absolute=1 "Share on Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1320346?absolute=1 "Share on Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Biopharma Circular Systems Will Move Beyond Park Benches&body=ESG News from MilliporeSigma https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1320346?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Responsible Production & the Circular Economy](/categories/responsible-production-circular-economy) # Biopharma Circular Systems Will Move Beyond Park Benches ##### Jeffrey Whitford, Vice President of Sustainability and Social Business Innovation, MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Sep 10, 2026 10:10 AM ET Campaign: [Greener Products and Solutions](/news/campaign/greener-products-and-solutions) ![A graphic from MilliporeSigma symbolizing its biopharma recycling program](https://3blcdn.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/2026-09/Recycling_MilliporeSigma_091026_1789049262.png) [Originally published by Fast Company. ](https://www.fastcompany.com/91585772/biopharma-circular-systems-will-move-beyond-park-benches) The world only needs so many park benches. Back in 2015, we launched an industry-first biopharma recycling program to address the new and fast-growing challenge of single-use plastics. At the time, the industry was shifting away from stainless-steel manufacturing systems toward single-use technologies, such as disposable bioreactor bags, filters, and assemblies used to produce life-saving therapies. Sustainability drove this transition, even if it didn’t look that way at first glance. Continue reading on [Fast Company](https://www.fastcompany.com/91585772/biopharma-circular-systems-will-move-beyond-park-benches). [![The life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada](/sites/default/files/Clients/MERCK_MSIG_VMagenta_RGB.jpg)](/profiles/milliporesigma) ### More from MilliporeSigma ###### [Millipore Express® Ace Is Helping Push Sustainable Innovation Forward](/news/millipore-expressr-ace-helping-push-sustainable-innovation-forward) Aug 25, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [10 Years, 10 Stories: Four Employees, One Shared Purpose](/news/10-years-10-stories-four-employees-one-shared-purpose) Aug 18, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [A Decade of Curiosity: A Mid-Year Look at SPARK’s Momentum](/news/decade-curiosity-mid-year-look-sparks-momentum) Aug 6, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Wins 2026 Business Intelligence Group Sustainability Product of the Year Award](/news/milliporesigma-wins-2026-business-intelligence-group-sustainability-product-year-award) Aug 4, 2026 12:10 PM ET ###### [From Bench to Breakthrough: Empowering the Next Generation of Science Communicators](/news/bench-breakthrough-empowering-next-generation-science-communicators) Jul 14, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [Bio-Based Solvents Take Center Stage at CHEMUK](/news/bio-based-solvents-take-center-stage-chemuk) Jun 23, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma's Approach to Embedding Sustainability Earlier in Product Development](/news/milliporesigmas-approach-embedding-sustainability-earlier-product-development) May 28, 2026 10:30 AM ET ###### [MilliporeSigma Launches Supplier Sustainability Toolkits to Help Advance Supply Chain Impact](/news/milliporesigma-launches-supplier-sustainability-toolkits-help-advance-supply-chain-impact) May 21, 2026 10:30 AM ET