While sustainability in the medical device and healthcare sector is now a recognised concept, there is a lack of clarity over what it entails, how to measure it and how to achieve it. There are many compelling reasons why medical and healthcare businesses should take sustainability seriously, including tangible benefits for the business overall. Ignoring the issue or applying a superficial approach is unlikely to be effective or strategically viable long term. Sustainability can be disruptive to businesses and its effects can be widespread, so careful change management is required in order to succeed.