Company Overview

Vernacare offers hospitals and long term care facilities a full spectrum of products for the collection and disposal of human waste. Each utensil is manufactured from 100% biodegradable recycled paper and is treated with a natural wax resin to prevent leakage for up to twelve hours. Products include bedpans, urinals, emesis basis, bowls and graduates.

Each utensil is safely and conveniently disposed inside vernalare's specially designed disposal unit where they and their contents are ground into a fine mulch and safely discharged into the waste stream.

Vernacare's unique system has been in existence for forty years and has met with strong support in North America since its introduction to this market in 1989. There are over 700 installations throughout Canada and the United States in privately run, not-for-profit and government run medical facilities.

Environmental Profile

Vernacare pioneered a radical new system for the green disposal of human waste, which is now used in over 30 countries throughout the world. Operating from its North American head office, Vernacare markets its waste disposal system to hospitals and long term care facilities in Canada and the United States. Additionally, this office has responsibility for marketing to Central and South America. To meet its marketing objectives, Vernacare has established several key partnerships. Verna Group, the parent company of Vernacare is based in Bolton, United Kingdom. In addition to several regional distributors, Vernacare utilizes the distribution network and resources of Source Medical & Allegiance, in Canada and the United States respectively. Cascades, a multi-billion dollar pulp molding manufacturer is on contract to supply Vernacare with a number of its waste utensils.

Additionally, Vernacare has a relationship with Franklin Industries of Winnipeg, Manitoba for the development and manufacturing of the latest generation of disposal units. Augmenting this last partnership is the resources of the government of Manitoba under its Health Industries Diversification Initiative (HIDI).

Sub-sectors: hospital waste; landfill recycling.

Company Information

Additional Details

Legal Name: Vernacare

Number of Employees: 8

Total Sales ($CDN): $100,000 - $200,000

Contacts

Products

• 'vernachair'

  A commode chair, Sani chair and Shower chair in one

• "2000" Disposal Unit
• Bedpans

  Single use biodegradable bedpans for use in institutional healthcare or long term setting. Used in conjunction with Vernacare's disposal unit.

• Commode Chair Liner

  Single use biodegradable basin that can fit in standard hospital commode chairs.

• Emesis Basin

  Single use biodegradable Emesis Basin for use in healthcare settings.

• Environmental Products And Services
• Urinal

  Single use biodegradable urinal for use in institutional healthcare or long term setting. Used in conjunction with Vernacare's disposal unit.

• Urine Specimen Collector

  Single use graduated collector for use in healthcare settings. Molded after standard hospital designs.

• Vernacare Human Waste Management System.

  With an extensive array of pulp molded waste utensils, Vernacare offers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic or steel bedpans, urinals and emesis basins. The utensils are manufactured from 100% post consumer newsprint, which is treated with a natural wax resin to prevent fluid leakage for twelve hours. Hospitals using the Vernacare Human Waste Management System benefit the environment in two ways; first they use less plastic and second they reduce their landfill waste.

  The Vernacare system consists of two components. First, a wide range of pulp molded waste utensils are available for use in hospitals. These utensils closely resemble their plastic counterparts. After a patient has used one of these utensils they are transferred to a Soiled Utility Room and placed inside Vernacare's Disposal Unit. Stepping on the foot pedal raises the lid and enables the pulp utensil to be placed inside the metal hopper. Then, the lid is closed and with the press of one button the disposal cycle begins. In the bottom of the hopper are two metal blades powered by a 1.5 hp engine. When the cycle begins, the hopper fills with cold water (sprayed from the top) and the blades start to spin at the bottom.

  The pulp utensils inside the hopper are ground into a fine mulch, which then flows out into the sewer system. The mulch meets all municipal sewage standards and national environmental standards in both Canada and the United States.

Additional Information