Circleg
Author: Alannah Walsh
The Problem:
Globally, an estimated 65 million people live with lower-limb amputations—65% of whom reside in low- to middle-income countries. Many of these amputees do not have access to prosthetics due to their unaffordability and general supply shortages.
The need for prosthetic care is projected to surge, with experts forecasting that the global demand will double by 2050. According to the World Health Organisation, the causes of such high amputation rates include an increase in traumatic events such as traffic accidents, diabetes, and other vascular diseases, in addition to poor medical care provision resulting in amputation.
Moreover, it cannot go unmentioned that emergency amputations are being carried out every day in Gaza, where the shelling is unrelenting. Many of these procedures are performed without anaesthesia. Al Jazeera reported in July of this year that children in Gaza now comprise the largest cohort of paediatric amputees in history. This staggering reality only further reinforces the need for quality and accessible prosthetic care.
The Solution:
Circleg, a Swiss startup, recognised that in low- to middle-income countries, locally produced good-quality prosthetics were scarce. As a direct result, local hospitals are often forced to import them, which is logistically challenging—causing long waiting times for patients and incurring substantial costs.
Initially a group of five students, Circleg’s founders harnessed their diverse skill sets to create a product that is cost-effective, made using recycled plastic waste, and produced locally. The founding team is made up of two industrial designers (for whom Circleg’s design idea was originally a bachelor’s thesis), two mechanical engineers (who transformed the design concept into a functioning medical device), and one team member with a background in finance and impact investing.
The Circleg One is a modular prosthetic leg for above- and below-knee amputees. Individually customisable, the product is made from reinforced plastics, making it lightweight and comfortable. The prosthetics are manufactured using very basic tools, meaning that, thanks to their modular design, parts can be repaired and/or replaced easily.
Circleg’s design concept puts social impact and the circular economy at the forefront if it’s model and technology. The product is manufactured in Kenya to shorten waiting times and avoid costly procurements. Furthermore, local production enables ease of repair for used parts, which in turn increases the longevity of the prosthetics and decreases costs for Circleg’s beneficiaries. Being locally produced and assembled also shortens the supply chain, lowering the company’s overall carbon footprint. Circleg’s ethos is environmentally conscious in more ways than one. All used parts are collected and either repaired or repurposed, ensuring a waste-free, cyclical production process.
Impact and Lesson
Circleg has not only found a solution to affordable, quality, and accessible prosthetic care, but their unique business model goes beyond mere product provision. Destigmatising amputation and empowering amputees are at the core of Circleg’s founding values. The Circleg prosthetic enables people to regain their independence of movement, improving both physical and mental health.
Actively working to diminish the societal stigma that can surround amputation, Circleg has initiated numerous campaigns aimed at creating a new narrative around disabilities. One of these is the Bold Moves campaign—celebrating those who dare to question the status quo and break new ground. More recently, the Express Your Beauty campaign aims to showcase newfound ability, communicated through dance, despite disability.
Circleg’s Training Program is another innovative component of the company. Providing a holistic training programme for P&O professionals enables participants to be certified in the Circleg technology. The programme includes training in ischial containment socket manufacturing technology, enabling P&O professionals to deliver state-of-the-art quality prosthetic care.
Since its inception in 2018, Circleg has celebrated many milestone achievements. Along with being certified according to the EU Medical Device Regulation, they have both won and been nominated for numerous awards, including:
Sustainable Development Goals Award 2023
No Waste Challenge 2021
Design Prize Switzerland 2021
The Cybathlon Global Edition 2020
Circleg highlights the value of locally producing medical technology for maximum impact where it is needed most. They also show that addressing perceptions around disabilities can be just as important as addressing the disabilities themselves.