Butterfly delivers eco-friendly ultrasound.
Butterfly's commitment to sustainability has made us the only handheld ultrasound device that is RoHS compliant without an exemption.* From the materials in our devices to our recycling and trade-in programs, we’re working toward a more responsible impact on people and the planet.
There’s a dirty little secret within the industry...
Not all ultrasounds are created equal when it comes to environmental safety.
Lead concentration in traditional piezoelectric ultrasound devices typically varies between 40%-65%.¹ Lead poses significant risks to both the environment and human health, causing toxic contamination, persistent pollution, and severe neurological harm, especially in children.²
Butterfly probes are the only handheld ultrasound devices that meet RoHS limits, which set a maximum allowable lead concentration of 0.1%.*
Butterfly is leading the charge.
Sharp imaging minus lead-heavy crystals.
Ultrasound-on-Chip™ fully digital technology allows our ultrasound probes to deliver quality imaging without the use of piezoelectric crystals, which contain lead. This enables Butterfly to be RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant without requiring an exemption, unlike other ultrasound probes.
RoHS compliant without the loopholes.
The European Union restricts the amount of hazardous substances used in electrical and electronic equipment under RoHS through its CE-marking. Butterfly ultrasound probes are the only commercially available handheld devices compliant under RoHS, without exemption, unlike legacy ultrasound companies who’ve been granted exemptions for lead content in their piezoelectric crystals because they claim there are no other “clinically viable alternatives.”
Future-proof technology.
Butterfly is evidence of a viable alternative with our Ultrasound-on-Chip™ technology. Investing in our probe means your purchase will retain its utility even if the RoHS exemption for traditional ultrasound devices is revoked, as we already meet the required standards.
The industry has had opportunities to evolve, but remains stagnant.
They say
COCIR, the powerful lobby representing the EU medical device industry, claimed in 2020 that CMUT technology took 20 years to mature and that it is unlikely that “sufficient performance will be obtained for at least another 5-10 years.”⁵
We say
The Butterfly iQ3 was released 4 years later and it has proven to show image quality comparable, if not the same to cart-based systems using piezoelectric crystals.”⁴
While Butterfly continues to innovate.
“Big Ultrasound” companies have hidden behind exemptions for over 17 years.
When they seek to renew their exemption through a trade association, these companies, led by industry giants, continue to claim that lead-free alternatives are impossible—an outdated narrative that ignores modern solutions and disregards the immense capabilities of Butterfly’s semiconductor technology in ultrasound.
Our environmental efforts are widespread.
Consideration of sourcing and design of materials.
Butterfly probes are designed with sustainability at the core—made with recyclable aluminum, built for easy disassembly to ensure responsible disposal. Butterfly uses recyclable packaging to ship all of our products and our new iQ3 packages are made from 100% recycled materials. Additionally, our user manuals are all provided in digital-only format to avoid printing and paper waste.
Plus, compatibility with existing iOS and Android devices eliminates the need for additional displays, and the replaceable cable extends the lifetime of the probe.
We track that our supply base is following best practices in environmental management and sustainability. Our CMUTs are manufactured by TSMC, which is committed to sustainability.
Read TSMC’s latest ESG report.
Keeping medical waste out of landfills.
We are continuing our commitment to proper waste management with the launch of our latest device trade-in program where our customers are encouraged to send us back their existing iQ and iQ+ probes in exchange for a credit toward their new iQ3 purchase.
Butterfly aims to ensure that a larger number of retired devices are disassembled for proper material recycling and disposal.
Impact & Ambition Reports
Butterfly intends to annually publish an Impact & Ambition report to establish our commitment to supporting environmental, social and governance-related practices, as well as to report on progress within our established sustainability framework.
2023 Impact & Ambition Report:
Imaging For Everyone, Everywhere
2024 Impact & Ambition Report:
Imaging For Everyone, Everywhere
Ways to Engage and Help
We encourage you to write letters to the European Commission about RoHS or contact your local representatives to take action against continuing the allowance of unnecessary exemptions for lead.
Take action by making a smarter, greener choice. Choose Butterfly.
COCIR. Exemption Renewal Form - Exemption 14 Annex IV. 2020.
- European Chemicals Agency. Lead.
- European Commission. Directive 2011/65/EU. 2011.
- Gibbons, R. C, Jaeger, D. J, Berger, M., Magee, M., Shaffer, C., & Costantino, T. G. (2024). Diagnostic Accuracy of a Handheld Ultrasound vs a Cart-based Model: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, 25(2).
- COCIR. Study to Assess Requests for Renewal of 16 Exemptions to Annex IV of Directive 2011/65/EU. 2020.