Corporate Social Responsibility | Protecting The Environment | Environmental Impact

Limiting Our Environmental Footprint

We are all responsible for the consequences of our actions—especially as a company with a global footprint, and global impact. As we manufacture medical devices and therapies, we consume resources and produce waste. How we manage these responsibilities and challenges matters. We had a target of 50% renewable electricity by 2021 and we surpassed this by achieving 73%.

We bring our values to the table when we consider the materials used in our products and packaging, the resources used to manufacture and transport them, and what happens to any waste along the way.

Graph representing: 8· 79% or 7,922 metric tons total non-hazardous waste recycled in 2020

74% of solid waste from all manufacturing and key distribution sites was recycled (8,673 tonnes).

Graph representing: 52% of hazardous and regulated waste recovered or recycled in 2020

55% of hazardous and regulated waste recovered or recycled in 2021 across the company’s operations and key distribution sites

Graph representing: 3All key manufacturing and distribution sites, a total of 16 sites, are certified to the environmental management system ISO 14001:2015

As of 2021, 16 key manufacturing and distribution sites in our global network are certified to the environmental management system ISO 14001:2015

Read our Environment, Health & Safety Policy

Read our current EHS Policy valid through September 20, 2021

*Read our new EHS Policy valid on September 21, 2021

Product packaging

We develop packaging sustainability goals under the guidance of a global sustainability packaging and labelling steering committee. Our packaging and labelling practices include optimising design, reducing waste and limiting emissions from shipping. As a member of the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, we collaborate with industry peers across health care, recycling and waste management industries to improve recyclability of products and packaging.

Water Conservation

Water is a critical shared resource, and we are committed to managing its use responsibly. While Boston Scientific operations are not water intensive, we work to minimize consumption and prepare for water supply challenges. Water usage at Boston Scientific manufacturing and key distribution sites is predominantly associated with employees, which accounts for 84% globally of our total water consumption. Based on an assessment using the World Resources Institute Aqueduct risk-mapping tool, we have determined that 11 company locations are at low overall water-related risk, and six facilities are in the low-to-medium risk category.

Waste Reduction

We are working to divert all non-hazardous waste from landfills and incineration by 2030. Boston Scientific facilities will participate in the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification program to meet this objective. TRUE strives to change the way materials flow through society so that all products are eventually reused and diverted from landfills, incineration and the environment.

Results from Cork: Taking Recycling to the Next Level

After achieving a recycling rate of more than 90 percent, our Cork, Ireland team extended their success by recovering reusable materials. In 2020, they began setting aside plastic packaging made from Polyethylene Terephthalate, a material that can be ground into flakes and reused if properly isolated in the collection process. This approach also results in less processing energy than recycling. By taking this extra step, the team diverted 20 tonnes of plastic for recovery.

Moving towards net zero through the NHS Carbon Reduction Plan

In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) aims to become the world’s first net zero national health service, which requires significant collaboration with its suppliers. We are committed to achieving net-zero by 2050 in alignment with our companywide net-zero, science-based scope 1, 2 and 3 targets approved under the SBTi Net-Zero Standard. Our Carbon Reduction Plan explains how we plan to reduce our green-house gas emissions for our operations in the UK**.