Environmental Impact

To reduce the environmental footprint of our product lifecycles, we consider impacts related to manufacturing and the materials used in our products and their packaging. When products reach the end of their usable life, we reclaim materials for reuse where possible.

All of our European manufacturing and distribution sites follow ISO 14001, a globally-recognised standard for environmental management systems (EMS), designed to manage and improve environmental performance across industries. Our commitment to this system ensures that throughout our operations, we protect the environment, respond to changing environmental conditions, fulfill compliance obligations, enhance environmental performance and deliver sustainable development.

Waste Management and Recycling

In 2014, Boston Scientific implemented a new five-year goal of achieving an 81 percent recycling rate for solid waste generated globally, and in Europe we are exceeding this target. In 2017 our European manufacturing sites at Clonmel, Cork and Galway, Ireland, and our distribution centre at Kerkrade in the Netherlands reduced their environmental impact by achieving a 91% recycling rate, which equates to 2,400 tonnes of solid waste diverted.

By recycling 91% of the waste they generate and sending the remainder to waste energy plants, our Irish sites send no waste to landfills.

Packaging Initiatives

The Boston Scientific team in our European distribution centre in the Netherlands ensures our medical products are delivered to hospital systems across the globe with respect for the ecosystem. On average, more than one billion square feet of cardboard is used annually in the packaging process. In 2016, the distribution centre began purchasing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited cardboard shipping boxes that originate from trees harvested in a manner that supports natural forest regeneration.

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