Three Boston Scientific employees wearing matching volunteer shirts shovel dirt into a wheelbarrow together.

Protecting the environment

When we challenge our impact on the environment, we advance ways to protect it.

Our commitment to improving the lives of patients calls for protecting the planet we all share. That means confronting climate change and challenging ourselves to meet ambitious environmental goals. 

2021 highlights

Boston Scientific took action for a healthier world by further reducing our environmental impact, addressing supply chain sustainability and working to mitigate material climate risks to the business. We exceeded our target of 50% renewable electricity use by 20211, stayed on course for carbon neutrality in all of our manufacturing and key distribution sites by 2030 and committed to setting science-based targets and reaching net-zero carbon emissions across our entire value chain by 2050. 

We recognize our responsibility to further respond to climate change, and are working towards implementing recommendations by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

“Across our operations, we use science and innovation to create a sustainable and flexible footprint that accommodates change, supports productivity and protects the environment.”

 – Paul Donhauser, Vice President, Global Real Estate, Facilities, Environment, Health and Safety

Our priorities

Reducing our environmental impact

73% of electricity consumed generated from renewable sources, surpassing our interim goal of 50% by 20211,2

We were one of the first medical device manufacturers to pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 in all manufacturing and key distribution sites, and using the Boston Scientific Global Energy Management System (GEMS), we are on track to meet this goal. In 2021, Boston Scientific expanded our climate action goals by joining the United Nations Race to Zero and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign. By making this commitment, we build on our strong foundation and begin to establish ambitious science-based targets that will set us on a path toward net-zero carbon emissions across our entire value chain by 2050. We will share our targets following the SBTi process and regularly report on our progress. 

Read our EH&S Policy (Sept 2021-2022)
  1. Inclusive of all manufacturing and key distribution sites only.
  2. Reflects adjustments to previously reported figure of 72% renewable electricity in our 2022 Annual Proxy Statement, based on subsequent internal audit.

Managing climate risk

As we invest in protecting our business and customers from climate-related disruption, we incorporate climate risk into our modeling, planning and financial disclosures

Climate change presents risks to the world around us and our business. Natural disasters, extreme weather and other climate-related conditions could adversely affect our operations and supply chain, from the availability of materials to energy supply and transportation. To help identify and monitor the impacts of climate change, we use risk management software to map our sites against climate risk indices such as wildfire hazard, drought hazard, heat stress and sea-level rise.

Our climate change and environmental impact greenhouse gas metrics were verified in 2019 by an independent third party.

Advancing product stewardship

In 2021, we removed 219 metric tons of packaging from the waste stream, and diverted 33,292 products from landfill during development

Good product stewardship requires a concerted effort to minimize the health, safety, environmental and social impacts of our company’s products. We take this seriously and are examining the environmental footprint of our devices – from design, sourcing, production and distribution to waste disposal or recycling. We have made measurable progress with initiatives focused on packaging, labeling and device recycling and are focused on further reducing environmental impacts of our technologies throughout the entire product life cycle.

Explore our progress

Learn more about our environmental sustainability progress in 2021.

Download the full 2021 Performance Report

Our awards

Boston Scientific is proud to be recognized for our commitment and responsibility to people and the planet. 

See more awards

All data as of December 31, 2021.