Priorities and Goals

Operator Harold Mina works in the steam sterilizer control room at Baxter's Cali, Colombia manufacturing plant.

Baxter’s nine sustainability priorities fall into three broad categories: Our People, Our Operations and Products, and Our World. These priorities reflect the sustainability issues that are most material to Baxter and areas where the company is uniquely positioned to have a positive impact.

Baxter’s 2015 performance goals for each priority demonstrate the company’s commitment, motivate continual improvement and help stakeholders assess performance. The company’s chief executive officer and its Operations Committee endorse these priorities and goals. This framework serves as a foundation for the company’s sustainability efforts, as well as its yearly sustainability reporting.

Some of the company’s sustainability priorities, such as “Baxter Will Drive Reductions in its Natural Resource Use,” focus on the short-term, geared towards cost savings and risk reduction. Others, such as “Baxter Will Strengthen Access to Healthcare,” take a longer view, with an emphasis on creating new business models and revenue generation. Some are directed towards internal operations, such as “Baxter Will Promote a Safe and Healthy Workplace,” while others are externally focused towards customers and other stakeholders, such as “Baxter Will Drive Enhanced Product Stewardship.” The company’s priorities balance and complement each other along these dimensions, and support the company’s current and possible future business models.

The Sustainability Steering Committee routinely reviews the relevance of Baxter’s sustainability priorities and goals to determine whether any require updating.

This interactive graphic outlines Baxter’s sustainability priorities and goals, and links to progress updates for each priority.

Baxter Sustainability Priorities and 2015 Goals
(unless stated otherwise)

A Safe and Healthy Workplace

Implement best-in-class programs designed to protect the safety and improve the health of employees that result in performance in the top three of industry peers.

An Inclusive and Diverse Workplace

Create and sustain an inclusive culture where diverse ideas, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are respected and valued.

Ethical Conduct and Legal Compliance

Continue to champion internal and industrywide ethical sales and marketing practices by:
- Implementing Baxter's enhanced U.S. Healthcare Compliance Program and International Anticorruption Program within the company; and
- Working with U.S. and international trade associations, non-governmental organizations and governments to harmonize and enforce standards on financial interactions with healthcare providers that allow for appropriate education, research and dialogue on products and services and discourage improper incentives.

A Green Supply Chain

Reduce the carbon footprint of Baxter's U.S. car fleet by 20% from 2007 baseline.
Incorporate green principles into Baxter's purchasing program with select 100 suppliers.

Reductions in its Carbon Footprint

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% indexed to revenue from 2005 baseline.
Increase facility energy usage of renewable power to 20% (of total).

Reductions in its Natural Resource Use

Reduce total waste generation 30% indexed to revenue from 2005 baseline.
Reduce energy usage 30% indexed to revenue from 2005 baseline.
Eliminate 5,000 metric tons of packaging material from products sent to customers from 2007 baseline.
Reduce water usage 35% indexed to revenue from 2005 baseline. To help achieve this, by 2010 evaluate potentially vulnerable watersheds associated with Baxter facilities and establish aggressive water conservation goals for high-risk areas.
Implement two projects to help protect vulnerable watersheds or provide communities with enhanced access to clean water.

Enhanced Product Stewardship

Incorporate the following elements as appropriate into Baxter's product stewardship programs: sustainable design, takeback and recycling of Baxter's products.
Identify new opportunities to replace, reduce and refine (3Rs) the use of animal testing.

Access to Healthcare Through Product
Development and Strategic Product Donations

Create a new business model to improve access to healthcare for the "base of the pyramid" (developing economies).
Work with donor partners to develop and implement a strategic product donation plan beginning in 2010 that includes: being the first on the scene following disasters and tragedies, contributing most needed products to stabilize supply, and contributing most needed products in least developed and developing economies.

The Company's Commitment to Education,
Especially Math and Science

Facilitate learning of math and science through biotechnology education for Chicago Public Schools teachers and students, and partner with other educational organizations to provide similar opportunities in other locations.