Baxter depends on materials, energy, water and other natural resources to manufacture its products and conduct its business. These resources are limited, and the company has a long history of demonstrated commitment to using them wisely. The 2015 natural resource goals are a part of Baxter's third generation of environmental goals and reflect issues that are important to the company’s operations, customers and other stakeholders.

Waste

Baxter's main source of non-hazardous waste is plastics scrap generated from manufacturing, and its main source of regulated waste is biological and blood-derived plasma wastes from plasma processing activities. Waste-reduction efforts during 2008 focused especially on the largest production sites. For example, the company’s Guayama, Puerto Rico, plant reduced waste by more than 2,000 metric tons (66 percent) compared to 2007 by improving the efficiency of cleaning operations and the accuracy of waste-generation data. See the Waste section for information about the Guayama, Puerto Rico, facility’s 2007 performance.

Historically, Baxter's challenges with meeting its waste-reduction targets have been attributed to disposal of expired product that customers return and increased generation of certain wastes at a few facilities. In 2009, Baxter is deploying a new information management system for its Environment, Health and Safety organization. This system will allow more timely and consistent tracking of waste generation to better enable management to respond to unfavorable trends.

Packaging

Baxter used more than 47,000 metric tons of corrugated packaging in 2008 for its products worldwide, and works to use these materials more efficiently. In 2008, the company reduced the packaging size for the majority of U.S. Renal solution cartons, decreasing the storage space required by customers in their homes by 30 percent. Due to this initiative, Baxter realized a corrugate reduction of 360 metric tons in the second half of 2008 and is positioned to realize a decrease of 800 metric tons in 2009. Baxter is establishing a companywide tracking system in 2009 to improve reporting of packaging initiatives.

Energy

Manufacturing Baxter products requires electricity to power equipment and fuels to generate steam for water purification and sterilization. Baxter conducts routine energy assessments at all manufacturing sites to identify energy-saving opportunities, implements energy conservation practices through its “Lean Energy” program and tracks progress quarterly against the company’s energy goal. The company also hosts a biennial energy conference to train and recognize its energy managers and support personnel and to share best practices.

Among the facilities Baxter recognized for energy conservation practices in 2008 was São Paulo, Brazil, which decreased energy use by 4.4 percent per unit of production through projects such as a rooftop water evaporation system that cools the building and reduces process-water discharge costs.

Water

Baxter’s main use of water is for processes such as cooling towers, sterilizers and steam boilers (80 percent of total use). About 15 percent goes into the company’s products and 5 percent is for potable uses.

Baxter's continued success in water conservation is primarily due to water recovery and reuse projects at many locations and best practice sharing companywide. For example, Baxter’s Grosotto, Italy, facility reduced water consumption by 116 million liters (14 percent reduction compared to 2007) through sterilizer water recovery and cooling water optimization projects. In another project, four European locations are conducting water balances and creating value stream maps1 to enhance processes in production lines for one of Baxter's intravenous (IV) products, which will save significant water and energy when completed.

Watersheds

Baxter is using tools from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, World Resources Institute and others to prioritize areas for community aquifer protection projects, and the company is exploring potential partnerships with organizations to protect water resources in the most vulnerable areas.

2015 GOALS

  • Reduce total waste generation 30% indexed to revenue from 2005 baseline.
  • Reduce energy usage 30% indexed to revenue from 2005 baseline.
  • Eliminate 5 million kilograms (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 and/or provide communities with enhanced access to clean water.

1 A "value stream map" is a visual "Lean" tool that enables Baxter facilities to identify opportunities to reduce resource use and waste.