Baxter Reports Sustainability, Renewable Energy Progress
Healthcare company Baxter reports that it exceeded the percentage of its commitment to renewable energy in 2012. A goal had been set to reach 20 percent by 2015; last year, the company recorded a rate of 22 percent of renewable energy use for operations. This was partially thanks to several on-site renewable energy projects, including a photovoltaic solar system at its Toongabbie facility in Australia, and installation of a comprehensive geothermal cooling system at its Orth, Austria, facility. The Malta facility will soon be generating clean solar power with a system that will generate 23 percent of the site's electric power needs and prevent 1,100 metric tons of C02 emissions per year.
That's among the highlights of Baxter's 14th sustainability report in which the company describes its policies and the progress made on several fronts, including social, environmental and economic programs.
"Sustainability encompasses virtually every aspect of how we do business," said Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., Baxter's chairman and chief executive officer. "Just as Baxter's mission is to save and sustain lives, we are committed to helping our many global stakeholders thrive."
The company has also worked to reduce GHG emissions and since 2005 it has managed to reduce them by 12 percent on an absolute basis. The company believes it is on track to exceed its 2015 goal to reduce GHG from operations 45 percent indexed to revenue. In order to achieve that, Baxter has adopted innovative technologies such as biomass fuels for boilers and high efficiency light emitting diode (LED) technology.
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Antonio Pasolini is a Corporate Social Responsibility writer for Justmeans, Antonio Pasolini is a journalist based in Brazil who writes about alternative energy, green living and sustainability. He also edits Energyrefuge.com, a top web destination for news and comment on renewable energy and Elpis.org, a recycled paper bag/magazine distributed from health food stores in London, formerly his hometown for over a decade. He is also a happy herbivore.
