During the recent United Nations climate summit (COP27), held in November 2022 at Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort, delegates from nearly 200 countries committed to continue reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the goal of limiting future global warming to just 1.5°C (2.7°F) above preindustrial levels. Meeting this target will require full support from business and industry. Among the multinational corporations taking steps toward a sustainable future is Alcon, which has set ambitious goals for the next few years. One is to become “carbon neutral” across its global operations by 2030. A second goal is to divert 100 percent of nonhazardous waste generated at manufacturing sites and distribution centers from landfills.

“Each industry and company faces unique sustainability challenges. In our case, we’re rising to the challenge of balancing single-use medical devices to protect patient safety with our environmental impacts,” explains Charles Herget, vice president in charge of Alcon’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. “We have high standards and well-established, rigorous safety procedures from product innovation to distribution to clinical trials. At the same time, we know we can move the needle on sustainability by minimizing energy use, reducing packaging and postconsumer waste, and increasing the use of recycled materials, while never compromising on patient safety.”

Over the past two years, notes Herget, Alcon has completed 41 energy-saving projects, including solar array and LED light installations, air handling unit replacements, and autoclave cycle reductions. These projects resulted in an estimated energy savings of approximately 42,700 gigajoules—roughly equal to burning 271,000 traditional lightbulbs continuously for a year—and avoided the emissions of approximately 8,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-eq) into the atmosphere. “To help achieve [carbon neutrality], we’ve committed to sourcing 100 percent renewable energy [and] we’re improving energy efficiency across our operations through these energy-saving projects,” Herget says.

Alcon is also reducing its carbon footprint by identifying more efficient ways to pack and ship its products. On the recommendation of the company’s Green Innovations Surgical Team (GreenIST), the company removed plastic packaging trays from the Centurion Fluidics Management System pack, which reduced waste by roughly 90 percent. The company also eliminated printed instructions booklets from IOL packages, which reduced both paper use and CO₂ emissions from manufacturing. By decreasing the total weight of each IOL package by 53 percent, the company also reduced GHG emissions related to product shipping. In another GreenIST initiative, Alcon replaced the plastic foam packing material traditionally used for shipping surgical devices with an environmentally friendly green cell foam made from corn. This change eliminated more than 12,800 pounds of waste and more than 100,000 pounds of plastic foam annually.

“We are constantly looking to reduce waste of our current commercial products—from materials to the actual packaging itself,” says Herget. “In addition to the positive impact this can have on our environment, in many instances, it can also reduce costs for our customers. For example, through GreenIST, if we minimize the packaging then the shipping costs may go down based on the size and weight.”

Alcon is also working to reduce waste by reusing resources where possible, recycling generated waste, generating less hazardous waste, and diverting nonhazardous waste from landfills. Last year the company recycled approximately 76 percent of its operational waste, says Herget, and is working toward the goal of diverting 100 percent of waste away from landfills. “Currently, 70 percent of our manufacturing sites are 100 percent landfill-free from nonhazardous waste disposal,” he says. “In 2022, three of our facilities—two in Fort Worth, Texas, and one in Singapore—received the GreenCircle Zero Waste to Landfill Certification for diverting 100 percent of total waste from landfills. With this achievement, we became the first healthcare company to be GreenCircle certified.”

Successful “green” initiatives do not happen by accident. Corporations that want to excel in this area must integrate sustainability into all aspects of corporate strategy and involve all planning levels. “To achieve the goals that we set, it takes commitment from our leaders, associates, and business partners,” Herget observes. “Underlying our commitments are approximately 40 ESG initiatives that our global associates work on each and every day. We monitor and evaluate their efficacy by ensuring strong governance and a clear operational model. That model is governed by our ESG Executive Steering Committee, which encompasses several key working groups—including the Environmental Sustainability Committee, for example, which oversees our environmental work, such as setting, measuring, and achieving our environmental impact goals.” OASC