Page 295 - Design for Environment A Guide to Sustainable Product Development

Medical and Pharmaceutical Industries 271

intravenous systems, and renal dialysis products. Baxter’s commit-
ment is to deliver these life-saving and sustaining products in a way
that also sustains the environment.
The environmental programs at Baxter are part of a broader sus-
tainability approach that addresses “our people, our operations and
products, our world.” The company has laid out specific 2015 goals
addressing each of these priority areas [5]. Baxter has a long history
of focusing on environmental and occupational health and safety.
The company was among the first to measure the business benefits
of environmental excellence and continues to be an industry leader
at integrating sustainability into its corporate culture. For example,
to reduce its carbon footprint Baxter is not only reducing energy
consumption at its facilities but also applying green technologies,
such as cogeneration and increasing the use of renewable energy.
In addition, the company is pursuing supply chain initiatives that
reduce the carbon footprint of its automotive fleet and is continuing
its involvement in carbon trading programs, such as the Chicago
Climate Exchange. Baxter is also striving to improve the efficiency of
its natural resource use and to reduce waste, especially plastics waste,
which accounted for approximately 31% of its nonhazardous waste
in 2007.
In early 2008, Baxter was confronted with a crisis similar to the
J&J Tylenol incident. Baxter staff detected an unusual increase in
allergic-type reactions in the United States associated with heparin
sodium injection, a commonly used anticoagulant (blood thinner).
The company subsequently recalled all of its U.S. heparin vial
products and identified a sophisticated, heparin-like contaminant.
Following the highly publicized recall, more than a dozen other com-
panies in nearly a dozen countries reported similar heparin contami-
nation issues. The problem was attributed to deliberate tampering
with the raw materials. Baxter has responded with stringent new
testing protocols and precautionary measures for improved supply
chain visibility, and is working with international authorities to assure
future product integrity.

Product Sustainability Review
Baxter includes a Product Sustainability Review (PSR) during the
early stages of the product development process, since the design
stage offers a unique opportunity to influence a product’s environ-
mental, health, and safety performance across the entire life cycle.
It is at this time that decisions can be made regarding materials
selection, components that impact energy use, and other factors.
The Baxter PSR is a two-step assessment of the environmental,
health, safety, and other sustainability-related impacts of a product
throughout its life cycle. An initial screen reveals high-level sustain-
ability risks and opportunities at the product development concept