Major healthcare supplier commits to waste reductions

Medical supplies are a major source of hospital waste, acknowledges Baxter Healthcare Corp., a leading U.S. medical supplier. Baxter is the first health care supplier to become a “champion for change” in the Hospitals for a Healthy Environment program, which aims to cut the total volume of waste generated by the health care industry by 33% by 2005 and 50% by 2010. Baxter has already reduced its packaging by 13% since 1995 and cut its air toxic emissions by 99% since 1988, according to company sources. The company is currently working with its customers to identify and address the potential environmental impacts of new products during the period they’re developed, and it is researching innovative ways for raw material suppliers and hospitals to reduce and recycle medical product waste. For more information, go to www.h2e-online.org.