Together with innovation and efficiency, B. Braun views sustainability as an organizational priority
Repertoire asked Rick Williamson, vice president of marketing, channel development, B. Braun, about the importance of sustainability for the organization.
Repertoire: Has sustainability become a point of emphasis? Is it more part of the conversation with customers? And if so, how?
Rick Williamson: Sustainability has become a major area of focus with our stakeholders. Customers are becoming more aware of the importance of sustainability and environmental health factors overall. They are requesting such information to drive purchasing decisions as they are looking to fulfill legislative requirements, decrease environmental impact within their communities, and meet patient demands for healthy and environmentally safe choices.
Repertoire: How is your company making sustainability a priority?
Williamson: Sustainability is one of B. Braun’s three core values, together with innovation and efficiency. At B. Braun, we don’t view sustainability as a trend or an initiative; rather, it is one of the principles that define who we are as a company. B. Braun’s environmental management system addresses the entire value chain. We continually work to minimize our environmental impact from the design and development of our products, to the use of sustainable manufacturing methods, to our distribution operations where there is an emphasis on reducing fuel consumption and packaging waste. These practices helped B. Braun attain ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System) certification for all of our manufacturing and distribution sites in the U.S. in 2019.
Repertoire: What initiatives do you currently employ? Any future goals or vision for sustainability in the future?
Williamson: More than 40 years ago, B. Braun recognized the environmental and patient risks posed by products containing PVC and DEHP. We were the first medical device manufacturer to remove these harmful substances from many of our products, including IV solution containers and IV sets, and we remain the only supplier that offers a full line of IV solution containers that are PVC and DEHP-free. B. Braun is currently investing more than $1 billion in new and enhanced IV fluid manufacturing capacity in the U.S. which is completely devoted to producing PVC and DEHP-free products. These long-term investments in the sustainability of our health care system will protect both patients and the environment by eliminating the use of phthalates and other toxic chemicals. At the same time, we are working with a broad range of stakeholders, including health systems, consumer and patient organizations, and suppliers to increase awareness of the health and environmental risks posed by phthalates and other chemicals of concern, and to encourage the use of safer alternatives.