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Abbott acts on sustainability initiatives By Jim Butschli, Editor, Healthcare Packaging
 In an exclusive interview, Abbott Nutrition's director of global packaging technology, discusses how Abbott is implementing more than 40 sustainable packaging initiatives.
Abbott Park, IL-based Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices, and diagnostics. The company employs more than 72,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.
The company was recently named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and Sustainability North America Index for the fifth consecutive year, and was one of just two U.S.-based companies in the pharmaceutical industry category listed on both indices. The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index ranks Abbott among the top 300 of the world's largest 2,500 companies, based on an assessment of economic, social, and environmental performance.
Abbott operates three lines of business—pharmaceuticals, nutritionals, and medical products. There are divisions within each of those groups. Abbott Nutrition includes the Abbott Nutrition Products Division (its nutrition business), and Abbott Nutrition Intl.
The sustainable packaging initiative is company-wide. The Abbott Nutrition Products Div., Global Pharmaceutical Operations Div. (part of the Pharmaceutical Products Group), Abbott Diabetes Care Div., Abbott Diagnostics Div., and Abbott Vascular Div. (all Medical Products businesses) have been the most active.
In this interview, Pete Macauley, Abbott Nutrition's director of global packaging technology, gives an overview of the company's ambitious sustainability goals. Macauley also leads the cross-divisional team working on the company's overall sustainable packaging initiative.
HCP: What are your responsibilities related to packaging and sustainability?
Macauley: My primary responsibility includes development and implementation of all packaging innovation and technology for Abbott Nutrition's global brands. We support production at 12 manufacturing sites worldwide and a number of third-party manufacturing locations.
HCP: How does Abbott define sustainability?
Macauley: We have three main businesses—pharmaceuticals, nutritionals, and medical products. Abbott is committed to safeguarding the environment, providing leadership as a responsible global citizen. We define sustainability in terms of how we operate all aspects of our business day-to-day. We view sustainability as just as important as what we produce, how we produce it, and where we deliver that product.
HCP: So how do you explain the company's sustainability strategy?
Macauley: Safeguarding the environment is one of our sustainability goals. Sustainable packaging and minimizing the impact of packaging on the environment fall into that realm.
HCP: A company press release talked about making progress towards the 5% reduction of packaging used by 2013. When we talk about that reduction amount, is it in terms of weight?
Macauley: Yes. Weight is the way we measure the resource-efficiency of our packaging.
HCP: When you say 5% it sounds modest, but that's probably not the case when you consider the overall picture, is it?
Macauley: I understand the point because you talk about the five-percent figure and ask if it is really challenging. Each industry and company has its own unique challenges. We look at safety, functionality, and regulatory issues. So five percent is significant for us, given the requirements and technical challenges. One example is where we pulled out two grams of the weight of a plastic bottle [that resulted in] saving a considerable amount of resin. Our objective is to have a positive impact on the environment.
HCP: How does Abbott work with its packaging suppliers to help meet these sustainability initiatives?
Macauley: We have a purchasing group that works with our suppliers, and we provide guidelines to all of our suppliers. We also look for initiatives they have in place within their companies that demonstrate a commitment to the environment. For example, on paperboard we are committed to working with suppliers that focus on using renewable certified materials. We expect our suppliers to have a strategy that addresses sustainability. Our intent is to challenge them, just as our customers are challenging us in our own sustainability efforts ... Read more
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