Baxter's Approach

Baxter views sustainability as a long-term strategic approach to including our social, economic and environmental responsibilities among our business priorities. The company’s sustainability efforts support Baxter’s mission to apply innovative science in the development of products and therapies that save and sustain patients’ lives.

Sustainability is inherently broad. Baxter’s efforts cover a wide range of areas, as reflected by the company’s sustainability priorities and the structure and contents of this report:

Governance, Ethics and Compliance – Operating in a sound and ethical manner and complying with the law wherever Baxter operates; promoting ethical sales and marketing practices globally;
Employees – Providing a rewarding and inclusive workplace for employees;
Environment, Health and Safety – Improving the company’s environmental performance and ensuring a safe and healthy workplace;
Product Responsibility – Ensuring patient safety, and improving the sustainability performance of Baxter’s products and packaging;
Supply Chain – Working with suppliers to improve their social and environmental performance;
Community Support – Expanding access to healthcare, contributing to communities in need worldwide, including those impacted by disasters, and advancing education;
Economic Impacts – Using financial resources wisely to ensure business success, benefit company stakeholders and address key sustainability issues; identifying existing products and aligning research and development resources to develop and deliver healthcare products or solutions specifically for those at the “Base of the Pyramid”¹; and
Public Policy – Working with lawmakers, governments and policymakers worldwide to improve patient access to critical therapies.

Complementing these broad focus areas, Baxter also recognizes the importance of clear priorities to focus its efforts and direct its initiatives. In 2007, the company defined nine sustainability priorities and corresponding goals for 2015, divided into three broad categories: Our People, Our Operations and Products, and Our World. See Baxter’s Sustainability Priorities and Goals for detail.

Baxter’s commitment to sustainability is longstanding.

Managing Sustainability

Baxter’s Sustainability Steering Committee leads the company’s efforts to integrate sustainability into its long-term strategic planning and its daily activities. The committee's role is to:

Assess the global challenges and opportunities associated with sustainability;
Increase Baxter’s knowledge of sustainability and benchmark with other companies that demonstrate leadership and innovation in this area;
Set and oversee Baxter’s sustainability strategy;
Track progress on sustainability priorities, drive organizational accountability and recognize accomplishments;
Establish performance goals and help implement sustainability initiatives;
Engage with and provide updates to senior management;
Guide and inform Baxter’s sustainability reporting; and
Solicit stakeholder feedback, review stakeholder inquiries as appropriate and recommend necessary actions to enhance Baxter’s sustainability program.

The committee’s executive sponsor is Baxter's corporate vice president, Global Manufacturing Operations. Baxter’s vice president of Environment, Health and Safety, and vice president, Corporate Communications, serve as co-chairs. The committee includes senior representatives from the company’s BioScience, Medication Delivery, Ethics and Compliance, Human Resources, Manufacturing, Research and Development, and Supply Chain organizations.

Governance and Management of Sustainability at Baxter

Each senior member of the committee sponsors at least one of Baxter’s sustainability priorities and is accountable for developing goals and reporting progress in that area.

How Sustainability Strengthens Baxter's Business

In addition to demonstrating Baxter’s values and commitment to corporate responsibility, the company’s sustainability initiatives provide business value. This takes many forms, from reducing costs and ensuring market access to meeting stakeholder expectations and enhancing Baxter’s reputation.

See more detail in Business Value.

¹ The term “base of the pyramid” refers to the roughly four billion people who live on less than $2 per day, typically in developing countries. Companies developing and marketing products and services have typically overlooked this group, instead targeting people with more money to spend at the “top of the pyramid.” In recent years, more companies have extended products to the “middle of the pyramid,” often referred to as an “emerging economy” strategy.