Carbon Disclosure Commitment

We track our greenhouse gas emissions with comprehensive rigor, recognizing that incomplete measurement leads to incomplete action. Our inventory includes Scope 1 emissions (direct emissions from our facilities and vehicles), Scope 2 emissions (indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, and steam), and material Scope 3 emissions (all other indirect emissions in our value chain). We understand that Scope 3 emissions often represent the largest portion of our carbon footprint, and we measure them with the same rigor we apply to direct emissions. This includes emissions from purchased goods and services, inbound freight and transportation, business travel, employee commuting, waste disposal, and other value chain activities. We recognize that comprehensive measurement requires understanding our entire impact, not just the portions that are easiest to measure.

Data collection is not a manual, error-prone process—it is an integrated system that captures emissions data accurately and efficiently. We use automated metering systems that provide real-time energy consumption data, supplier questionnaires that gather verified emissions data from our supply chain, and third-party verified calculators that ensure consistency and accuracy. We invest in the technology and processes necessary to make emissions measurement as routine and accurate as financial measurement. We understand that bad data leads to bad decisions, and we commit to the highest standards of data quality and verification.

Independent third-party auditors review our emissions inventory annually, ensuring that our measurement processes meet the highest standards of accuracy, completeness, and credibility. These audits are not rubber stamps—they are rigorous examinations of our methodologies, data sources, calculations, and reporting. We welcome this scrutiny, recognizing that external verification is essential to credibility. We publish the results of these audits transparently, including any findings or recommendations, because we believe that transparency about our processes is as important as transparency about our results. We understand that trust is built through verification, not through claims.

We continuously improve our measurement methodologies, recognizing that emissions accounting is an evolving field. We stay current with the latest standards, methodologies, and best practices, including the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, ISO 14064, and other recognized frameworks. We participate in industry initiatives that advance emissions measurement, sharing our learnings and learning from others. We understand that perfect measurement is not possible, but we commit to continuous improvement in our measurement capabilities, recognizing that better measurement enables better action.

Our emissions inventory is not a static snapshot—it is a living document that is updated regularly and used to inform decision-making at every level of our organization. We integrate emissions data into our business planning, procurement decisions, operational improvements, and strategic initiatives. We recognize that measurement without action is meaningless, and we ensure that our comprehensive emissions inventory drives real reductions in our carbon footprint. We understand that the purpose of measurement is not just to know our impact, but to reduce it.

We have submitted ambitious near-term emission reduction targets to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning our commitments with what climate science tells us is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. These targets are not arbitrary goals—they are science-based commitments that reflect our share of the global responsibility to address climate change. We recognize that the 1.5°C pathway requires rapid, deep emissions reductions, and we have set targets that match that urgency. We understand that these targets are challenging, but we also understand that the alternative—failing to meet the challenge of climate change—is unacceptable.

Our reduction strategy leverages multiple levers simultaneously, recognizing that no single solution is sufficient. We are aggressively procuring renewable electricity, transitioning our facilities to clean energy sources, and investing in onsite renewable generation. We are redesigning packaging to reduce material use, increase recyclable content, and eliminate unnecessary packaging. We are transforming our logistics operations through fleet electrification, modal shifts, route optimization, and carrier partnerships that prioritize low-carbon solutions. We are deploying demand forecasting technology that reduces waste, improves inventory management, and minimizes unnecessary production and transportation. We recognize that achieving our science-based targets requires action across every aspect of our operations, and we are committed to that comprehensive approach.

Executive compensation is directly tied to climate performance metrics, ensuring that our leadership is personally accountable for achieving our emissions reduction targets. This is not a token gesture—it is a fundamental alignment of incentives that ensures climate performance receives the same attention and urgency as financial performance. We understand that what gets measured and rewarded gets done, and we have structured our compensation systems to reflect that reality. We recognize that accountability requires consequences, and we have built those consequences into our governance systems.

We set not just near-term targets, but long-term goals that align with net-zero emissions by mid-century. We understand that the climate crisis requires both immediate action and long-term transformation, and we have committed to both. Our long-term goals provide the strategic direction for our decarbonization journey, while our near-term targets provide the milestones that mark our progress. We recognize that achieving net-zero will require technologies and solutions that do not yet exist, and we are committed to being early adopters and champions of those innovations as they emerge.

We regularly review and update our targets, recognizing that as we learn, as technology advances, and as the urgency of climate change becomes clearer, we may need to set even more ambitious goals. We understand that science-based targets are not set in stone—they are living commitments that evolve with our understanding and capabilities. We commit to continuous improvement in our targets, recognizing that the climate crisis demands that we do more, not less, as time passes.

We report our emissions, targets, and progress annually to CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), participating in the world's most comprehensive environmental disclosure system. Our CDP submissions are not minimal compliance exercises—they are comprehensive disclosures that provide complete transparency about our climate impact, risks, opportunities, and strategies. We recognize that CDP disclosure enables investors, customers, and other stakeholders to compare our performance against peers and hold us accountable. We understand that transparency is essential to trust, and we commit to complete transparency in our CDP reporting.

We share regular updates on our climate strategy and progress through our sustainability microsite, annual sustainability reports, and other communication channels. These updates are not marketing materials—they are honest assessments of where we are, where we are going, and what challenges we face. We include both our successes and our struggles, recognizing that authentic communication builds stronger relationships than polished perfection. We understand that stakeholders deserve regular, meaningful updates, not just annual reports that arrive months after the fact.

Stakeholders—including customers, investors, employees, communities, and partners—receive semi-annual briefings on our climate strategy progress. These briefings are not one-way communications—they are interactive sessions where stakeholders can ask questions, provide feedback, and engage in dialogue about our climate commitments. We recognize that addressing climate change requires collaboration, and we actively seek input and partnership from our stakeholders. We understand that our stakeholders have valuable perspectives and insights, and we create opportunities for those perspectives to shape our climate strategy.

We advocate actively for policies that accelerate decarbonization in the healthcare supply chain, working with industry coalitions, trade associations, and regulators to advance climate action. We recognize that individual company action, while essential, is not sufficient—we need systemic change that requires policy support. We engage in policy advocacy not as a sideline activity, but as a core component of our climate strategy. We work with partners who share our commitment to climate action, recognizing that collective advocacy is more powerful than individual efforts. We understand that the climate crisis requires action at every level—individual, organizational, and systemic—and we are committed to all three.

We engage our employees as partners in our climate journey, recognizing that achieving our emissions reduction targets requires the commitment and creativity of every employee. We provide training on climate science, our emissions reduction strategy, and how employees can contribute. We create opportunities for employees to propose and implement emissions reduction initiatives. We recognize that some of our best ideas come from employees who are closest to our operations, and we actively solicit and support those ideas. We understand that employee engagement is essential to achieving ambitious climate goals, and we invest in that engagement with intention and resources.