Medline launches global environmental, social and governance report

Photo: CNW Group/Medline Canada Corp.

NORTHFIELD — Medline, the privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies and equipment in the U.S. – today announced the release of its 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report.

The 2022 ESG report includes the company’s global impact across the 125+ countries in which it does business.

“We’ve adopted a more holistic view of what it means to be a good corporate citizen worldwide,” said Jim Boyle, CEO-elect at Medline, “This report is global in scope, and the first that aligns our efforts to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards.”

ESG considerations have gained importance in the healthcare industry in recent years.

“Climate change is just one example of a pressing ESG-related issue that impacts the health of patients being seen every day in healthcare systems around the world,” said Francesca Olivier, VP of ESG for Medline. “And because we know that 71% percent of the healthcare industry’s emissions stem from supply chain, we recognize the critical role Medline plays in making healthcare more sustainable for people and the planet.”

Medline’s report introduces the company’s 17 material ESG priorities under four pillars: climate resilience and environmental action, responsible products, people and communities and robust governance.

Highlights of the report include:

• Medline donated 643 metric tons of product– valued at over USD $2.7 million – in 2022 to support worldwide medical relief to low-resource regions and those impacted by natural disasters
• Medline reprocessed 2.3+ million medical devices in 2022, diverting 1.1 million pounds of waste from landfill
• Medline conducted 592 social audits to ensure ethical sourcing throughout its supply chain in 2022
• Medline installed 60,000+ solar panels at facilities and hit its mark of USD $34.4 million invested in solar energy since 2016
• Medline Canada’s Guelph Distribution Centre achieved LEED certification – one of the largest medical inventory and storage spaces in Canada
• Medline’s solar energy initiatives highlighted in the report, in particular, have been instrumental in reducing the company’s carbon footprint and advancing sustainable operations. The company’s early adoption and substantial investments in solar power infrastructure enable the harnessing of renewable energy to power some of its own facilities and contribute to community grids.

“We are proud to showcase our achievements in key areas such as renewable energy, diversity, equity and inclusion, and community engagement,” said Diana Gazdar, VP of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Medline Canada, Corporation. “By maintaining transparency while sharing our plans and progress, we hope to inspire others and drive positive change in healthcare and around the world.”