Building a sustainable future through collaboration and empowerment

Across the healthcare sector, organisations are reassessing their environmental impact and seeking ways to reduce it. Boston Scientific believes that advancing science for life goes hand in hand with protecting the planet. Collaboration and meaningful innovation, two of the company’s core values, guide its work with customers, experts and communities to develop solutions that reduce emissions, strengthen health systems and improve patient outcomes.

Upskilling Boston Scientific employees

 

A key part of Boston Scientific’s sustainability journey is empowering employees to make environmental responsibility part of everyday decision-making. From Green Week—an internal initiative that spotlights sustainability through interactive learning—to educational programmes, the company is building awareness and practical skills across its workforce.

A major milestone is its collaboration with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). This collaboration combines academic insight with industry expertise to provide employees with learning and training opportunities that help embed sustainability in their roles.

The first phase, the Commercial Sustainability Accelerator, is an educational programme co-developed by Boston Scientific and CISL for commercial teams across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). It encourages teams to ask practical questions, such as: Can we reduce the materials used in operating theatres? What changes could reduce packaging waste? Through this lens, teams are identifying opportunities to deliver customer value through sustainable innovation.

“By working with world-class institutions to empower our teams, we are uncovering new ways to embed sustainability into our work,” says Kathryn Unger, vice president, Corporate Responsibility. “This allows us to improve our approach to healthcare innovation from start to finish."

Collaborating across the value chain

 

Boston Scientific is also working with customers and suppliers to advance sustainability across the value chain, co-developing solutions that improve efficiency, support customer goals and enhance patient outcomes.

“Understanding how our products are used throughout the care pathway is vital,” says Clare Brooke, commercial lead for Environmental, Social and Governance for Boston Scientific in EMEA. “This is something we can only do by working in close collaboration with our customers and experts.”

For example, a case study in the UK with the National Health Service (NHS) Supply Chain and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust showed that using Boston Scientific Rezūm™ Water Vapour Therapy - a minimally invasive therapy for men with lower urinary tract symptoms - significantly reduced operating theatre time and hospital stays compared to traditional surgery. The result: lower resource use and a quicker path to recovery for patients.

Boston Scientific is also piloting circular design approaches, including a recycling programme for Endoscopy and Urology scopes in collaboration with hospitals and specialist vendors in Germany. The pilot that concluded in 2024 covered collection, disinfection, recycling and compliance. Results will be published in late 2025.

Driving industry change

 

According to the World Economic Forum, the healthcare sector accounts for an estimated 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.¹ Boston Scientific is collaborating with industry peers to support broader change. Through MedTech Europe, the company contributed to Decarbonising Healthcare: How a Competitive MedTech Industry Can Contribute, a report that offers practical sustainability recommendations for medical device companies. It is also conducting research with the Collaborative for Healthcare Action to Reduce MedTech Emissions (CHARME) to explore sustainable product design.

Moving forward together

 

These efforts support the company’s science-based targets: achieving carbon neutrality in key manufacturing and distribution sites by 2030 and net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2050. In 2024, the company reached a major milestone by achieving 100% renewable electricity² at key manufacturing and distribution sites.

Whether through employee education, innovation with customers or industry advocacy, Boston Scientific is committed to driving meaningful action towards a more sustainable future.