Revolutionizing Healthcare: Boston Scientific’s Sustainable Supply Chain Innovations
At Boston Scientific, our shared commitment to human life is the thread that weaves together our mission, business objectives, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy. As we expand to cater to the growing worldwide demand for our products and bring significant innovations to more patients in need, we consciously maintain sustainability at the heart of our focus. We understand that a healthy planet is essential for healthy lives.
A prime illustration of this is our new comprehensive ideal product flow initiative. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency and sustainability in the sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of our products. Once fully operational, we anticipate this initiative will significantly decrease our carbon footprint and reduce our annual supply chain costs by up to $80 million by 2026. This will allow Boston Scientific to allocate more resources towards further innovation and deliver more products to more patients.
Here are four key strategies we’re implementing for this crucial transition – a shift that will have a profound impact on the planet, our customers, and their patients.
A prime illustration of this is our new comprehensive ideal product flow initiative. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency and sustainability in the sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of our products. Once fully operational, we anticipate this initiative will significantly decrease our carbon footprint and reduce our annual supply chain costs by up to $80 million by 2026. This will allow Boston Scientific to allocate more resources towards further innovation and deliver more products to more patients.
Here are four key strategies we’re implementing for this crucial transition – a shift that will have a profound impact on the planet, our customers, and their patients.
- Refining shipping routes for prompt, reliable product delivery Being an effective ally for healthcare providers requires global medical device companies like us to promptly respond to critical patient needs by delivering products exactly when and where they are most needed. Previously, we transported products from manufacturing to regions via our two Global Distribution Centers, which wasn’t always the most efficient or sustainable route. With our ideal product flow process, we now ship products directly from the manufacturing site to the regional distribution hub nearest to their final destination. This not only speeds up and optimizes delivery routes but also significantly reduces our emissions by decreasing the distance a product travels and transitioning from air transport to sea transport where possible.
- Simplifying product instructions The final step in making a newly manufactured product available is packaging it with “instructions for use” (IFU), which provide clear and precise information on how to use the medical device safely and effectively. Currently, our customers can receive a paper IFU in up to eight languages. However, with our region-specific optimized shipping, we will only need to provide a paper IFU in the local language of the destination if a paper IFU is required by regulation. Where allowed, we will only send electronic versions instead of paper. This change alone is expected to result in a 90% reduction in paper use by 2026. It also reduces the overall amount of material used and the size and weight of each package, further reducing our distribution-related carbon emissions.
- Transitioning to a specific sterilization process Instead of sterilizing an entire pallet of packaged products ready for final transport, which includes IFU materials and excess packaging that doesn’t require sterilization, we will only sterilize the product in its primary pack – the packaging that directly contacts the medical device. This enhances the efficiency of the process and minimizes waste.
- Encouraging teams to collaborate and innovate The transformation of a large global company’s supply chain is impossible without the dedication and vision of employees worldwide. To foster this commitment, we are increasing interactions between various functions and regional sites to share insights and allow teams to understand how reimagining our product flow end-to-end ultimately benefits patients in need. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive: these teams have expressed that they find it rewarding to see the positive impact that ideal product flow is making – both for patients and the environment.
Ideal product flow allows us to be more efficient at the heart of our business – delivering life-altering products to tackle complex health challenges and enable patients to lead better, healthier lives. I am proud of our efforts so far and am excited to continue realizing our vision of creating a supply chain that supports our Net Zero carbon reduction goals and benefits all our stakeholders worldwide.
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