\nBaxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), a leading global medical products company, today released its 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report<\/a>. This year\u2019s report details final achievement towards Baxter’s 2015-2020 set of corporate responsibility priorities and goals and launches the company\u2019s new 2030 corporate responsibility commitment to advance environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance over the next decade.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThe global challenges presented in 2020 inspired a unique and powerful year in Baxter\u2019s ongoing journey of corporate citizenship,\u201d said Jos\u00e9 (Joe) E. Almeida, chairman and chief executive officer. With patients at the forefront of all that we do, our colleagues worldwide embraced Baxter\u2019s mission to save and sustain lives in meaningful new ways \u2013 from responding to urgent patient, customer and community needs amid a raging pandemic to initiating action in support of racial justice. We also continued our ongoing pursuit of creating a best place to work, prioritizing our employees\u2019 health and safety and initiating new efforts that underscore Baxter\u2019s unwavering commitment to inclusion and diversity. Today, we are proud to launch a new commitment for 2030 that reflects our multifaceted approach to addressing the ESG topics most important to Baxter and our stakeholders.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
2020 Corporate Responsibility Accomplishments<\/b><\/p>\n
\nBetween 2015 and 2020, Baxter\u2019s corporate responsibility priorities and goals focused on driving the sustainability of products and operations, improving access to care for the underserved and fostering a best place to work. The company made progress across each priority area, with noteworthy accomplishments including:\n<\/p>\n
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- \nEstablishing more than 375 PVC recovery and recycling partnerships with hospitals and clinics across Australia, New Zealand, Guatemala and Colombia, exceeding the company’s goal.\n<\/li>\n
- \nLaunching six new therapies\/products that reduced materials use by at least 15% versus those currently on market, exceeding the company\u2019s goal, and achieving a 19% decrease in product complaints compared with 2015, also exceeding the goal.\n<\/li>\n
- \nReducing absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 13.6% compared with 2015, exceeding the company\u2019s goal.\n<\/li>\n
- \nTransforming the Baxter International Foundation\u2019s giving to focus on long-term strategic investments and establishing its first six Signature Partnerships to drive increased healthcare access around the world. In 2020, new partnerships included Save the Children<\/a> to support the organization\u2019s global COVID-19 relief efforts and the American Diabetes Association<\/a> to address health disparities for people with diabetes in Chicago\u2019s underserved Black communities.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nBaxter also continued to proactively evaluate its reporting approach to align with leading disclosure frameworks, sustainability standards and reporting organizations, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). In fact, Baxter was one of the first companies to pilot the GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines in 1999. And in 2020, Baxter published its first Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Index in line with the Medical Equipment & Supplies Sustainability Accounting Standard. Moving forward, Baxter intends to include its SASB Indices in its annual Corporate Responsibility Report, beginning with the 2020 report launched today.\n<\/p>\n
Introducing Baxter\u2019s 2030 Corporate Responsibility Commitment<\/b><\/p>\n
\nRooted in Baxter\u2019s longstanding focus on corporate responsibility as an integral component of its business strategy, a new set of 10 goals<\/a> support an overarching commitment to \u201cEmpower our Patients,\u201d \u201cProtect our Planet\u201d and \u201cChampion our People and Communities\u201d \u2013 the three pillars that will drive the company\u2019s ESG efforts over the next decade. Bolstered by Baxter\u2019s approach to good governance \u2013 which prioritizes ethics and compliance, human rights, inclusion and diversity and privacy and data protection \u2013 highlights of the new goal set include:\n<\/p>\n
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- \nDoubling the number of patients reached in underserved markets through Baxter\u2019s peritoneal dialysis portfolio.\n<\/li>\n
- \nCommitting to achieve carbon neutrality for direct operations by 2040, in addition to GHG emission goals for 2030.\n<\/li>\n
- \nFor the first time externally, disclosing measurable goals to increase the representation of women (globally) and ethnic minorities (in the U.S.) in leadership roles.\n<\/li>\n
- \nInvesting $275 million in underserved communities around the world through strategic philanthropy.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nWith its new set of corporate responsibility goals, Baxter is also proud to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and 2030 Agenda. While the company\u2019s efforts align with many of the UN SDGs, Baxter\u2019s initial focus areas will most directly address Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being; Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.\n<\/p>\n
\nBaxter has reported on its environmental performance for nearly 30 years, demonstrating the company\u2019s established commitment to transparent reporting. Baxter has also long been recognized for its corporate responsibility contributions and will continue to advance efforts that demonstrate its leadership as an ethical company, an employer of choice, a company that works to nurture an inclusive and diverse workplace, and a socially and environmentally responsible business. Recent recognitions include 3BL Media\u2019s 100 Best Corporate Citizens, JUST Capital\u2019s America\u2019s Most JUST Companies and Newsweek Magazine\u2019s America\u2019s Most Responsible Companies. The company was also included in Forbes\u2019 America\u2019s Best Employers for Diversity and Best Employers for Women; Seramount\u2019s (formerly Working Mother Media<\/i>) 100 Best Companies and Best Companies for Dads; Seramount\u2019s (formerly Working Mother Media<\/i>‘s National Association for Female Executives) Top Companies for Executive Women; the Seramount Global Inclusion Index (for 11 countries); and the Seramount Inclusion Index as a Top 10% Inclusion Index Company. Baxter has consistently received a top score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation\u2019s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for LGBTQ Equality and was newly recognized in the top 10% of all companies appearing on the Disability Equality Index, designating Baxter as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion. Baxter is proud to be recognized in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Index Series and by CDP for its environmental leadership with A- scores in both climate and water. These awards are among numerous other regional and country-specific recognitions across the globe.\n<\/p>\n
About Baxter <\/b><\/p>\n
\nEvery day, millions of patients and caregivers rely on Baxter\u2019s leading portfolio of critical care, nutrition, renal, hospital and surgical products. For 90 years, we\u2019ve been operating at the critical intersection where innovations that save and sustain lives meet the healthcare providers that make it happen. With products, technologies and therapies available in more than 100 countries, Baxter\u2019s employees worldwide are now building upon the company\u2019s rich heritage of medical breakthroughs to advance the next generation of transformative healthcare innovations. To learn more, visit www.baxter.com<\/a> and follow us on Twitter<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n
\nBaxter is a registered trademark of Baxter International Inc.\n<\/p>\n
\nThis release includes forward-looking statements concerning Baxter\u2019s 2030 Corporate Responsibility Commitment<\/i>. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: continuity, availability and pricing of acceptable raw materials and component supply; inability to create additional production capacity in a timely manner or the occurrence of other manufacturing or supply difficulties (including as a result of a natural disaster, public health crises and epidemics\/pandemics, regulatory actions or otherwise); the impact of global economic conditions (including potential trade wars) and public health crises and epidemics, such as the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, on us and our customers and suppliers, including foreign governments in countries in which we operate; the adequacy of the company\u2019s cash flows from operations (which may be negatively impacted by collectability concerns as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise) and other sources of liquidity to meet its ongoing cash obligations and fund its investment program; future actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; and other risks identified in Baxter’s most recent filings on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and other SEC filings, all of which are available on Baxter’s website. Baxter does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements unless otherwise required by the federal securities laws.<\/i><\/p>\n
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View source version on businesswire.com: <\/span>https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20210708005492\/en\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Media Contact
\n<\/b>
Bess Featherstone, (224) 948-5353
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media@baxter.com<\/a><\/p>\nInvestor Contact
\n<\/b>
Clare Trachtman, (224) 948-3020\n<\/p>\nKEYWORDS:<\/b> Illinois United States North America<\/p>\n
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:<\/b> General Health Health Other Philanthropy Philanthropy Medical Supplies<\/p>\n
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