In the dynamic landscape of healthcare innovation, the concept of sustainability is gaining prominence, aligning with the global call for responsible resource management. This ethos is encapsulated within the Greener NHS Plan, which discusses the significance of sustainability within healthcare and outlines the collaborative efforts the NHS is making with partners and suppliers to reduce the impact of public health on the environment.¹

Aligned with this trajectory, Abbott’s 2030 sustainability plan propels our ongoing focus to reduce the environmental impact of our product packaging. The increasing wastage of single-use plastics has led to a recent review of our 500ml bottle distribution. Our new reusable 500ml ready-to-hang tube feed bottles can be used as a replacement for single use flexitainers.

In 2022 alone, our distribution of single-use 500ml ready-to-hang tube feed bottles surpassed one million, identifying a unique opportunity to reduce single-use plastic waste by switching to a new 30 cycle-use 500ml bottle, which would drastically reduce our impact on the environment.

This strategic shift seamlessly aligns with the overarching sustainability objectives of the NHS, mirroring the organisation's commitment to combat climate change.¹ Beyond its environmental merits, reusable 500ml bottles also resonate with patients by substantially alleviating storage constraints. Reusable 500ml bottles play a key role in enhancing patient care, whilst contributing to reducing the healthcare sector's ecological footprint.

The rapid acceptance of Abbott’s reusable 500ml bottles is illustrated by recent figures:

The statistics unequivocally highlight the tangible influence of this new initiative on plastic waste reduction and the environmental footprint of the care we deliver to our patients.

As we journey forward, the next phase in the rollout of reusable 500ml bottles will be on providing reusable hanging solutions for patients who require overnight use. We will be updating our NHS partners on these advancements in the coming months.

This introduction of reusable 500ml bottles within Abbott’s Hospital2Home service stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to building a more sustainable business. We are driven by a shared vision with our stakeholders to build a stronger, more sustainable Abbott that better serves the many people who depend on us. We will continue to work with our key suppliers to address climate change and reduce our environmental impact through our recycling approaches.

References:

1. NHS England, Greener NHS. Available online at https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/ Last accessed August 2023.

UK-N/A-2300331(v2) | October 2023