COMPTON, February 8 2010, Baxter Healthcare’s programme and achievements in the area of carbon management and disclosure have been recognised in a new UK based project.

The Brand Emissions Leaders project aims to provide an annual rating of the carbon performance of the leading brands operating in the UK. In 2009, it ranked over 600 brands divided into 31 sectors.

To gain Brand Emission Leader status an organisation must do well in three areas:

1) Achieve absolute carbon reductions
2) Have a relatively low carbon intensity
3) Have ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions further

Baxter has reported its global Carbon Emissions through the Carbon Disclosure Project since 2003, and our principal manufacturing sites manage and reduce carbon emissions through our Lean Energy programme.  This programme, launched in 2007, is to ensure that our biggest users of energy demonstrate best practice. The programme has four levels: pre-requisite, bronze, silver and gold. Projects such as introducing better monitoring equipment at our Thetford manufacturing facility, has helped Thetford to be one of only two globally who are on track to meet the challenging ‘gold’ standard of the programme in 2010. The Building Management System involved the installation of 43 extra electricity and gas metering points.

Thetford Plant Manager, John Grima said. “The Building Management System has allowed our engineers to gain a detailed insight into where we are using energy at a departmental level, so that further areas for improvement can be identified. Not only does this help us identify CO2 savings, it makes sure that everyone is accountable for CO2 reductions, not just the Energy Manager. This raises awareness internally, and helps to drive the culture change which will bring sustained environmental improvement year on year.

Harry Keenan, General Manager Baxter UK, said “We are delighted that our carbon management efforts are recognised through this project. Mitigating the impacts of climate change through reducing the carbon footprint of our operations and products remains one of our most important UK sustainability goals.