Johnson & Johnson (J&J) set the target in its Healthy Future 2015 initiative document which details seven sustainability priorities. Partnering with suppliers that “embrace sustainability” is one of the stated goals.
To become a strategic partner suppliers must “have two or more publicly-reported sustainability goals” and all should “demonstrate a similar commitment to that of J&J”. Other elements of the document give an idea of J&J’s level of commitment, in particular to cutting the environmental impact of facilities.
J&J is aiming to cut:
- facility carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent
- fleet carbon dioxide output by 20 per cent per kilometre driven
- water consumption by 10 per cent
- waste disposal by 10 per cent
In 2006 J&J set similar targets as part of its Healthy Planet 2010 initiative. Some of these goals were exceeded, such as absolute reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 1990 to 2010, but J&J fell short in other areas.
For example, J&J had aimed to cut fleet carbon dioxide emissions by 30 per cent per kilometre. However, output was lowered by 210.4g per kilometre, which amounts to a 16 per cent cut against 2003 levels.
Another 2006 goal was the elimination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from its secondary and tertiary pharmaceutical packaging. J&J claims to have achieved a 78 per cent reduction in PVC use in these packaging products.