Company Profiles

Baxter International

United States

Baxter is a global healthcare company with a strong commitment to the environment encompassing a wide range of activities. The company has a product development process for all its medical devices, including a Product Sustainability Review-a product life-cycle assessment designed to minimize environmental impacts in the early stages of design. The company engages in a wide variety of environmental initiatives to reduce energy and materials use, reduce waste and pollution, and thereby save substantial amounts of money. Baxter's environmental financial statements make an excellent case for the financial benefits generated by environmental projects. Additionally, Baxter is a corporate leader in addressing climate change with strong greenhouse gas reduction goals and participation in new programs such as the Chicago Climate Exchange. Baxter currently makes medical products from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and believes "PVC is the material of choice in many products." However, the company has also developed and manufactures several non-PVC alternatives. Due to the health and environmental concerns regarding PVC products (during manufacturing, use, and disposal), Portfolio 21 is involved in an ongoing dialogue with the company to monitor its progress in the development and marketing of additional non-PVC alternatives.

Biotechnology Involvement

As a company in the healthcare industry, Baxter recognizes the controversial issues around biotechnology and states that "the ability to perform an activity will not automatically justify the activity." Although Baxter uses biotechnology in pharmaceutical and medical applications, it conducts research in accordance with the following principles: ensuring the scientific rigor of all clinical research, supporting informed consent, and maintaining biological diversity. Visit our Biotechnology Policy for more on this issue.

To the best of our knowledge the above information is accurate and was obtained from sources we believe to be reliable. Neither the information presented above nor any opinion expressed shall be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy the security. The views expressed are those of portfolio management as of 9/30/09 and may not reflect current opinions or subsequent events.