UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD AWARD FOR BAXTER
22 May 1996
By TOM GILLESPIE
The Minister for Trade and Tourism, Mr. Enda Kenny presented Baxter Healthcare S.A. with IS310 certificate for environmental management at a presentation ceremony at the company's plant in Castlebar.
IS310 is a recent introduced environmental standard which is awarded in Ireland by the National Standards Authority of Ireland. It signifies that the company had established and maintained an environmental management system in accordance with the standard. Baxter Health, who employ 700 workers in Castlebar and 200 in Swinford, has the distinction of being the first healthcare company in Ireland to be awarded the standard. They manufacture a range of dialysis and intravenous solutions for the UK and European markets.
During the course of the setting up of the schemes at the plants the company made savings of £1.5m in packaging. They also established plastic and cardboard recycling operations and since becoming involved in the process that have achieved a 70 per cent reduction in landfill waste and they are working on reducing that even further in the future.
Speaking at the presentation of the award Minister Kenny said: "While the registration of your facility to this prestigious standard marks the fact that a major challenge has been met in your submitting on a voluntary basis to a detailed audit by the NSAI team, it also means that you have accepted the commitment and challenge not only to maintain the established level of your environmental management system but to engage on a programme which is aimed at continuous improvement."
Minister Kenny congratulated everyone associated with the particular achievement, which would not have happened without the wholehearted co-operation and commitment of all the staff.
"The entire workforce at Baxter Healthcare have shown themselves to be yet again leaders in their field", he said.
The Minister said the standard provides a framework for any company intent on controlling and improving its environmental performance to establish the management system necessary to do so and thereby provide evidence of environmental improvement to interested parties.
Minister Kenny added: "Good environmental performance by companies has significant advantages, as environmentally friendly management and production usually means achieving more with less.
"Pollution and waste are typical of obsolete and inefficient industrial practices, while industrial and environmental efficiency are complementary.
"It is widely recognised that consumers and the public relate better to companies and products witch respect the environment.
"It is beneficial for companies to be seen as good corporate citizens and it helps the marketing of products if they are perceived as environmentally friendly."
He said the company implemented an environmental programme a number of years ago and since that time has received numerous awards.
"The latest achievement is registration ro IS 310, the first healthcare company in this country to achieve this standard."
Mr. Tom Mulqueen, general manager Manufacturing, Baxter Healthcare said the award was a major achievement for the company and had been achieved as a result of many initiatives taken over the last number of years.
He said: "These initiatives include waste minimisation, reduction in energy consumption, packaging reduction and landfill reduction.
"We have also promoted and fostered a high level of environmental awareness among our employees and the local community and will continue to do so in the future."
Baxter Healthcare is the worlds leading provider of healthcare products, systems and services to customers in over 100 countries.
The company has headquarters at Deerfield, Chicago, Illinois in the US.
The company established its manufacturing operations in Ireland in 1972.
Connaught Telegraph - News - May 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sports - May 1996
