Abbott Highlights Strong Corporate Responsibility Performance With Release of 2008 Global Citizenship Report
27 Avril 2009 - 7:40PM
PR Newswire (US)
Company's Report Outlines Strategic Citizenship Priorities:
Innovating for the Future, Enhancing Access, Safeguarding the
Environment and Protecting Patients and Consumers ABBOTT PARK,
Ill., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott today announced the release
of its 2008 Global Citizenship Report entitled, "Advancing
Innovation." The report provides an update on Abbott's progress and
results in 2008 in delivering on the company's mission to improve
people's lives around the world, focused on four key areas:
innovating for the future, enhancing access, safeguarding the
environment, and protecting patients and consumers. "We appreciate
this opportunity to share news of our continued progress in
addressing the most important impacts that our company makes in our
world," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer,
Abbott. "These are the areas in which our business has the greatest
effects on society and the environment, and which offer us the
greatest opportunity to make a difference in the challenges facing
our world today." Key highlights of Abbott's citizenship work in
2008 include: -- Innovating for the Future - Abbott invested $2.7
billion in research and development, helping its more than 7,000
scientists to bring forward nine significant new product approvals
across all of its businesses, including medical products,
nutritionals and pharmaceuticals. -- Enhancing Access - As part of
its core business strategy and in partnership with others, Abbott
made significant progress in helping people around the world to
gain access to medicine and health care. A few examples of this
work: Abbott provided more than 155,000 patients with free
medicines, medical nutrition products and diabetes care products;
donated 3.1 million rapid HIV tests; conducted more than 17,000
training sessions for health care workers; and supported 3,366
medical missions. -- Safeguarding the Environment - Abbott is
taking innovative approaches to addressing climate change,
conserving water and limiting the impact of its products on the
environment. Key results include reducing CO2 emissions by 15
percent and water use by 15 percent, normalized for sales. Abbott
also made significant new investments in renewable energy sources,
including installing a solar power system at an Abbott plant in
Italy, and was honored for environmentally responsible building
practices at a new facility in Singapore. -- Protecting Patients
and Consumers - Maintaining the integrity of its products and the
trust of patients and consumers are central tenets of Abbott's
business, and the key focus of our work with more than 20,000
suppliers around the world that provide an estimated $13.5 billion
in goods and services. Abbott seeks suppliers that share its
commitment to product safety and quality as well as social
responsibility, and regularly reviews and audits suppliers on
practices ranging from environment, health and safety to
child-labor practices. Recent External Recognition of Abbott's
Citizenship Efforts -- Abbott was included on the Dow Jones
Sustainability World Index and North America Index for the fourth
consecutive year in 2008 in recognition of continued global
leadership in economic, environmental and social performance. --
Abbott ranked eighth overall in the global "100 Best Corporate
Citizens List 2008" compiled by Corporate Responsibility Officer
magazine. -- Abbott Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Miles D.
White received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship
in 2008, which is presented to executives who have demonstrated
concern for social responsibility through their actions and
business practices. About Abbott's 2008 Global Citizenship Report
Abbott's full report of its 2008 Global Citizenship approach and
performance is available online at
http://www.abbott.com/citizenship, including a copy of the
company's Global Reporting Initiative G3 index. In order to reduce
its environmental impact, Abbott produces a shortened printed
Global Citizenship Summary Report, which provides an overview of
the full information available on Abbott's Web site. The
abbreviated print version can be downloaded from the Web site.
About Abbott Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company
devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of
pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals,
devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 72,000
people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.
Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the
company's Web site at http://www.abbott.com/. DATASOURCE: Abbott
CONTACT: Media, Kurt Ebenhoch, +1-847-936-9746, or Financial,
Angela Duff, +1-847-938-6894, or Citizenship Community, Katherine
Pickus, +1-847-938-2616, all of Abbott Web Site:
http://www.abbott.com/
Copyright