Understanding water stress and scarcity

Abbott is using the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's "Global Water Tool," which is helping its 40 major manufacturing plants throughout the world assess their local water needs. It compares Abbott's water uses with external data, creates performance metrics and geographic mapping, facilitates communications with internal and external stakeholders on water challenges, and fosters water conservation and efficiency.

Following water stress assessments, a number of Abbott plants have already achieved major reductions in consumption including Casa Grande (an 11% reduction since 2007) and Campoverde, Italy (a 14% reduction during the same period).

Educating communities

In Arizona, Abbott and its non-profit foundation, the Abbott Fund, have partnered with Project WET, the state's leading water education program for teachers and students. The program engages people of all ages in learning about water resources and conservation.

"Only through knowledge and understanding do people actually begin to apply new concepts in their lives and adopt new behaviors," said Kerry L. Schwartz Director, Arizona Project WET. "By teaming with Abbott, Arizona Project WET is making a difference in developing a culture of water conservation in Arizona."

Safeguarding the environment and preserving natural resources are an important part of Abbott's mission to improve people's health and the company's efforts to be a leader in global citizenship. In addition to water conservation, Abbott has identified increased use of cleaner and renewable energy, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and limiting the impact of product packaging as environmental priorities. The company has set measurable goals in each of these areas to track its progress. All of Abbott's various health care businesses are examining their manufacturing processes and needs, as well as their product packaging, to develop environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches to help the company meet or exceed these goals.

Abbott was recently named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for the fifth consecutive year. Abbott was one of just two U.S.-based companies in the pharmaceutical industry category to be listed on both indices. The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index ranks Abbott among the top 300 of the world's largest 2,500 companies, based on an assessment of economic, social and environmental performance.

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 www.abbott.com.

SOURCE Abbott