Abbott pledges greenhouse gas reduction

Abbott has pledged to reduce its total US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by two per cent from 2006 to 2011.

The pharmaceutical company has been a member of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate programme since 2006, with this latest goal part of its ongoing commitment to reduce its environmental footprint.

Michael Warmuth, vice-president of Global Engineering Services at Abbott, confirmed the importance of the pledge.

“Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions demonstrates our corporate-wide commitment to improving the environment and increasing the efficiency of our operations.”

Principal deputy assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation Robert J Myers praised Abbott for its aggressive goal to reduce GHG emissions.

He indicated that the company was demonstrating “corporate climate change leadership” by setting a long-term GHG reduction objective.

Climate Leaders is an EPA industry-government partnership that works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change strategies.

Abbott has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the past three years in recognition of the company’s economic, social and environmental performance.

Also this week, Abbott announced that it has made its lower-strength dose of Aluvia (lopinavir/ritonavir) tablet available to children in Uganda living with HIV and Aids.