Distributors Address Sustainability

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Healthcare distributors can work to make the healthcare supply chain more sustainable by targeting greenhouse gas emissions.

• Scope 1 emissions are those that the company directly controls – facility and fleet emissions.
• Scope 2 emissions are from the power that the company consumes, and therefore also within the company’s ability to impact.
• Scope 3 emissions reductions require working collaboratively with upstream and downstream channel partners.

Here’s how each type of emission applies to healthcare distributors.

Scope 3

Upstream / Manufacturing

Raw Material
Product composition and location of sourcing directly impacts emissions.

Manufacturing
Energy used to produce the product.

Packaging
Both the type of packaging and the quantity used play a role in the final environmental impact of a product.

Transportation
Typically, several different modes of transportation get the product to U.S. shores.

Scope 1

Direct Emissions

Distributor-Owned Warehouse & Transportation

Scope 2

Indirect Emissions

Electricity Purchased For Operations

Scope 3

Downstream / End User

Product Use
Emissions associated with product usage.

End-Of-Life Cycle
Disposal of product waste.