A major component of Owen Mumford’s sustainability strategy is our emissions reduction targets. We’ve pledged to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2045, aligning with the UK NHS target. In 2021, we successfully reduced our Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions across all Owen Mumford locations by 27.3%, and we continue working to identify new improvements throughout our infrastructure and to further minimize our impact.
Joining the B Corp movement
To reinforce this commitment, we became one of the first companies in the sector to achieve B Corp status, as certified by B Lab for meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
The philosophy behind B Corp is that the world’s most complex and urgent challenges can’t be resolved by governments alone. Businesses everywhere must engage fully if we’re going to cap global warming below 1.5C and build sustainability directly into company strategies.
Introducing the lifecycle analysis tool – Understanding the environmental impact of Owen Mumford’s products
Within our organization, one of the biggest steps forward in pursuing sustainability has been introducing our LCA (Lifecycle Assessment Tool) throughout our production processes. This tool allows us to measure the carbon impact and offset any negative emissions, tracking the environmental effect throughout the full product lifecycle—from development to distribution—which helps us innovate and future-proof our next stages in medical device manufacturing.
The importance of science-based targets
As a science-led company, we know that clearly defined, science-based targets are crucial for real progress on CO2 reductions. Owen Mumford is one of the first 1,000 businesses globally to sign up for the 1.5C Business Ambition. This initiative challenges members to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 and to tackle the severe consequences that a global temperature rise of 1.5C or more would cause. By implementing the LCA, we’re determined to keep advancing these goals and to support others in our industry to do the same.
What else is changing?
Apps and robots are quickly becoming more common, not just in clinical settings but also in patients’ homes. Technology is moving forward in terms of medical devices and also offering broader support outside of clinic walls. Apps make it easy for patients and healthcare professionals to connect, which helps manage health conditions and relieves some strains on healthcare systems. As global economic and logistical problems challenge healthcare providers, advances in automation may be a huge positive for the sector.
There’s also a growing problem with burnout among healthcare workers worldwide. Ongoing pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with issues like the energy crisis and rising living costs, are having a serious impact on healthcare professionals (HCPs).
As with any medical device company, we know that our responsibility is to make life easier for HCPs by supplying safe and reliable products—and to stand behind them with strong partnerships and true collaboration.
Jesper Jonsson said, “It’s clear that sustainability is now a real priority for many of us in the medical device industry, and it’s something we’re passionate about at Owen Mumford as we keep striving to innovate and discover better ways to work for the future.
“Rolling out our LCA is just one of the steps we’ve taken to make sure sustainability is at the core of all our processes and planning, and it will strengthen our commitments and partnerships as we keep pushing towards our goal to balance profit, people, and the planet.”