Saving Energy, Protecting the Planet

No time to waste

The science is clear: our planet is warming at an alarming rate with grave and global consequences. From the wildfires in Australia to increased storm events, the climate crisis is here and now and requires urgent action from us all. Medtronic recognizes that words alone can’t fix climate change. It will require bold action, transparency, and accountability. Our goal? To become carbon neutral by 2030. Simply put, we are aiming for net zero carbon emissions from our global operations, which includes a vast network of manufacturing sites where we make our life-saving medical devices and technologies. Achieving carbon neutrality is no easy feat, but the environmental benefits justify the journey. Over the next decade, we will cut our carbon emissions by an amount that is approximately equal to how much would be generated by 80,000 U.S. homes over the same time period. By reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, we are shrinking our carbon footprint one step at a time.

Greener energy, cleaner energy

Increasing the use of clean energy is one of the most powerful ways companies can combat climate change, either by producing that energy themselves or buying it from local power providers. At Medtronic, we do both. Fuel cell technology now generates cleaner energy at several of our facilities around the world. By converting natural gas fuel and air into electrical energy without combustion, fuel cells are cleaner than traditional gas or diesel engines. Our company has increased renewable energy use by more than 10% over the past decade. Going forward, we plan on increasing our investments in hydroelectricity, solar, wind, and geothermal energy whenever possible. One way we will do this is by purchasing renewable energy certificates (REC’s), which are market instruments guaranteeing clean energy has been generated on behalf of a company and sent to the electrical grid. Medtronic has been active in the REC market since 2009 and plans to expand these investments as part of our plan to become operationally carbon neutral by 2030.

Less energy is the best energy

Using energy efficiently is one of the cleanest, quickest, and most cost-effective ways to extend today's energy supply into the future. Within the medical device industry, manufacturing facilities typically use more energy than other industry buildings. At Medtronic, we make sure all our equipment at those facilities runs efficiently as possible to minimize energy consumption. We have created significant savings through projects like replacing all our older, less efficient lights at commercial and manufacturing facilities with energy efficient LED lights. So far, we’ve replaced over 150,000 bulbs across 26 global sites and saved over $3 million annually.

We are also working to build energy efficiency into our vast global transportation network by reducing our mileage and associated carbon emissions. Since 2008, Medtronic has participated in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay program designed to track and reduce the environmental impact of freight transportation. With data from this program, our operations team can monitor progress and measure it against shippers who share the same commitment to reducing their environmental footprint. Recently, the EPA awarded our efforts to ship more goods, more miles, with lower emissions and less energy. Other key transportation-related initiatives include: carbon offset programs with major transportation partners, shifting freight from air transportation to ground transportation, and updating our manufacturing and supply chain network to reduce transportation miles and weight.

Harnessing the sun at Puerto Rico’s largest, private solar farm

In 2017, Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico, mangling a new solar plant under construction at a Medtronic manufacturing plant. Just as some of the rebuilding work at the site was wrapping up, a massive earthquake rocked the island in early 2020. Not long after that, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, dealing the renewable energy project yet another setback. Today, however, our 5 MW plant is up and running, producing clean energy for the company’s Juncos facility and sending surplus power back to the local grid for community use. It is currently the largest private solar farm on the island and the largest solar installation at a Medtronic facility. “It has been a roller coaster ride, for sure,” said David Alemar Olivera, the facility manager at the Medtronic site in Juncos. “But my team never lost focus and worked through some very difficult circumstances. We understand the importance of this project and what it means for our company, Puerto Rico, and its people.”

We know that our health is directly tied to the health of the environment. And alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life is the very cornerstone of our Mission. By reducing our carbon footprint, Medtronic is investing in the health of our company, our people, and our planet.

See more stories