By Scott Hudson, Sr. Director, Operations Sustainability and EH&S and Sarah L. Hill, Director, Sustainability

BD has developed a new ESG strategy, Together We Advance, which embraces the connections and interdependence between our pillars of Company Health, Planet Health, Community Health and Human Health. For example, we know that when we successfully address the health of our planet, we often solve for challenges facing the people who inhabit it. “By mobilizing our scale and influence, we hope to address climate change and its effect on our environment and the health systems around the world," says Tom Polen, chairman, CEO and president, BD.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and BD recognizes that over time it will have significant impact on our operations, our supply chain, and most critically, on human health. To tackle this challenge, we have joined hands with likeminded business leaders in a collective effort to stave off the worst effects of climate change. We are uniting behind climate science by signing the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign as well as the UNFCCC Race to Zero campaign. In doing so, we have committed to set science-based targets across our entire value chain (scopes 1, 2 and 3) through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which independently assesses corporate emissions reduction targets in line with what is needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Our commitment to Planet Health is rooted in our 2030+ Sustainability goals, which include a goal to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 46% by 2030[1] and ultimately be carbon neutral across direct operations by 2040. To reach these goals, we have identified three key areas where we believe we can achieve the most progress.

1. Renewables: We aim to source 100% renewable energy whenever possible. Our partnerships and contracts with utility providers allow us to tap into renewable and certifiable energy supply bases. In addition, we invest in a portfolio of on-site renewable projects like the solar PV electricity generation system at BD’s manufacturing plant in Bawal, India that has now finished its second phase of construction and is now generating power.
2. Demand Reduction: We are focused on finding opportunities for energy conservation, reduction and efficiency. We follow the philosophy of “replace with a purpose,” and look for ways to leverage smart technology, build better and more efficient management and energy systems, and partner with companies like Schneider Electric to drive down our energy usage.
3. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) and Carbon Offsets: Our first priorities are transitioning to renewables and reducing our energy demands, but we recognize that RECs and offsets will play a part in a net zero economy. Our ambition is to reduce our dependency on RECs and offsets over time as we progress in renewable energy and demand reduction.

We are continuing to work with our supply chain partners to quantify and reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions. By analyzing the impacts from our purchased goods and services, upstream and downstream distribution chains, emissions from products during use, and emissions from end-of-life product disposal, we are able to identify hotspots and target these areas for improvement. This awareness is integral to maintaining a resilient and adaptable supply chain.

Climate change will continue to help shape our ESG and business strategy for years to come. We view our efforts to reduce our environmental impact as important to the future of our business and essential to our corporate purpose of advancing the world of health^TM.

Further details about our ESG strategy and 2030+ goals, along with our sustainability and climate change management reports, can be found at www.bd.com/sustainability

Forward-Looking Statements

This post contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties are beyond the company's control, including without limitation, challenges relating to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, and products, and other factors listed in our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC. BD expressly disclaims any undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements set forth herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law or regulation.