The Ambu approach
As a global supplier of single-use medical devices and the largest supplier of innovative single-use endoscopes, Ambu feels a responsibility to forge the way with targets and actions that contribute to a sustainable future.
These efforts include:
Partnering up with Plastic Bank®
Ambu will prevent over 100 tons of plastic from entering the ocean in partnership with Plastic Bank®.
Goals and achievements
Circular products
- 2020: No phthalates used in Ambu products produced from Oct. 2020
- 2021/22: Launched three PVC-free products
- aScope Gastro Large will be the first endoscope with bio-attributed plastic in the handle
- Bio-attributed plastics in all endoscope handles by 2025
- 2025 goal: 95% of new products released to be PVC-free
Committed to approaching net-zero emissions
- 10 energy-efficient injection-moulding machines in our Xiamen plant
- 100% of renewable energy covered by certificates at our Xiamen plant
- 10% renewable energy from solar panels at our Penang plant
- New solar panels supplement electricity production at headquarters in Copenhagen
- LEED Silver certification for Mexico plant
- Signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), commiting Ambu to reduce carbon emissions in alignment with the targets in the Paris Agreement
Circular packaging
- 100% recyclable secondary packaging
- 65% of all packaging (primary and secondary) is recyclable
- Goal: 100% recyclable packaging
Recycling
- Production recycling: 41% recycling of production waste
- End-of-use recycling: Take-back and energy recovering partnership with Sharps in the US
- Take-back and recycling pilot project in Germany
- 2025 goal: Recycling at scale in all focus markets
- Long term goal is to design for recycling
Partnerships and projects
Ambu requires all partners to sign our code of conduct, which commits them to full compliance with all environmental laws, standards and guidelines in the jurisdictions where they operate. Below are partnerships and pilot projects with organisations that share our values and ambitions with regard to sustainability.
A plastic-neutral partnership
As the world’s largest supplier of single-use endoscopes, we want to act responsibly by working towards materials that enable the recycling of our products, and thus contribute to a circular economy.
While we work towards finding future possibilities for safe processing and recycling of scopes, we have partnered with Plastic Bank® to support the collection of ocean-bound plastic waste and to improve the lives of vulnerable coastal communities.
How the partnership works
Our partnership with Plastic Bank® encourages collectors in coastal communities in the Philippines and Indonesia to gather plastic waste that otherwise would have ended up in the ocean. Plastic Bank® builds ethical recycling ecosystems and reprocesses the materials for reintroduction into the global manufacturing supply chain.
Helps stimulate community growth
Collectors receive a premium for the materials they collect to help them provide basic family necessities, such as:
- Groceries
- School tuition
- Health insurance
Ambu and Plastic Bank® FAQ
Ambu signs with Operation Clean Sweep
An international program to prevent pellet loss
The aim of Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) is to ensure that plastic pellets, flakes and powders that pass through manufacturing facilities are handled with the care they deserve and do not end up in a body of water.
Pellet spills can occur at all stages along the plastics value chain, including production, handling, transportation, conversion and recycling.
Ambu takes an environmental pledge
By signing with OCS, Ambu commits to the six actions of this program:
- Improve worksite set-up to prevent and address spills.
- Create and publish internal procedures to achieve zero industrial plastic material loss.
- Provide employee training and accountability for spill prevention, containment, clean-up and disposal.
- Audit performance regularly.
- Comply with all applicable state and local regulations governing industrial plastics containment.
- Encourage partners (contractors, transporters, distributors, etc.) to pursue the same goals.
A take-back system for handling aScope waste
An agreement with Sharps Compliance in the USA has allowed us to offer customers a service where Sharps Compliance
- Supports collection of Ambu single-use endoscopes for DOT-compliant shipping
- Treats plastics through their patented waste-conversion process to generate electricity
- Ensures that electronics are recovered and processed by certified recyclers
Read about our latest sustainability efforts
Download our annual report and find out more about our sustainability strategy and initiatives in the sustainability section.
