Sustainability

STERIS and Its' Communities

GO GREEN with Enhanced STERIS Technologies

STERIS is expanding its sustainability in “Green” initiatives. STERIS Corporation has facilities throughout the globe, and our manufacturing and product development and research sites are striving to comply with “Green” requirements. In product development we are constantly striving for energy savings, heat reduction, water reduction, safe materials, safe manufacturing processes, waste reduction, appropriate and safe chemical use, and  the promotion of sustainable designs of healthcare facilities.

Programs are underway with USGBC (U. S. Green Building Council), LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), EPA, GGHC (Green Guide to Healthcare Construction), AIA- Academy for Healthcare Architecture, CHER (Coalition for Healthcare Environmental Research),  the Center for Health Design’s Pebble Project Research Program,  SSF (Seattle Science Foundation), CIMIT (Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology), and substantial research is being conducted at many institutions globally.

The following information summarizes the sustainability initiatives that were recently undertaken.

Green Seal Certification (www.greenseal.org) received for:

• Kindest Kare Foaming Handwash

Sustainability/Green Affiliations/Memberships

• Clean Fuels Ohio (State of Ohio program)
• Climate Leaders (Environmental Protection Agency program)

Environmental Footprint reduction efforts

• SmartWay Transport Partner (Environmental Protection Agency program)
• Greenhouse Gas Inventory for analysis and GHG emission reduction goal setting

Energy Savings

• During 2011, new Customer Solutions Center building will be completed and obtain LEED certification.
• During 2009, motion sensitive light switches were installed in all corporate office buildings; offices/meeting rooms/restrooms, resulting in a 10% reduction in total electrical load.
• During January 2010, Installation of energy efficient lighting occurred at our Mentor, Ohio Distribution Center, resulting in a 50% reduction in total electrical load. Visibility is greatly improved in the warehouse due to relocation of the lights.
• Montgomery Operations - installation of energy efficient lighting completed March 31, 2010. The facility is experiencing a minimum of a 25% reduction in lighting electrical load.

Here are examples of sustainable commitment found in our product offerings:

Surgical Lights- With our recently released Harmony LED surgical lighting system, we improved upon traditional lighting technology and achieved a 33% reduction in energy consumption, a 34% reduction in heat generation, 30,000 hours of bulb life vs. 1,000 hours along with a control center that monitors and delivers only the precise amount of energy required in real time.  These results were achieved while using all recyclable and non-toxic materials.  All new lighting products will incorporate similar, or better, design aspects.

Surgical Tables- All STERIS surgical tables utilize 100% recyclable materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, plastics, copper and even our batteries.  Our surface materials are selected to allow for the use of cellulose disposables and other environmentally safe materials.  There are no toxic or unsafe materials used in these products.  Energy use is minimized.  We also have an in-house remanufacturing program to take old table “cores” and refurbish them for another ”life”.  New table designs, with significant European Union (EU) input, will incorporate sustainable design components in both material selection and energy consumption.

Harmony Equipment Management Systems- These are designed and built primarily in Germany and meet all EU and global sustainable design guidelines.  The materials are recyclable, paints are environmentally friendly, plastics are safe and the manufacturing process does not add to pollution or waste.  The integrated Plume Evacuation System is designed to remove unwanted contaminants from smoke, laser plume, aerosolized tissue and debris, etc. before going back into the environment.

Harmony Integration- Here we use servers, monitors and electronics that all meet energy star requirements.  As we make our own monitors from the board level up, we are committed to ongoing improvements in terms of energy use, emissions and heat production. 

Century Steam Sterilizers – Steam is non-toxic and remains one of the safest, lowest-cost sterilants available on the market today.  The Amsco Century Medium steam sterilizer uses 60% less water compared to the previous generation product.  In addition, all Century sterilizers are compliant with the Restriction of use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive.  This international legislation restricts the use of  six specific substances within electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), including lead, to protect people and the environment.  Similar to surgical tables, STERIS also has a programs to upgrade and remanufacture old steam sterilizers to exacting internal and worldwide standards.

Vision Single Chamber washer/disinfector – This newly designed washer/disinfector (launching in November 2008) utilizes updated spray arm technology to provide efficient and effective cleaning while using 25% less water than previous generations of washer/disinfectors. Less water also means less utilities and less cleaning chemistries used per cycle as well. This washer/disinfector was designed to work optimally with STERIS Prolystica Ultra Concentrate cleaning chemistries. The Prolystica Ultra Concentrate family provides REACH (the European Union's new chemicals policy, Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) compliant ingredients in smaller, light weight packaging for safe handling and reduced transportation costs.

Prolystica Ultra Concentrate Cleaning Chemistries – Introduced in 2006, these 10X’s concentrated cleaning chemistries provide industry leading cleaning and protection for surgical instruments while also being environmentally friendly. These Ultra Concentrated chemistries combine ergonomic packaging for staff safety with a biodegradable formula resulting in reduced shipment fuel costs, plastic packaging consumption and chemistry injected per wash cycle.

As previously mentioned, sustainability is beyond simply offering safe, environmentally friendly products. STERIS has also been a primary contributor to the following organizations that have spent considerable research on sustainability:

• AIA-AH- STERIS is a major contributor to support research into many areas of healthcare, including sustainable healthcare facilities.
• Our affiliation with two U. S. healthcare architecture graduate programs, Texas A & M and Clemson University, is yet another example of our commitment to promote sustainable design. 
• STERIS Corporation is a founding member of CHER (Coalition for Healthcare Environment Research).  This organization has no other STERIS competitor and is dedicated to sustainable and optimal healthcare facilities.
• STERIS has been involved in the development of the GGHC (Green Guide for Health Care) guidelines since its inception.
• STERIS is currently working to obtain Energy Star ratings on our products.
• We support LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and the Center for Health Design’s Pebble Project Research Program certification.
• Finally, per the well known study “HealthCast 2020: Creating a Sustainable Future” supported by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute, we adhere to their seven features of sustainable healthcare systems.