For over 50 years, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has called for World Environment Day every year on June 5. The campaign day aims to raise awareness among people worldwide about the responsible use of our global resources and to develop solutions for their conservation [1, 2]. Using the slogan “Beat plastic pollution”, this year’s campaign focuses primarily on combating plastic waste and its effects on the environment [1]. Other fundamental issues like carbon emissions and water consumption, which play a role in the campaign, are also inextricably linked to sustainability. We at BODE and our parent company HARTMANN are aware of our responsibility for sustainability and have been committed to environmental protection since the 1990s.
To reduce our carbon footprint, we have been using 100% green electricity at our BODE production site in Hamburg, Germany, since 2024. At the same time, we are striving to further reduce electricity consumption. Simply switching from conventional lighting to modern LED lamps in our packaging warehouse saves 40% of energy per year. In this example, this is roughly equivalent to the energy needed to drive a conventional electric car around the world four times. Since over 70% of carbon emissions in the healthcare system are generated by supply chains, such as the transport and disposal of goods [3], we are continuously optimizing the pallet utilization of our products. This has enabled us to significantly reduce the number of truck transports and thus contribute to reducing greenhouse gases.
Our commitment to sustainability has already been recognized with several awards. Setting new standards with Bacillol® Zero Tissues, which are associated with up to 80% lower carbon emissions compared to conventional low-alcoholic products, HARTMANN received the prestigious TRIGOS-Award in the category ‘Social Innovation & Future Challenges’ in 2024 [7]. Furthermore, HARTMANN was among the finalists for the German Sustainability Award in 2024. The nomination as a ‘Pioneer of transformation in the healthcare sector’ recognizes our holistic approach, for which we consider not only economic but also ecological and social impacts and implement concrete sustainability measures [8].
By optimizing the packaging of our hand disinfectants, we are able to save 100 tons of raw materials annually. Bottles and caps are also 100% recyclable, ensuring that as few valuable raw materials as possible are lost from the cycle. While the average material loss rate in German manufacturing plants is 5%, we at BODE achieve a rate of just 2%.
However, global efforts are needed to keep our planet livable for future generations. Everyone must participate and pull together. Join the fight and share your commitment to sustainability and resource conservation using the hashtags #WorldEnvironmentDay and #BeatPlasticPollution.
Use disinfectants safely. Always read the label and product information before use.
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