SUNDAY POST: MEDLINE’S NEWEST WAY TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

As a global manufacturer and distributor, Medline has for many years focused on reducing our environmental footprint. Examples of this effort can be seen all over the company from walking in the doors of a LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) corporate office to the truck delivering the products. I believe Medline’s contributions to protecting the environment are both impactful and impressive. So, this week, I was excited to hear about the newest program designed to help Medline and our customers protect the environment.

Medline ships millions of deliveries each year. With those deliveries comes the traditional packing list. Anyone who has ever received a delivery from a vendor is wildly familiar with the packing lists in the box or stuck to the side of a box. It is estimated the amount of paper consumed for these packing lists is 2,500 trees per year. That is equal to five acres of trees in just packing lists from one supplier. To help reduce tree consumption, Medline distribution centers are now able to process deliveries without packing lists. Customers can opt out of traditional paper packing lists in exchange for an emailed version sent directly to their computer, mobile device, or none at all. Imagine how many trees can be saved by simply eliminating the paper packing list.

Medline continues to invest massive resources into environmental protection efforts. Did you know some of these fun facts?

-         40% of Medline U.S. distribution centers are LEED certified or pending certification. This is currently over 8,300,000 square feet of warehouse space. All new Medline buildings worldwide are constructed to LEED standards

-         35% of Medline’s manufacturing facilities receive ISO 14001 certification. ISO 14001 is an international standard for controlling and improving a company’s environmental performance

-         Medline logs over 25 million miles each year in deliveries and develops transportation initiatives such as increasing mpg by reducing left hand turns and has improved fuel economy by 16.2%

Protecting the environment is a big responsibility, and not one Medline takes lightly. I hope everyone takes advantage of the new e-packing lists, and continue to protect our incredible planet.

Have a great week,

Adam