Sylvie DellaBruna
Annie Johnson
Ella Meyner
christine yildiz
Julia Carlsson
Jönköping International Business School
Guenola Nonet
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By modifying the newly invented plastic bag, Ms. Sørensen managed to create a product that changed her sister's life: the first disposable, self-adhesive ostomy pouch. After helping her sister she realized the possibilities her invention had.
One of the issues that Coloplast works hard at is to reduce the use of phthalates. The synthetic makes plastic more flexible and softens the material mixed with it, and is used in medical devices like catheters and urine bags. The issue with the chemical is that it can affect fertility. Ms. Carlsson says: "Our products are safe to use, but we understand that there are concerns regarding the use of phthalates. We constantly work to develop and improve our products taking into account usability, health, and environment. Globally we offer phthalate-free alternatives to 97% of our product range containing classified phthalates today.”
The company was founded, based on the idea of Elise Sørensen. She was working as a nurse when she came up with the company's business idea, as her sister was experiencing problems after an ostomy operation. The complications that this operation resulted in isolated her sister and concerned Ms. Sørensen, and she started experimenting with ways to make her sister's life easier.
In 2007, Coloplast started focusing on sustainability through projects around the world. As of September 2017, there have been 46 projects fostered in eleven countries on different continents. Furthermore, Coloplast has a few projects aimed to develop on a global scale. The company's main focus has been the same since it was founded: to help people with intimate healthcare problems to live normal lives. To be able to help as many as possible it is important with sustainable partnerships that can positively impact the world in a long-term perspective. The aim is to continue the global work through projects, and Ms. Carlsson explains that the company has a constant dialogue with stakeholders to identify challenges, which is how they find new challenges together.
In 2013 the company made it on to Ethisphere´s "world's most ethical companies"-list, but today they are no longer on that list. Pernilla Carlsson, Sustainability and HR-coordinator at Coloplast AB in Sweden, explains that: "being on these types of lists takes a lot of effort and resources when doing the surveys and applications". Coloplast wants to focus on doing instead of saying, and reaching their goals. The mission for Coloplast is "making life easier for people with intimate healthcare needs". Their products are being sold from wholesalers and pharmacies to different types of consumers.
Every Coloplast supplier must follow the values and standards that Coloplast claims to stand by in their code of conduct. These standards are in the area of ethical, social, environmental, business, and sustainability wellbeing. Ms. Carlsson explains: "At Coloplast, we monitor existing suppliers for compliance through adverse feedback and site visits. Adverse feedback can be for example a change of owners or an expansion of a site.”
When asked about employee treatment, Ms. Carlsson strongly responded: "The commitment and job satisfaction of our employees is vital to Coloplast's development. As a Scandinavian company, we have a long tradition of respecting labor rights."
Today Coloplast focuses on three areas, as stated on their global website, in order to reach the ultimate goal to minimize their environmental footprint: Recycle more and use less raw materials; Produce more with less and Going further with less.
Coloplast's aim to "Produce more with less" is realized in a number of ways. Looking at the Sustainable Development Goals, Coloplast here supports number seven stated as affordable and clean energy. Coloplast has worked on energy efficiency in production for a long time and now takes their next step. They are going to convert to renewable energy sources. "We will begin to purchase renewable energy certificates for electrical consumption at all production sites. Our ambition is that all electrical consumption at our production sites and in our headquarters are from renewable sources in 2019" said Ms. Carlsson.
Their statement, "Going further with less" entails adapting methods of transportation which release less GHG-emissions and therefore affect the footprint in a positive way. Ms. Carlsson expresses that: "Coloplast primarily uses sea and ground transportation to ship/transport their products". Although some rare exceptions are made globally using air transportation to ensure delivery times, she continues to say: "in total, transportation of goods does not make up a dominant part of Coloplast GHG-emissions globally, merely a 17%". "But we are working on substituting air to sea or ground as it creates large reductions due to the high emissions of air transport. Emissons from air transport is about 200 times higher compared to sea. Globally we have set the target of maximum 2,3% transportation by air by October 2018. Here we are working with the transportation of mature products and substituting air transport there.”
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Pernilla Carlsson, Sustainability and HR Coordinator
Clas Bergman, Chief Financial Officer, Commercial Excellence Manager
Coloplast A/S is a global company with headquarters in Humlebaek, Denmark. They work within four main areas: ostomy care, continence care, wound- and skin care and urology care. The company has a broad range of different customers, it varies from private users to hospitals and institutions.