Serres 2024 Sustainability Report: Advancing Healthcare Sustainability
With the healthcare sector responsible for nearly 5% of global CO₂e emissions – reaching as high as 10% in some high-income nations1 – we at Serres are committed to driving change in healthcare sustainability. That’s why we have made sustainability our primary business driver, setting out to lead by example and raise the standard for environmental responsibility in our industry.
Our mission is to empower hospitals around the world to reduce their environmental impact and move toward net-zero emissions through our smart and sustainable surgical fluid management systems. For us, sustainability extends beyond environmental impact; it includes social responsibility and strong governance, deeply embedded throughout every part of our value chain.
To reach our targets, our guiding sustainability roadmap includes key commitments that keep us competitive, responsible, and future-focused: We are committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions in our operations, actively driving sustainable healthcare innovations, focusing on fostering a sustainable workplace culture, striving to be recognized as a trusted leader in sustainability within our industry, all while ensuring that we conduct business responsibly.
1. Minimizing the Environmental Impact Across Our Value Chain
Reducing waste and supporting the circular economy are central to our sustainability efforts. We’re not only helping hospitals reduce their environmental footprint but also making sure our own operations are on track to reach net-zero emissions.
One great example of this is our commitment to reducing waste during the manufacturing process in our two manufacturing sites in Finland. We generate zero landfill waste and maintain a 78 % recycling rate for all waste produced during production. Additionally, all our facilities run 100% on non-fossil electricity.
In 2023, we launched the Circular Economy Center of Excellence together with our group and sister companies. This initiative was created to accelerate progress in reducing manufacturing waste, increasing the use of recycled materials in our products and packaging, and improving the recyclability of our products at the end of their life cycle.
2. Driving Sustainable Healthcare Innovation
Sustainability is also incorporated in the design process of our products. Developed in close collaboration with healthcare professionals, the Serres Suction system supports over 80,000 procedures every day globally. With an impressive reliability rate – only one reported failure per million uses – our system ensures safety and performance while helping hospitals lower their carbon footprint.
We apply the principles of reduce, renew, recycle, and reuse from the earliest design stages. For example, our packaging materials contain 75% recycled fiber in the dispenser box and 70% in the transport box.
Our Serres Suction bags are lightweight yet extremely durable. Their compact design means four times more bags can be packed into one box compared to alternatives, significantly reducing transport emissions and waste generated in the OR.
Made from non-toxic materials, our suction bags are free from PVC, latex, and DEHP.
Our closed-loop fluid collection system – which combines reusable suction canisters, single-use suction bags, and our Serres Nemo fluid disposal device – enhances safety by eliminating direct contact with biohazardous fluids. In 2024 alone, Serres Nemo helped reduce 1,200 tones of liquid waste worldwide.
We provide third-party verified carbon footprint calculations for our products, helping hospitals make more informed and sustainable decisions. A practical case of such carbon footprint calculation can be seen in the example case study of our 2-litre Serres Suction bag.
We’re also proud to collaborate with partners who share our goals. In 2024, we received a €1.8 million grant from Business Finland to support our strategic renewal and reinforce our forerunning position in sustainable OR solutions. Additionally, we’re contributing to the PlasticCircularity research project led by VTT, which focuses on solving the challenge of recycling complex plastics in healthcare through advanced technologies and circular business models.
3. Acting As a Responsible Business Partner
Sustainability is deeply rooted into how we operate as a business. Our commitment has been recognized with several certifications, including the EcoVadis Bronze Medal, acknowledging our commitment to upholding sustainable practices across our business. We also comply with internationally recognized standards such as ISO 13485, MDR, and MDSAP, and actively participate in the Chemical Industry’s sustainability program.
Since 2021, we have published annual sustainability reports and started calculating our carbon footprint (LCA) to provide greater transparency for our customers. Our Circular Economy Center of Excellence, combined with dedicated sustainability teams at both manufacturing sites, continues to push our initiatives forward.
We are a trusted partner to healthcare facilities worldwide, providing a 93% delivery assurance to our customers. 91% of our suppliers are based in the EU. 100% of our suppliers and 93% of our distributors have committed to our Code of Conduct, ensuring alignment on environmental, social, and ethical standards.
4. Building an Inspiring Workplace Culture
Sustainability at Serres is more than a mission – it’s a shared value that unites our 180 professionals. In 2024, we focused on cultivating Sustainability Culture as part of our roadmap.
Our efforts have been validated by our annual employee survey, where we earned a 73.2/AA rating – outperforming the Finnish employer average for four consecutive years. This achievement secured Serres a spot among Finland’s Most Inspiring Workplaces in 2024.
In the survey, employees consistently recognize sustainability as a core value in their daily work, reinforcing its importance in our overarching mission. To uphold these values, we, for instance, require all employees to complete our Code of Conduct training, which covers critical topics such as anti-corruption, environmental stewardship, human rights, and harassment prevention. We’re proud that 100% of our personnel have signed the Code of Conduct agreement.
Driving Change, Together
At Serres, we believe that sustainable healthcare is achievable when innovation, responsibility, and collaboration come together. By integrating sustainability into every aspect of our operations and across our entire value chain, we are not just reducing emissions but shaping a future where healthcare can thrive without compromising the planet or patient safety.
1 Climate change and health: three grand challenges | Nature Medicine
