At the Intersection of Business and Science: Making Sustainability Part of Everyone’s Job
Hologic recently committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and is on a path to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030. But what does this mean in practice?
By Sharon Vidal, Global Head of Sustainability at Hologic
At Hologic, women’s health is more than a business, it is our purpose. And the health of our loved ones and our communities are inseparable from the health of our planet. That’s why sustainability is not just a corporate initiative; it is woven into what we do and how we do it.
Health is about more than just healthcare. Systemic biases, stigmas, environmental factors and economics all affect women’s health, and we know that improving women’s health can have a powerful ripple effect on families, communities and society.
As a science-based company and with The Science of Sure® as our promise, we approached recent expanded environmental sustainability efforts with the same commitment: to influence change through science and data.
Setting new standards
In 2024, we reduced our overall emissions by 10%, lowered water intensity by 20%, diverted 65% of global waste from landfills and set even bolder goals for a more sustainable and equitable future.
We committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and to cut our emissions in half by 2030, aligning our ambitions with the latest climate science and receiving successful validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a partnership between the United Nations Global Compact, the We Mean Business Coalition, the World Resources Institute, the World Wide Fund for Nature and CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project).
Where purpose meets practice
I am honored to lead Hologic’s sustainability efforts and be part of the program’s evolution. As I wrap up my first year with the company, I continue to be fueled by our deeply purpose-driven strategy to help women live healthier lives.
For us, sustainability means delivering long-term value for all stakeholders, ensuring we can continue to make a positive impact on women’s health. This translates into our business in many ways: through our approach to advancing women’s access and equity in healthcare, our actions to protect the environment, our support for people and communities, and our dedication to operating with integrity.
Seeing this impact in action made joining Hologic an easy choice.
From day one, I’ve seen how sustainability is purposefully core to the business: shaping everything from detailed green facilities planning and high standards for partner and supplier selection, to eco-friendly product innovation and design, and working with customers to create shipping and logistics efficiencies. We see many examples where switching to more sustainable packaging or moving shipments from air to boat or ground lowers the emissions associated with product delivery and benefits the entire value chain, not just us.
And none of this is possible without the dedication of our people.
In Newark, Delaware, our team approached expansion efforts with intentionality, quickly proving that growth and sustainability don’t have to be at odds with one another. Despite increasing the facility’s footprint by 11%, energy efficiency upgrades led to a 31% reduction in overall electricity use.
In San Diego, California, we installed a water recovery system that supplements our cooling towers with reclaimed condensate water. By treating and reusing this water, we’re saving millions of gallons each year—a simple change with significant environmental impact.
By rethinking diagnostic test kit design, one of our teams reduced nearly 94,000 kg of packaging waste annually.
Colleagues leading our machine takeback and refurbishment programs are helping build a circular economy, thinking through the entire product lifecycle, minimizing our footprint and delivering added value to customers.
Our supply chain employees partnered with logistics and distribution providers to optimize our shipping, resulting in a 43% reduction of carbon emissions from transportation and distribution.
One additional project I’m especially inspired by is an employee-led initiative in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Driven by passionate scientists and supported by the nonprofit, My Green Labs, this team improved recycling workflows, optimized water and energy use and reorganized equipment for safety and efficiency, all above and beyond their daily responsibilities. These changes add up quickly, driving human and environmental impact, cost savings and product innovation.
Learn about these initiatives and others in Hologic’s 2024 Sustainability Report.
Everyone’s job, every day
Success at Hologic isn’t about building an army of sustainability specialists. It’s about empowering every employee to make sustainability part of their work. Be it supporting energy conservation at our facilities, ideating and manufacturing more sustainable packaging, pursuing green commute options or engaging in community volunteering, everyone’s contributions make a difference.
When employees see how their role connects to our mission, including helping patients, supporting each other and protecting the planet, they get creative and real change happens.
Whether you’re at Hologic or elsewhere, share your ideas, seek out local sustainability projects, volunteer, and find ways to measure and reduce your personal and professional footprint.
Sustainability isn’t just something we do at Hologic, it’s part of who we are. As we move forward with expanded ambitions, and hold ourselves accountable to them, I’m excited for the new and continued ways we’ll help build a more sustainable, equitable and healthy future for generations to come.