Cardinal Health Marks Dedication to Environmental Sustainability With Surgical Glove Half-fold Packages

DUBLIN, Ohio, Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardinal Health today announced the availability of its complete portfolio of surgical gloves, including the Protexis™ powder-free surgical gloves and Triflex® powdered surgical gloves, in sustainable, half-fold packaging.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120221/CL55713-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120221/CL55713-b )

The standardized surgical glove packaging is the industry's only half-folded format and makes Cardinal Health uniquely able to help reduce consumption of materials and help customers reduce their environmental footprint and minimize waste. The new packaging configuration also helps customers maximize their storage space.  

"By standardizing our glove packaging to the industry's only half-folded gloves packaging, we're helping customers meet sustainability goals and make the most of their storage space," said Lisa Ashby, president of Category Management at Cardinal Health. "These changes reflect great strides in our efforts to be a leader in environmental sustainability."

The packaging has received a green leaf icon designation from the Premier healthcare alliance, which identifies "environmentally preferred purchasing products" for its members. Products and services with the green leaf tag have environmentally preferable attributes that reduce the negative impact on the quality and health of the environment and consider, for example, the product materials, production, packaging, reusability, energy efficiency, disposal, nationally recognized certification, or its impact on the environment.

The Cardinal Health half-fold glove dispenser boxes are at least 30 percent smaller and use at least 15 percent less cardboard than competitive products sold in tall packaging configurations. Individual pouches within the half-fold dispenser boxes are at least 48 percent smaller than competitive products. And, over 95 percent of the company's surgical gloves feature paper-based wrap material, or inner wallets, which are made from renewable resources and are recyclable.

In addition to packaging enhancements, Cardinal Health also has implemented a number of initiatives to address and improve its surgical glove manufacturing operations in Thailand, including non-hazardous waste recycling, heat recovery and water recycling. The company's energy conservation efforts have been recognized in Thailand, including receiving two Energy Awards by King Mongkut University of Technology, sponsored by the Department of Alternative Energy and Efficiency in Thailand. Cardinal Health also received a Green Industry Award Level II certification for sustainability by the Ministry of Industry in Thailand, recognizing the company's commitment to sustainable resource use, among other qualifying factors.

About Cardinal Health

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $103 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices focus on patient care while  reducing costs, enhancing efficiency and improving quality. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products to more than 60,000 locations each day. The company is also a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company supports the growing diagnostic industry by supplying medical products to clinical laboratories and operating the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #19 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at cardinalhealth.com and @CardinalHealth on Twitter.

SOURCE Cardinal Health