Abbott Expands Use of Sustainable Packaging as Part of Global Environmental Efforts

Abbott Expands Use of Sustainable Packaging as Part of Global Environmental
Efforts
Company Implementing More Than 40 Sustainable Packaging Initiatives

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott today reported
further progress in meeting its goal of a 5 percent reduction in the amount of
packaging used in its key products by 2013, part of a multi-faceted effort to
minimize its impact on the environment. To achieve this goal, the company has
launched, or is in the process of launching, more than 40 sustainable
packaging initiatives across its nutrition, pharmaceutical and medical
products businesses. The initiatives are driven by new standards and
guidelines developed by Abbott that encourage increased use of lighter and
sustainable materials in package design.

"Abbott's sustainable packaging initiatives will reduce our environmental
footprint through less waste in landfills, more responsible forest management
and fewer emissions. At the same time, it lowers cost, and, in some cases,
reduces shelf space for our customers," said John Landgraf, senior vice
president, Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing and Supply, Abbott. "Throughout the
world, consumers increasingly expect the companies they do business with to be
environmentally responsible citizens and Abbott is rising to that challenge."

Abbott partners with a number of industry and independent groups in the area
of sustainable packaging, such as the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. Abbott
also is working with suppliers who have achieved or are pursuing
certification, with respected sustainability organizations, such as the
Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, the Forest Stewardship
Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. In addition, Abbott recently
announced sponsorship of the newly created Michigan State University's Center
for Packaging Innovation and Sustainability, which provides a forum to bridge
academic research with Abbott's real-world application expertise.

"Abbott has been actively working to benchmark and measure progress in making
its packaging more sustainable," said Anne Johnson, director, Sustainable
Packaging Coalition, a project of GreenBlue, a nonprofit sustainability
institute that works with the private sector to enable the positive redesign
of industrial systems. "Given the material challenges of packaging for health
care products, it is impressive to see that they have put systems in place in
recent years that have resulted in tangible results. We look forward to
continuing our collaboration with them and other industry leaders to develop
packaging systems that promote economic and environmental health."

In addition, Abbott works with major retail customers, sharing information on
packaging reductions the company has achieved in its consumer products. The
company also screens its suppliers, holding them to stringent packaging
requirements. In 2008, the company created an internal packaging design
guideline document to facilitate improved sustainable packaging decisions
throughout the design and development phase of packaging.

"Our sustainable packaging commitment is the latest example of Abbott's legacy
of doing its part to safeguard the environment," explained Donald Patton, Jr.,
senior vice president, U.S. Nutrition, Abbott. "Across the company, Abbott is
transitioning to packaging that performs its essential functions while using
less material and more environmentally-friendly components."

Abbott is working toward delivery on this commitment through a variety of
strategies, including embracing the four R's (reduce, recycle, renew and
re-use). Since 2007, Abbott has eliminated an estimated 2.88 million pounds
of packaging on an annualized basis through reduction initiatives on a few
select products, the equivalent of preventing 15,000 pounds of polystyrene
foam from going into landfills. In addition, Abbott reduced the amount of
plastic used in infant formula containers by 15 percent in 2008. Some of
Abbott's major sustainable packaging initiatives include:
-- Abbott Nutrition reduced the amount of plastic in its eight ounce
re-closable bottles by 8.3 percent. Through better design, the
company
cut polypropylene plastic usage by 2.7 million pounds annually. The
reduced-weight bottles also will help save 436,000 gallons of gasoline
used for transportation per year.

-- Abbott recently implemented a pilot program for shipments of some
physician samples that require refrigeration. During the pilot,
Abbott
is exploring ways to make this environmentally-friendly alternative
comparable in cost to current packaging. The reusable box - which
replaces a larger, single-use box - is smaller, made of reusable,
recyclable and 100 percent organic-based materials, and can be used
more
than 100 times.

These are just a couple of examples of the more than 40 sustainable packaging
projects already introduced or in the process of being launched across
Abbott's health care businesses. The company's sustainable packaging team
continues to find new ways to reduce Abbott's environmental footprint through
innovative design and the application of the latest packaging technology.

Safeguarding the environment is an important part of Abbott's mission to
improve people's health and the company's efforts to be a leader in global
citizenship. In addition to expanded use of sustainable packaging, Abbott has
identified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation and
increased use of cleaner and renewable energy as environmental priorities.
The company has set measurable goals in each of these areas to track its
progress. All of Abbott's various health care businesses are examining their
manufacturing processes and needs, as well as their product packaging, to
develop environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches to help the
company meet or exceed these goals.

Abbott was recently named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and
Sustainability North America Index for the fifth consecutive year, and was one
of just two U.S.-based pharmaceutical companies listed on both indices. The
Dow Jones Sustainability World Index ranks Abbott among the top 300 of the
world's largest 2,500 companies, based on an assessment of economic, social
and environmental performance.

About Abbott
Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery,
development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical
products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company
employs 72,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's
Web site at www.abbott.com.

SOURCE Abbott

Media, Kurt Ebenhoch, +1-847-936-9746, or Scott Gilmore, +1-847-936-1192, both
of Abbott