Environmental Protection

Our requirements
Only a small number of companies can look back on such a long history as Siemens. Since the company's establishment in 1847, we have been striving to simplify and improve lives with our products and services.
In addition to the numerous technical innovations, such as electrical street lighting, and the introduction of one of the first employee pension funds have contributed to this aim. We have remained committed to our responsibility for the people and their environment throughout our history. Before even beginning development of a new product, we start the process of determining the impact that the product will have on people and the environment and how we can improve these aspects.
Please read more about how we assume our responsibility and the concrete measures we implement to protect our environment.

Our environmental policy and action
At Siemens, our holistic approach combines environmental protection with occupational health and safety and radiological protection. We know that these areas are closely related. It is for this reason that our policy integrates Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) protection. From this point of view we can find and realize new opportunities and synergy effects. In this way we can assess, consider and reduce risks.

Our EHS-Policy

Our Commitments

• Continual improvement of our EHS performance to protect the environment and provide a safe working environment
• Control and reduce of EHS hazards and business risks
• Create products and solutions to improve EHS aspects
• Conserve natural resources and prevent pollution
• Compliance to applicable EHS regulations and maintain market access

• Executive management is responsible
• EHS is personal and employee participation is mandatory
• EHS regulatory compliance is mandatory
• We use our EHS management system as a living system
• EHS is part of all business functions
• EHS objectives and targets are implemented to improve our business processes
• We expect our business partners to participate with us to improve EHS performance

Find the most important activities that enabled us to achieve our environmental goals as well as the current state of the environmental performance at our sites and from our products. See below for the most current version of the report.

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals

Since the first publication of the candidate list on October 28, 2008 according to Article 59 (1) of the Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) on the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) website the candidate list has changed several times (last change December 15, 2010).
candidate list

Siemens Healthcare is working in close collaboration with its suppliers to gather and evaluate the needed information. To our current knowledge no substances on the candidate list are present in our products and packaging in concentrations above 0.1 % by weight.

For further information please refer to the contact address below.

Contact

Product take-back
Also if you do not need a system anymore, it contains valuable components and materials, that help to preserve natural resources. In order to return as much as possible old products to economic cycle, we have developed a four-stage product take-back concept.

The Refurbished System constitutes only one part of the entire product take-back process at Siemens Healthcare Sector. Because this consist of four subprocesses (Refurbished Systems, Component Reuse, Extraction of spare parts as well as Further Use/Recycling).

You don't have to worry about the disposal of your old medical devices - we take care of it.

What we offer:
If desired it containes also disassembly at the site and complete evacuation. At the same time you can be assured that your old devices will be used and recycled in an environmentally-friendly manner. Siemens Healthcare Sector has established a network of demanufacturing and recycling facilities in the countries where we operate. Please contact your Siemens Healthcare Sector Representative to request this service.

Refurbished Systems
Following nature's principle of recycling, Siemens takes back used medical devices and refurbishes them with the same quality standards as expected in new equipment using state-of-the-art technologies.

The maintenance process of Refurbished Systems enables the reuse of average 90 % of materials in refurbished devices. Bearing the "Proven Excellence" quality seal, these systems ensure our customers comparable quality like a new system at up to 30 % lower costs of purchase.

The business unit contributes sustainable to environmental protection by two decisive advantages. On the one hand the process extends life-cycle of the systems and enables a longer use, on the other hand it contributes efficiently to preserve valuable resources.

Refurbished Systems

State-initiated projects to make contributions based on our many years of experience and promote developments for sustainability.
Examples:

Diploma theses on environmental topics (over 40 during the last 10 years)
Most of these yielded results which help Siemens to improve its environmental performance.

 Trade associations