Transforming Eye Care Through Sustainability: The GreenIST Initiative at Alcon
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From Vision to Action: How GreenIST Began
GreenIST was formed to help facilitate the further integration of sustainable practices by bringing together people and ideas from across the surgical enterprise to address pressing environmental challenges.
The initiative’s purpose was clear: create a platform where associates from different departments could collaborate, share ideas, and turn them into impactful projects. Starting as a grassroots effort, GreenIST has grown into a global force, driving innovation in packaging, product design and operational efficiency.
GreenIST’s collaborative approach ensures that sustainability remains at the heart of Alcon’s vision for the world, fostering an organizational culture where good ideas that drive business value also have the potential to make a difference.
A Global Team with a Shared Vision
One of GreenIST’s greatest strengths is its cross-functional team. Associates from various departments—including R&D, Health, Safety & Environment (HSE), commercial and procurement—participate based on their passion and expertise. This collaboration helps ensure initiatives that develop more sustainable processes and products have impact across the organization.
GreenIST operates as an open forum, welcoming fresh perspectives and encouraging associates to champion their ideas. Whether it’s an associate in R&D proposing a new material for packaging or a procurement specialist suggesting ways to optimize supply chains, every contribution is valued.
This collaborative culture has not only driven innovation but has also inspired a sense of ownership and pride among associates.
“GreenIST plays an essential role in addressing the SIS challenges that matter most to our customers. In my role leading the European Tiger Team, I see firsthand how sustainability efforts, like those driven by GreenIST, are shaping the future of ophthalmic care. I am particularly enthusiastic about the increasing emphasis on Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and integrating sustainability into product development. As GreenIST continues to evolve, aligning on clear objectives will be key to maximizing our impact and driving meaningful change across the industry.”
- Aurélie Norgoll-Roux, Director, EMEA Procurement at Alcon
At Alcon, sustainability isn’t just a corporate goal—it’s something we actively integrate into our products and processes. GreenIST was created to find real, practical ways to reduce waste without compromising quality or performance. Every initiative we’ve shared with EyeSustain started with GreenIST’s work to rethink packaging, optimize materials and minimize our environmental footprint. It’s rewarding to see these efforts making a tangible impact, not just at Alcon, but across the entire ophthalmic industry."
- Alex Long, Vice President, U.S. Surgical Marketing at Alcon
From Ideas to Impact: Success Stories from GreenIST
GreenIST has already achieved remarkable milestones. Some of the initiative’s standout successes include:
- Custom Pak: The Custom Pak significantly reduces packaging, sterilization and shipping because each pack is developed for an individual surgeon, containing everything that surgeon needs.
- QR Code-Based Inserts: Transitioning from paper package inserts to QR codes, significantly reducing paper waste while enhancing convenience for customers.
- Green Cell Foam: Replacing Styrofoam in packaging in the U.S. with an eco-friendly material that dissolves in water, offering a sustainable alternative without compromising product safety.
These projects showcase how GreenIST has transformed innovative ideas into tangible results, further cementing Alcon’s reputation as a leader in sustainable healthcare, after becoming one of the first healthcare companies to receive green circle GreenCircle Certification for Zero Waste to Landfill Manufacturing Facilities in the U.S. in 2022 (Alcon Corporate Responsibility Report , 2021).
Overcoming Challenges in Sustainable Innovation
As a global healthcare company, Alcon faces unique challenges in embedding sustainability into its business model. While there is a strong commitment to reducing environmental impact, sustainability initiatives must also align with business priorities, regulatory requirements, and the evolving needs of customers and healthcare providers worldwide.
Some of the key challenges GreenIST has encountered include:
- Ensuring Patient Safety: Ensuring patient safety is an industry-wide challenge. Single-use items are often required, which drives us to partner with others in our industry and seek solutions throughout the full value chain.
- Balancing Sustainability with Business Goals: In a competitive industry, sustainability projects must not only benefit the environment but also create value for customers and Alcon. Investments in sustainability need to demonstrate long-term cost savings, efficiency improvements or competitive differentiation.
- Navigating Complex Global Regulations: Healthcare is a highly regulated industry and sustainability efforts must align with varying requirements across different regions. Packaging changes, material selection, and waste reduction initiatives must comply with global health and safety standards.
To address these challenges, GreenIST has implemented several key strategies:
- Developing Business-Aligned Sustainability Projects: By ensuring that sustainability initiatives support both environmental goals and business objectives, GreenIST ensures long-term impact.
- Engaging Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and Industry Advocates: Partnering with sustainability-focused healthcare professionals and industry groups helps drive awareness and influence broader change.
- Integrating Sustainability into Product and Process Innovation: Rather than treating sustainability as an add-on, GreenIST collaborates with R&D, manufacturing, and procurement teams to incorporate sustainable principles into product development and operational processes from the start.
By tackling these challenges head-on and leveraging cross-functional collaboration, GreenIST continues to advance Alcon’s sustainability efforts, ensuring that the company remains a leader in responsible healthcare innovation.
Innovating for a Sustainable Tomorrow
GreenIST exemplifies Alcon’s commitment to driving meaningful change in the healthcare industry. By fostering collaboration, overcoming challenges and scaling innovative solutions, Alcon is paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future in vision care.
As Alcon continues its work to help people See Brilliantly, the company invites stakeholders, associates and customers to join in to improve lives by improving sight while protecting the environment. Explore more about Alcon’s sustainability initiatives and read the latest Social Impact and Sustainability Report to learn how Alcon is transforming vision care for the better.
To learn more about Alcon’s sustainability initiatives, visit Alcon.com.
