Boston Scientific is a leading medical technology company headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Specialising in the development and manufacture of medical devices, it employs over 35,000 people globally, contributing to healthcare innovations worldwide.
The opportunity
Boston Scientific has a keen focus on sustainability but is challenged with compartmentalised knowledge. A strategic focus is to embed environmental sustainability within everyone’s roles rather than isolated individuals.
Working within a science-based sector, the Carbon Literacy approach fitted well by presenting the fundamentals of climate change grounded in science, with course content tailored to their business focus to help with tangible application.
What we delivered
The strategy was simple – develop the wider team’s awareness and understanding of sustainability, reducing the burden on a handful of individuals. Education through Carbon Literacy training was key to the success of this strategy.
Lighthouse began delivering Carbon Literacy training to Boston Scientific in October 2022, training nearly 70 employees over a 6-month period. This included employees from the EMEA region, and extended to the Asia Pacific team, who were inspired by the success of their EMEA colleagues and launched a similar Carbon Literacy Programme of their own. To develop Boston Scientific’s internal capability, Lighthouse took Clare Brooke, Sustainability Lead EMEA, through the Carbon Literacy Train the Trainer course in May 2023.
The outcome
Rolling out a wide programme across the organisation has enabled the training to be a catalyst for action, with many attendees shifting from being interested but with minimal knowledge, to becoming active sustainability champions and changemakers. Learners discovered that the training not only enhanced their knowledge, but also solidified the foundational concepts of climate change and their personal confidence on the subject. These insights have been put into practice both in their personal and professional lives, serving as drivers for carbon reduction efforts.
Feedback on the training has been overwhelmingly positive. Confidence is high and conversations about carbon are now commonplace, with decisions more likely to be considered through a carbon lens. At an organisational level, this enhanced knowledge and awareness has enabled action gaps to be identified with emission reduction opportunities being put into action.
“On the back of the education, action happens.”
Clare Brooke, Sustainability Lead EMEA, Boston Scientific
“It is inspiring to see the ripple effect of Carbon Literacy training within Boston Scientific. From extending training sessions from EMEA to the Asia Pacific team, to Clare’s completion of her Train the Trainer course for Carbon Literacy, enabling further upskilling and knowledge sharing within the business. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for Boston Scientific.”
Emma Burlow, Founder, Lighthouse Sustainability
If Carbon Literacy training could help your business, please get in touch or join us on our next Open Carbon Literacy for Business course.