Abbott is a diversified, global science-based company dedicated to fulfilling the promise of human potential through better health. For more than 125 years, Abbott has focused on unlocking the power of health to help people build better lives and stronger communities, through our own actions and in partnership with others.

With nearly 3,000 employees, Ireland has the largest population of Abbott manufacturing employees outside of the United States. The company's healthcare products in Ireland are exported to more than 130 countries around the world. Since 2005, Abbott has invested almost €500 million in operations in Ireland.

Abbott's citizenship report presents the company’s new global citizenship strategy, which builds upon and strengthens its long and distinguished record of making responsible business a fundamental part of the way the company operates. Abbott has identified three strategic priorities where its core business can have a significant impact on society: delivering product excellence, improving access and safeguarding the environment.

"At Abbott, we believe that innovative and responsible business practices are imperative for our business to grow and evolve. Throughout the divisions in Ireland we aim to ensure that our operations are thriving by implementing economic, environmental and social initiatives that meet the demands of a fast-moving global business environment," said John Kilcoyne, Chair of Abbott's Business Advisory Council in Ireland.

Some highlights of Abbott’s citizenship work include:

• Abbott has reduced total waste in Ireland by 13 percent between 2010 and 2014, equal to 700 tons of waste, and has achieved Zero Waste sent to landfill at all six manufacturing facilities
• Reduced carbon emissions by 22 percent at the Cootehill manufacturing plant by moving to cleaner fuels
• Abbott's vascular plant in Clonmel was Europe’s first recipient of the prestigious Shingo Prize for operational excellence
• Abbott's nutrition business provided more than 572 hours of training and education sessions to patients and healthcare providers through the Hospital to Home programme
• Employees from Abbott's diagnostics business in Longford and Sligo supported healthcare worker trainings in patient testing, treatment and care in Tanzania
• Abbott employees volunteered more than 8,000 hours to local community and charitable organisations in Ireland through our Croi an Óir volunteering programme

Abbott has won numerous awards in Ireland for its contribution to communities and the environment, as well as being recognised as one of the country's leading employers. In 2015, Abbott won Excellence in Marketplace at the Chambers Ireland CSR Awards for the second year in a row.

For more information, please visit Abbott's Global Citizenship website. For all inquiries please contact: globalcitizenship@abbott.com