Environmental

Sustainability

in Action

Our Sustainability CommitmentPollution is a serious public health concern that affects everyone, but

it especially affects vulnerable populations such as the elderly, sick,

children and the poor. At Medline we feel that preserving a healthy

planet for future generations is not only the right thing to do, it is our

responsibility as leaders in the healthcare industry.

We believe that sustainability is a journey and commit to meeting our

customers wherever they are on their own journey. We will provide

sustainable products and services for all steps along the way, so that

customers can do what’s right for and within the capacity of their facility.

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Healthcare providers have one of the most diffi cult

balancing acts: providing exceptional care, and doing that

with fewer and fewer resources to spare. Now add to that

the need to take action to “go green”, and the balance

becomes even more diffi cult to achieve. Or does it?

At Medline, we believe it’s possible to be green and

achieve savings—savings that can go back into providing

better care. In fact, our entire line of greensmart™ products

is designed to help our customers do just that. But as a

leader in the medical supply industry, it’s important for us

to do more—to “walk the walk.”

So, we’ve been doing the right things and making key

investments to reduce our impact on the environment.

Our collective goal is really very simple, and a lesson

that I learned at summer camp in Northern Wisconsin:

Leave your campsite cleaner than you found it. Medline’s

campsite is a big one, with operations on six continents.

Our sustainability efforts extend to them all.

Andy MillsPresident

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As Medline goes green, we are changing the way we

handle waste. We know this is important to our employees,

customers and our planet. From sorting offi ce paper and

plastic bottles, to regrinding plastic and recycling cardboard,

the company is committed to reducing the environmental

impact of our waste. In 2011, our Mundelein campus (offi ces

and manufacturing) recycled or reused 55 percent of all

our waste streams.

Waste reduction doesn’t stop at our corporate headquarters.

At our 30+ distribution centers, local recycling addresses

paper, corrugate and shrink wrap—over 1,911 metric tons in

2011 alone.

Waste Reduction

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Corrugated Cardboard

406.1 tons removed

Medline Total Waste

2,198.9 tons

Sorted Office Paper

156.3 tons removed

Plastic Resold Pellets

229 tons removed

Regrind Plastic

300 tons removed

Donations

47.1 tons removed B01 Compactor (trash)

130.7 tons

Bulbs

2.6 tons removed

Scrap Steel

60.1 tons removed

Open Tops (trash not in compactor)

114.9 tons

Outside Compactor (trash)

752.1 tons

Total Waste Removed1,201.2 tons (55% of total waste)

%in 2011

Mundelein Campus

total waste reduction:

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Green Building

Renewable Energy Renewable energy research

is an ongoing project for Medline’s Executive Offi ce.

Our two newest corporate buildings are equipped with

geothermal systems, which use the natural temperature

of the earth 600 feet below the surface to heat and cool

the buildings. In our FitRight® factory and distribution

center, innovative wall material provides additional

natural light to reduce dependence on electric light while

providing a brighter working environment for employees.

LEED Certifi cation We adopt LEED (Leadership

in Energy and Environmental Design) standards for all

new facility construction—including three distribution

centers, two offi ce buildings and a 100,000 square foot

factory—a total of almost 2.9 million square feet to date.

Energy Effi ciency When Medline invests in energy

effi ciency we go beyond changing our light bulbs. In

several of our corporate buildings and warehouses we

utilize daylight harvesting through over 300 skylights

and clerestory windows, photocell-controlled exterior

lighting, solar-refl ective roofi ng materials, smart

thermostats, and ultra effi cient heating units. By

participating in ComEd’s Smart Ideas® program,

Medline has replaced 1,500 bulbs with more effi cient

ones. The new bulbs provide more even lighting and

are more energy effi cient. The lamps taken out are

transported to a permitted facility to be processed.

They are recycled in machines designed to break

down the lamp and then separate the glass, metal and

mercury. The glass and metal are recycled, the mercury

is disposed of responsibly.

Water To reduce our water usage, we use sensor

faucets, as well as intelligent irrigation strategies, such

as drought-resistant landscaping. In some locations,

the option of rainwater harvesting for gray-water

usage, such as in irrigation, is being explored.

Medline integrates sustainability in our offi ces, factories and warehouses. In a broader sense,

it also means the cities and countries around the world wherever we do business.

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Technical Drawing denoting environmentally sustainable features of Medline’s LEED Silver Certifi ed Call Center in Dubuque, Iowa

Square footage of Medline

facilities that meet LEED

standards for construction

2.9 million

S

fa

s

9n

Daylight HarvestingSkylights

Increased Roof Insulation

Underground Geothermal Heating & Cooling Systems

Low Impact Landscaping

White TPO Roof Membrane

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ISO 14001 Medline aims to conduct its operations

in an environmentally sound manner through the

establishment and implementation of ISO 14001. This is

an Environmental Management System (EMS) focused

on regulatory compliance, pollution prevention, resource

conservation and continual improvement.

In our patient plastics manufacturing facility,

95% of our “waste” plastic raw material is reused on-site. The other 5% is recycled where

it is reused in different industries. This single action

reduces energy consumption and the extraction of

virgin material.

Where we cannot use recycled material, we identify strategies for reducing the amount of material used in the fi rst place. For example,

in the manufacture of our FitRight® briefs we cut

manufacturing waste by 56% and use 12% less

non-renewable material overall.

As a manufacturer, Medline has many opportunities for more sustainable production.

Cleaner Production

We recycle all manufacturing byproducts

such as hydraulic oil, corrugate, stretchwrap and

fl uorescent bulbs.

By investing in product engineering research,we were able to reduce the packaging of our

medicine cups by 30% through a simple change in

the angle of the sides of the product.

Redesigning products to use less packaging,

optimize space and eliminate petroleum-based

materials not only creates a more convenient product

for our customers, it also reduces harmful emissions

in manufacture and transportation.

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240

tons

Amount of plastic that Medline

grinds and reuses in its colored

plastic products annually

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In the life cycle research into each of our green products, we require a large amount of

disclosure from our own suppliers. Not only does this rigorous process ensure that no

greenwashing occurs in our environmental claims, but it raises the standards of what we

expect from our own suppliers and their impact on the environment.

S P O N S O R O F

Corporate Memberships & Awards

W I N N E R O F

2012 Environmental Excellence Award

W I N N E R O F M E M B E R O F

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Business Leadership

Coalition

S P O N S O R O FS P O N S O R O FR E C O G N I Z E D B Y

Clean Air Counts for contribution to

reducing ozone in the

Chicago region.

M E M B E R O F

As a proud sponsor of Practice Greenhealth’s Greening the OR and Greening the Supply Chain

initiatives, Medline is committed to making our products and services more sustainable.

Products & Programs

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56%

New FitRight® designs and

production systems reduce

manufacturing waste by:

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The Program Medline encourages its customers to think both eco-friendly

and economical. The greensmart program helps them do just that. The program helps customers—

wherever they are on their own sustainability journey—with sustainable products, consulting

services, education and more. It’s designed to help quantify and report ongoing sustainability

initiatives from both an environmental and fi nancial point of view. Customers can learn more at

medline.com/greensmart.

greensmart products cross all areas of our business.

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pigment free plastics PerforMAX™ OR towels

The greensmart Sustainability Facts box is modeled after the familiar nutrition label on food

products. It shows how, in six distinct areas, a

greensmart product is more sustainable.

Raw Materials. Where we cannot use recycled

material, we identify strategies for reducing the amount

of material used in the fi rst place, or using renewable

raw materials.

Manufacturing. In reviewing manufacturing, we look

for facilities that have taken steps toward cleaner

product practices. This includes the achievement of ISO

14001, use of renewable energy in manufacturing, use

of environmentally preferable bleaching processes and

other pollution prevention strategies.

Packaging. Redesigning products to use less

packaging, optimize space and eliminate petroleum-

based materials not only creates a more convenient

product for our customers, it also reduces harmful

emissions in manufacture and transportation.

Transportation. Sustainable transportation strategies

include redesigning a product to fi t more on a truck and

requiring fewer emissions from transportation. Reusable

products that offer an alternative to disposables require

fewer deliveries to the customer. Fewer emissions can

also result from products being manufactured in the USA,

as well as the use of electric, hybrid or biodiesel vehicles.

Product Use. A product can have environmental

benefi ts during its use through a number of ways. If a

product is reusable or reprocessable, it can divert waste

from a landfi ll and reduce the extraction of raw materials

required to make new products. Energy effi cient

products reduce the amount of electricity, and therefore

carbon dioxide and other harmful chemicals from being

emitted into the environment. Benefi ts can also be seen

when a product is manufactured without the use of

harmful chemicals, usually substantiated through a third

party certifi cation such as Green Seal™ or EcoLogo™.

End of Life / Disposal. Strategies for a product’s end

of life, or disposal, include making a product recyclable,

biodegradable, compostable, refi llable, or even part of

a take-back program to allow a product to be recycled

outside of traditional waste streams. Some services also

offer end of life advantages, such as SUD reprocessing.

SUSTAINABILITY FACTS

Raw Materials

Manufacturing

Packaging

Transportation

Product Use

End of Life / Disposal

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Skylights in many of our distribution centers allow

us to avoid using any lights during sunny days.

Low UOM picking is done without vehicles—

only push carts.

New technology has been implemented and staff

trained to fully cube all of our inbound containers

and trailers.

Use of energy-effi cient intermodal shipping

dramatically reduces fuel consumption.

A Dynamic Route Planning system is in place

for our MedTrans fl eet to maximize cube and

minimize miles driven.

To reduce our carbon foot print, Medline has taken many steps on the inbound

and outbound transportation side:

Within our 30+ distribution centers, we are implementing more sustainable

practices and making sustainability a key factor in materials and design used.

With distribution centers around the globe, including over 30 in North America alone,

we have the opportunity to implement changes that will have a large overall impact.

Distribution

We follow EPA SmartWay® principles and

guidelines for our internal fl eet and choose

carriers with this designation.

GPS-based tracking software constantly monitors

truck speed, idle time, fast starts and stops and

other operator and vehicle criteria to minimize

fuel consumption. Drivers are given incentives for

making MPG targets.

Smarter shipping means using recycled pallets,

reusable shipping totes and reducing the amount

of corrugate in shipping boxes and using air

pillows to cushion products.

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4.2 million

Pounds of waste diverted from

landfi lls through local distribution

centers recycling programs

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Medline is actively involved in bettering its own community and the world

community through charitable and sustainable practices as well as a culture

shift focusing on environmental awareness.

Engagement

Employee Leadership Our own employees

lead the culture change at Medline. Our Green

Team, which consists of over 30 employees, is

empowered to make changes within our company

where they see opportunity.

Mission Outreach In partnership with Hospital

Sisters Mission Outreach, a humanitarian organization

providing supplies and equipment to clinicians in

developing countries, we redirect unused items such

as sharps and other “like new” components to support

healthcare for needy populations around the world.

In 2011, the Green Team installed a large

employee-run garden, turned a portion of our

corporate grounds to native prairie and began

a battery recycling program.

Employees in the Medcrest Division and Interiors

Division have been donating fabric scraps, end

bolts and discontinued customer samples to

Caring Hands®, a home-health provider located

in Chicago, Ill. For more than fi ve years, they

salvaged the fabric used in the quilts pictured,

and the talented people at Caring Hands worked

their magic to create beautiful quilts.

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Medline supplies unused and other “like new”

medical items to developing countries through

a partnership with Hospital Sisters Mission

Outreach organization

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Medline will continue to serve the healthcare community with

the products and services it needs. Our exceptional value

and proven functionality will not be compromised. Yet within

these complex requirements, we will continually work to

leave less of an impact for those following us.

In the future, we will be implementing more smart building

technologies to keep tabs on areas of energy ineffi ciencies.

Our operations department is constantly researching new

technologies and improving our processes to help reduce

Medline’s carbon footprint and minimize the company’s

impact on the environment. We will continue to search for

ways to lower our energy and operational costs so as a

company Medline can serve customers with high levels of

effi ciency and continue to win business in a very competitive

market space.

Forward

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Medline United States1-800-MEDLINE (633-5463)www.medline.com

info@medline.com

Medline Canada1-800-396-6996www.medline.ca

canada@medline.com

Medline México01-800-831-0898www.medlinemexico.com

mexico@medline.com

Medline Industries, Inc.One Medline Place

Mundelein, IL 60060

Some products may not be available for sale in Mexico or Canada. We reserve the right to correct any errors that may occur within this brochure.

©2012 Medline Industries Inc. Smart Ideas is a registered trademark of Commonwealth Edison Company. Cool Globes is a registered trademark

of Cool Globes, Inc. SmartWay is a registered trademark of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Novation is a registered trademark

of Novation LLC. Greening the Supply Chain and Greening the OR are trademarks of Practice Greenheatlh. Green Seal is a trademark of Green

Seal. EcoLogo is a trademark of UL TerraChoice. Caring Hands is a registered trademark of Lutheran Life Communities. greensmart, EcoDrape and

PerforMAX are trademarks of and FitRight and Medline are registered trademarks of Medline Industries, Inc.

MKT212041 / LIT952 / 3M / SG25

We invite you to work with Medline on issues of

sustainability, resource management or clinical

excellence. Call your Medline rep, or 1-800-MEDLINE,

or email greensmart@medline.com. Printed using soy inks.