Results

Biomet

Biomet is a leading designer and manufacturer of medical devices and products used primarily by surgeons and medical and dental specialists. Biomet enrolled in KKR’s Green Portfolio Program in 2009 and is focusing on improving energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions at its manufacturing facilities.

Key Environmental Performance Area:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Facilities)

In 2009, Biomet began actively measuring and managing energy consumption in its manufacturing facilities and established a 2007 performance baseline as part of the Green Portfolio Program. In absolute terms, GHG emissions from manufacturing facilities have increased approximately 22% since 2007, while efficiency has stayed relatively flat with an improvement of 0.3% (GHGs/$1000 revenue) over the same time period. A portion of the increase in GHG emissions is due to recent expansion of facilities, particularly in regions with relatively high-carbon energy mixes, as energy usage increased 15% over the same time period. Following the expansion, Biomet has launched specific efforts to assess and reduce energy use in these areas in future years. Efforts to improve efficiency have helped Biomet to avoid almost $2.2 million in costs and 7,100 metric tons of GHG emissions since 2007.

Results

Biomet: Manufacturing Plants Efficiency (2007 Baseline)

Actions

In 2010, Biomet achieved these results by implementing the following practices:

• Installed temperature controls (both manual and automatic) in all facilities
• Improved lighting, including turning out lights during off-shifts and installing light sensors in offices
• Upgraded lighting in the Warsaw and Fairlawn manufacturing sites
• Consolidated smaller facilities into larger ones including their Swedish cement facility into Valence, France and their Jacksonville, Florida into Warsaw, Indiana

Future Plans

In 2011 and 2012, Biomet is increasing its focus on energy efficiency at its facilities and is considering or actively implementing additional improvements, such as:

• Creating a forum across operating units where energy use efficiency best practices can be shared
• Formally reviewing all new capital equipment purchases to assess energy efficiency relative to certain standards
• Completing energy reduction actions at the Warsaw, Indiana campus as identified in a site study conducted by Purdue University
• Implementing its membership with Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
• Training facility managers in its Asian manufacturing sites on energy conservation
• Publication of its first Corporate Sustainability Report

Biomet enrolled in the Green Portfolio Program in 2009 and is reporting results for the second time.