From rethinking medical device materials and expanding recycling efforts to adopting renewable energy, Europe’s healthcare and medtech climate leaders are finding new ways to reduce emissions.
As healthcare organizations face growing pressure to reduce their environmental impact, several European healthcare and medical technology companies are making progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The Financial Times and Statista Europe’s Climate Leaders 2026 ranking recognizes 600 European companies based on climate performance, including changes in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from 2019 to 2024. It also considers emissions intensity, CDP scores, which reflect companies’ environmental reporting and action, and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) participation, which indicates engagement with science-based emissions-reduction goals.
The ranking also considers emissions intensity relative to revenue, which helps contextualize reductions across companies of different sizes. These measures offer complementary views of climate progress, although they do not capture every emission associated with product manufacturing, distribution or use.
Here are the five highest-scoring companies classified under healthcare and medical technology in the ranking.
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1. Novo Nordisk — Denmark
FT Climate Score: 71.58
Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, known for developing treatments for diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases, leads the category, with a 37.3% reduction in absolute core emissions from 2019 to 2024. Its 2024 Scope 1 and 2 emissions were approximately 101,000 tonnes (111,333 US tons) of CO₂ equivalent. Scope 1 is what a company emits directly, while Scope 2 comes from producing the energy it purchases.
Novo Nordisk has set a net-zero target for 2045 and is exploring lower-carbon injection pen materials and recycling initiatives. The company has also begun sourcing bio-ammonia, a lower-emissions alternative to conventional ammonia used in manufacturing, with the potential to reduce related emissions by around 80%.
Novo Nordisk also reduced its emissions relative to its revenue by an average of 23.4% per year over the assessment period.
2. Getinge — Sweden
FT Climate Score: 56.86
Medical technology company Getinge, which develops equipment and technologies for surgical procedures, intensive care, infection prevention and life sciences applications, ranks second, reporting an 18.3% reduction in core emissions over the period and approximately 15,779 tonnes (17,395 US tons) of CO₂ equivalent in 2024. Its sustainability plans include a 2050 net-zero value-chain goal and an SBTi-validated target to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline.
The company has also expanded its use of renewable energy, with its manufacturing facility in Halland, Sweden, sourcing 99.9% of its energy from renewable sources, including rooftop solar panels and a nearby solar park.
Its annualized reduction in core emissions intensity was 9%. For a company supplying equipment used in hospitals and life sciences facilities, energy use in manufacturing and operations is one important component of its environmental footprint.
3. WSA — Denmark
FT Climate Score: 55.38
Hearing technology manufacturer WSA, also known as WS Audiology, develops hearing aids and hearing care solutions to support people with hearing loss. The company achieved a 30.4% absolute reduction in core emissions between 2019 and 2024, the second-largest decline among these five companies. It reported approximately 14,117 tonnes (15,562 US tons) of CO₂ equivalent in 2024 and a 14% annualized reduction in emissions intensity.
WSA has also set targets to cut emissions and help limit global warming to 1.5°C. The company has been expanding its use of renewable energy, reporting that 100% of the electricity sourced for its manufacturing sites, warehouses, offices and retail stores came from renewable sources in 2025.
The company’s progress reflects efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its hearing technology operations while maintaining its focus on hearing care.
4. Sonova — Switzerland
FT Climate Score: 53.26
Swiss hearing care company Sonova recorded a 10.5% absolute reduction in core emissions between 2019 and 2024, with approximately 28,751 tonnes (31,693 US tons) of CO₂ equivalent reported for 2024. Its environmental initiatives include sourcing renewable electricity and switching to electric vehicles. The company has also introduced energy-saving measures across 12 of its largest retail markets, including improved temperature controls and reduced energy use outside business hours.
The FT reported a 7.5% annualized decline in Sonova’s core emissions intensity.
The company’s hearing care focus highlights the variety of products and operations represented within the healthcare and medical technology sector.
5. Medtronic — Ireland
FT Climate Score: 52.50
Medical technology company Medtronic, which develops medical devices and therapies for cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, neurological disorders and surgical procedures, rounds out the five with a 9.8% absolute reduction in core emissions between 2019 and 2024. It reported approximately 253,000 tonnes (278,918 US tons) of CO₂ equivalent in 2024. In a fiscal 2025 reporting, Medtronic said it exceeded its Scope 1 and 2 emissions-intensity reduction target and continues to pursue operational carbon neutrality by fiscal 2030.
Its annualized emissions intensity reduction was 4.9%. Medtronic had the largest reported 2024 core emissions total among these five companies, underscoring why absolute emissions and intensity figures should be considered together.
Its efforts include an agreement to purchase electricity from a wind farm near its Galway facility in Ireland, covering about half of the electricity needs across its five Irish sites.
Sustainability in European Healthcare and Medtech
The companies featured in the FT ranking reflect growing efforts across the healthcare and medical technology sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental sustainability.
As healthcare organizations expand manufacturing and global operations, reducing emissions across supply chains, adopting renewable energy and developing more sustainable products will remain important priorities. Continued investment in these areas can help the life sciences industry reduce its environmental impact while supporting long-term climate goals.
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