Medtronic Uses Auctions to Reduce Waste, Recycle Unused Equipment

Medtronic Global Sourcing recently began using auctions to liquidate, reduce and recycle obsolete equipment. When a Medtronic location has equipment that is no longer needed, employees notify select auction houses to post the items online.

During the first 45 days items are available exclusively to Medtronic employees, who can claim any asset that can be used at their location. Items left unclaimed after the initial posting period are sent to public auctions and sold to the highest bidder.

In the first year of this program, 330 lots of equipment worth $350,000 were transferred from Medtronic locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to other Medtronic locations around the globe. An additional $170,000 was generated from auction sales.

During the consolidation of our U.S. distribution centers last year we successfully prevented any assets from ending up in landfills, selling 220 lots of obsolete equipment to 75 different buyers.

‘America Recycles Day’ Encourages U.S. Facilities, Employees to Improve Performance

Leveraging “America Recycles Day,” The Environment, Health and Safety department at Medtronic issued a challenge to U.S. facilities to find creative ways to raise awareness and engage employees. Medtronic locations across the country sponsored exhibits on business-related recycling programs and offered employees opportunities to drop-off personal items such as cell phones, eye glasses, Christmas lights and shoes for a limited time.