Cook Medical, a global medical device manufacturer, has announced a new collaboration to incorporate DuPont™ Tyvek® with Renewable Attribution into its medical device packaging. Together with Nelipak® Healthcare Packaging, an Authorized Converter of Tyvek® Healthcare Packaging products, Cook is taking action to deliver more sustainable product packaging that can be seamlessly integrated into existing healthcare packaging production processes.
The project involves the use of Tyvek® with Renewable Attribution in the packaging of Cook Medical’s Compass BDS® Biliary Plastic Stent and Resonance® Metallic Ureteral Stent, helping enable more sustainable healthcare packaging by reducing product carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuels.
“We are committed to making sustainable choices across our business,” said Barry Slowey, chief sustainability officer at Cook Medical. “By integrating Tyvek® with Renewable Attribution into our packaging, we are taking meaningful steps toward reducing our carbon footprint and promoting environmentally responsible practices. We are excited to be an early adopter of this innovative offering, and we look forward to bringing it to our customers.”
“Nelipak® has long been an Authorized Converter of Tyvek®, delivering innovative healthcare packaging solutions worldwide. By including Tyvek® with Renewable Attribution, supplied from our ISCC PLUS certified sites, in our Ecovate® sustainable product portfolio, we are taking an important step to help our medical device customers achieve their carbon footprint reduction goals,” said Pat Chambliss, CEO at Nelipak®.
DuPont™ Tyvek® with Renewable Attribution has significantly lower CO2 emissions compared to conventional Tyvek®, while retaining its trusted performance and quality. The carbon footprint reduction of Tyvek® with Renewable Attribution is enabled by the partial replacement of fossil fuel materials with certified renewable sources.
This is achieved through the mass balance approach, in accordance with the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) system. The use of certified bio-circular feedstock attributed to Tyvek® enables lower CO2 emissions and helps to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
“To protect our planet, we need to be innovative, passionate, and most importantly, collaborative. We are excited to work with like-minded, industry-inspiring organizations, such as Cook Medical and Nelipak®, who are helping to lead the way toward the use of more sustainable solutions in healthcare packaging,” said David Domnisch, vice president and general manager, DuPont Tyvek®.
Gayle Karch Cook, historical preservation activist and cofounder of the Cook companies alongside husband Bill Cook, passed away at 91 this morning. She is survived by her son Carl and daughter-in-law Marcy and their granddaughter, Eleanor.
“Gayle’s spirit of innovation was evident in everything she did. Whatever she was involved in, she left it better than she found it. This was true of her philosophy for the ever-growing company, her extensive efforts in renovating historically significant places, and her daily interactions with other people. That’s her inspiring legacy that we will keep striving for,” said Pete Yonkman, president of Cook Medical and Cook Group.
In 1963, Bill and Gayle Cook created a small company named Cook Incorporated that manufactured three simple medical devices used to treat patients in less invasive ways than common surgical techniques of the time. Gayle was the company’s first quality control employee, meticulously checking the devices Bill made after he finished work each night.
That small company grew into what is today Cook Group, a family of ethical and entrepreneurial companies. Cook Group includes the flagship company, Cook Medical, a global company that invents, manufactures, and delivers devices for treating conditions in almost every system of the body. Cook Group also includes companies in the life sciences, property management, resort, and service businesses.
Bill, Carl and Gayle Cook
The family planned ahead for this event, and nothing will change for employees moving forward. Carl Cook, Gayle and Bill’s son, has been CEO of Cook Group since his father’s passing in 2011. Company leadership will remain the same with Pete Yonkman as president of Cook Group and Cook Medical and Steve Ferguson as Chairman of the Board.
Gayle Karch Cook, born March 1, 1934, in Evansville, Indiana, made excellence her goal in every aspect of her life. She was salutatorian of Bosse High School when she graduated in 1952, and she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Indiana University in 1956. After graduating, she began her career in advertising in Chicago. After marrying her husband, Bill, they moved to Bloomington, Indiana. There, in the spare bedroom of their apartment, they officially began the company that would later become Cook Medical. The company’s focus has always been on the patient, with a goal to make surgeries minimally invasive.
She was committed to creating a vibrant community, as she also served on the board of directors for the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps, the Bloomington Antique Mall, the Nature Conservancy, Indiana Chapter, and the board of trustees of the Indiana University Foundation.
Gayle was an avid supporter of historic preservation, and she was heavily involved in many restoration projects. She spearheaded about 70 historic preservation and economic revitalization projects, including the much-lauded West Baden Springs and French Lick resorts; Indianapolis’ Central Avenue Methodist Church; and Beck’s Mill and Cedar Farm complex in southern Indiana. The first property she restored and refurnished was the Colonel William Jones House, built in 1835. The house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is now a museum open to the public as a State Historic Site. Gayle restored historic sites to their original state, including the James Cochran house, the Illinois Central Freight Depot, the 8-story Graham Hotel, and more than 17 structures in the central square of Bloomington, Indiana.
In addition to her involvement in the restoration work itself, Gayle served on the boards of many restoration organizations. She was on the advisory committee of the Wylie House Museum, the Board of Governors of the Monroe County Historical Museum, the board of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, and was an appointee of the State Historic Preservation Review Board. She was also a founder of the Monroe County History Center Annual Garage Sale which has become a staple in the Bloomington community. With every project, Gayle’s philosophy was to restore not just the site itself, but also the character and beauty of the location for present and future generations. Historic preservation wasn’t just good business; it was an investment in the community.
Gayle authored and published two books detailing her passion for Indiana’s history. The first, A Guide to Southern Indiana, was published in 1972. The other, Monroe County in Focus: Portrait of an Indiana County, was published in 1990.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of IU, Gayle earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in fine arts in 1956. She and her late husband were generous, far-sighted benefactors of IU’s Jacobs School of Music, School of Education, School of Medicine and Kelley School of Business, as well as supporting IU Athletics, the Wylie House Museum, the Wells Scholars program and research in the College of Arts and Sciences.
About Cook Medical
At Cook Medical, we are passionate about making unique, quality medical devices and connecting with people to improve lives. Founded on inventing, manufacturing, and delivering medical devices, we provide healthcare professionals with the tools they need to help their patients return to living.
Our commitment to innovation involves bringing new products to market and keeping existing products relevant to a changing healthcare landscape. We believe in using our business to help people and communities thrive by creating inclusive, supportive, and healthy environments.
We are proud of our history of innovative firsts and the impact we have on patients and communities. With headquarters in Bloomington, Indiana, and manufacturing facilities and offices in various global locations, we challenge ourselves to maintain a global perspective while focusing on local impact.
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Cook Medical has released its Social Impact & Sustainability Report for 2024, highlighting the company’s commitment to working sustainably and responsibly while fulfilling its purpose to improve the lives of everyone it serves.
The report reflects on the achievements of Cook’s teams across all locations in social impact and sustainability throughout 2024.
Our social impact initiatives provide tangible outcomes and improved opportunities for our employees and those in the communities in which we operate. Our sustainability goals are centered on protecting and enhancing our local environments and reducing our carbon footprint on the planet.
While our activities may vary by location, collectively we are enhancing the health and quality of life for the people we work with and serve, protecting the environment, and fostering social development.
2024 Social Impact & Sustainability highlights:
- Achieved ISO 14001 certification for our European sales subsidiaries (16 countries) and made significant progress toward certification of our Indiana-based manufacturing sites.
- Finalized our global 10-year Decarbonization Strategy with goals and targets.
- Strengthened existing and developed new strategic social enterprise partnerships.
- Established a more sustainable office for our clinician Learning Centre in Barcelona, Spain.
- Completed all necessary preliminary work for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
- Achieved significant growth in our Business Resource Group membership and events.
- Conducted a companywide employee engagement survey, and continued implementation of improvements based on feedback from previous surveys.
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The 2025 Cook Medical Mini Marathon was officially launched at the Strand Hotel, Limerick, marking a significant milestone—Cook Medical’s 10th year as proud title sponsor.
Over 3,000 participants from all over Ireland are expected to take part in the event on Sunday, 5 October. The Mini Marathon kicks off at 12 pm at the University of Limerick, with participants of all ages walking, jogging, or running the 5 km and 10 km courses.
Each year, the event raises vital funds for local and national charities. Participants can link their race sign-up to a personally chosen charity through a dedicated online platform, Give2you, with all proceeds going directly to their chosen charity.
Speaking about the event, Race Director John Cleary said, “We’re thrilled to kick off the 2025 Cook Medical Mini Marathon, an event that continues to grow year after year. We’re especially proud to mark Cook Medical’s 10th year as title sponsor. I would like to thank them for their continued support and commitment to this event and our community. See you all at the starting line on Sunday, October 5.”
“This year is particularly special to us as we mark our 10th year in sponsoring the Mini Marathon,” said Carla DiBenedetto, HR director and race ambassador at Cook Medical. “We’re proud to continue supporting this long-standing event that brings people together to have fun, while also raising vital funds for charities. The Mini Marathon reflects our commitment to building deep and lasting connections within our community, and we’re honoured to be part of it. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday, October 5.”
All participants will receive a 2025 race top and a 2025 commemorative medal. To register for the Cook Medical Mini Marathon, visit limerickminimarathon.com.
Supporting communities through actions such as sponsoring the Mini Marathon is part of Cook’s vision and strategic plan. Their activities may vary across the globe, but together they are committed to making an impact everywhere they operate in their unique Cook way.
Cook Medical has been listed as one of LinkedIn’s Top Companies in Ireland in 2025, recognising the 25 best workplaces to grow your career in Ireland.
LinkedIn evaluates several key factors when compiling the list, including looking at how companies perform in areas such as employee advancement opportunities, skills development and the overall supportiveness of the company’s culture.
Cook Medical is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that allows everyone to reach their full potential within Cook.
Carla DiBenedetto, director of HR, commented on this achievement, “Our people are our greatest asset and are at the heart of everything we do. We provide resources and benefits to help our employees achieve their personal and professional goals while actively working to remove any barriers that stand in their way. Therefore, being recognised on this list is a privilege.”
For more information, read the LinkedIn Top Companies 2025, The 25 best workplaces to grow your career in Ireland.
Cook Medical has announced a €3 million investment in renewable and energy-saving technologies.
The project consists of a new 1 megawatt ground-mounted solar PV array on the grounds of the Limerick site, along with 1.2 megawatts of heat pumps to replace the existing chillers, an upgrade of electronically commutated fans, and a new energy management system.
The investment is part of the company’s carbon reduction goals, with the new technologies helping to increase the operational efficiency of the facility in Castletroy and eventually offsetting approximately 50% of carbon emissions.
This project is expected to offset up to 269 tonnes of carbon annually, and over its 25-year life cycle it will remove a total of 6,725 tonnes of carbon. Coupled with the procurement of additional green energy technologies, this will result in the removal of 60% of the carbon from the Cook Ireland site.
This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. Minister for Enterprise Tourism & Employment Peter Burke said, “For almost 30 years, Cook Medical has been present in Ireland and today’s announcement of a €3 million investment in renewable and energy-saving technologies is fantastic news. The combined plans are expected to offset 50% of their carbon emissions, which is in line with the Climate Action Plan to halve Ireland’s emissions by 2030. It is really encouraging to see initiatives being taken by companies focused on carbon reduction measures, sustainability and protecting the environment for future generations. I wish Cook Medical success with these plans and all their future endeavours.”
Commenting on the project, Bill Doherty, executive vice president and managing director of Cook Medical Europe, said, ‘’We are committed to making sustainable choices across our business and reducing our impact on the environment. By integrating solar panels into our operations, we’re able to enhance our efficiency while also reducing our carbon footprint.”
The company is committed to enhancing and maintaining the biodiversity of its site and will continue to safeguard the environment in its plans. In addition to reseeding native wildflowers in all areas under construction, the company will also preserve walking tracks and spaces for wildlife.
CEO of IDA Ireland Michael Lohan said: “This proposed project will position Cook’s Irish operations as an exemplar with its global network, and as a key location of subject matter expertise around energy management systems. Strongly aligned to the National Climate Action Plan’s Enterprise Pillar and IDA Ireland’s sustainability targets, we wish Cook Medical every success with this initiative which has far reaching potential.’’
Upon completion of this project, Cook Ireland will reduce its annual import of electricity by 19% and release that capacity back to the grid. A 70% reduction in the annual use of natural gas consumption is expected from the installation of the heat pumps.
A planning application has been submitted to Limerick City and County Council. If successful, construction on this project is expected to begin in due course.
We recently welcomed some of our friends from NOVAS to Cook Medical Limerick, where they presented members of our philanthropy team, Cairde Cook, with a mosaic design of a tree, created by clients of the NOVAS service.
This mosaic is not just a beautiful piece of art, but a representation of the collective journey of NOVAS clients and the positive changes they have experienced through their engagement with the NOVAS art therapy programme. It is also a reminder of our commitment to giving back and fostering deep connections in our communities to make a real difference.
Through our recent charity partnership, NOVAS was able to establish an art cabin at Brother Russell House in Limerick, which has become an invaluable space for their clients, offering a range of creative opportunities including painting, drawing, woodwork, and clay, as part of their Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) approach to therapy and rehabilitation.
The art cabin plays a significant role in this approach, offering clients a safe and empowering environment where they can express themselves creatively.
In November 2023, to mark National TIP Day, NOVAS clients and their teachers came together to create a collaborative piece to symbolise Cook Medical’s partnership with NOVAS. The chosen piece was the tree mosaic, representative of the strength, hope and resilience fostered through our collaborative efforts.
“He who plants a tree, plants a hope”, Lucy Larcom, Poet
We are proud to see the impact of our support for the vital work of NOVAS, and to have played a role in creating a space that brings healing, connection and hope to those who need it most.
Cook Medical has announced a new distribution partnership with Movianto UK, a leading European supply chain solutions partner, in the United Kingdom. Starting October 2024, orders from customers in the UK will be shipped from Movianto UK, enhancing Cook Medical’s commitment to better serving customers and delivering life-saving products more efficiently.
One of the key benefits of this partnership is the quicker delivery of Cook products to customers in the UK. Products will now be shipped from within the country, creating a more streamlined and smooth process while reducing the risk of delays.
Additionally, by shipping products by road rather than air, Cook Medical aims to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Partnerships like this are just one of the many ways Cook is changing to better serve its customers and patients. As Cook continues to change in line with its vision, an integral part of the plan is fostering partnerships to enhance product offerings.
Speaking about the new partnership, Eamonn Barry, director of Customer Support and Distribution, EMEA at Cook Medical, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Movianto UK to expedite the delivery of our products to customers and, ultimately, patients across the UK. Our experience working with Movianto UK has been hugely positive so far. Their values and ethos closely align with those of Cook Medical. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership.”
David Evans, managing director of Movianto UK, added, “Thanks to our specialisation in logistics for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, we were able to quickly implement Cook Medical’s wishes. Now, we are delighted that our warehousing and dispatch service provides the basis for next-day delivery to Cook customers nationwide. This is faster and more environmentally friendly than the previous distribution model.”
