We have a complex and globalized supply chain, operating in 32 countries and territories, and serving more than one million customers worldwide. We operate a centralized and automated distribution network with 3.5 million square feet of space in 28 strategically located distribution centers around the world. This structure supports our operational efficiency and enables us to serve our customers.We work to reduce our environmental impact and promote responsible business practices not just in our own operations but also in our supply chain, in collaboration with our suppliers, partners, and customers. We acknowledge the crucial role that industry can and should play in addressing climate change, and support global efforts and international treaties to appropriately tackle climate change and achieve sustainable development.
We aspire to be carbon neutral in our supply chain emissions by the year 2050. In 2021, we will focus on baselining our distribution and transportation metrics in key markets in North America, Europe, and Australia. These will form the basis for setting our science-based targets in the future, as defined by the Science-Based Targets initiative.
To achieve our ambitions, we recognize that we need to continuously strengthen our approach to measuring, monitoring, and reporting on our carbon emissions and other environmental impacts.
We scale our environmental impact downstream in our supply chain by encouraging our customers to go green in their health care practices and adopt a shared commitment to sustainability.
We achieve this through a number of initiatives, including our Global Reflections Program, sponsoring the American Association of Dental Office Management's (AADOM's) Green Leader Initiative to recognize and aid in the adoption of environmentally conscious practices in the dental office, and by assisting practice owners in designing spaces that meet globally recognized standards for environmental sustainability through our Integrated Design Studio.
We have limited direct product manufacturing, therefore our operations are not water-intensive. We use water mainly at our distribution centers and offices for drinking, sanitation, and cooling purposes, primarily from utility sources.
We work to avoid landfilled waste, both to retain precious raw materials in the economic cycle and to prevent soil and water contamination, air pollution, and degradation of nature in and around landfills.