Coloplast A/S
Coloplast is a Danish medical device company developing ostomy, continence, wound, bowel, urology and respiratory care products and support programmes, serving over 2 million people in more than 100 countries.
Coloplast A/S is a global medical device company that develops products and support programmes for people with intimate healthcare needs, covering ostomy, continence, wound and tissue repair, interventional urology, bowel care, and voice and respiratory care. The company was founded in 1954 by nurse Elise Sørensen, who created the world's first adhesive ostomy bag after observing the difficulties faced by her sister, Thora. Its ostomy care portfolio now serves over 2 million people in more than 100 countries.
Headquartered in Humlebæk, Denmark, Coloplast employs approximately 16,500 people and maintains operations in 41 countries. Beyond physical products, the company runs two service programmes: Coloplast Care, which provides users with practical guidance and emotional education, and Coloplast Professional, which offers healthcare providers specialised resources and training.
Technical work spans medical device design, adhesive ostomy bag technology, and user-centric innovation across intimate healthcare product development. The company describes its development process as beginning with listening to users to understand their real challenges, and its founding values as closeness, passion and respect, with an emphasis on helping people manage private health conditions with dignity and confidence.