Selected accounting policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Disclosure Of Notes And Other Explanatory Information [Abstract]

Disclosure of useful lives for property, plant and equipment

The following table shows the respective useful lives for property, plant and equipment:


			Useful life
Buildings and improvements			10 to 40 years
Machinery and other equipment
Machinery and equipment			5 to 20 years
Furniture and vehicles			5 to 10 years
Computer hardware			3 to 7 years

The following table summarizes the movements of property, plant & equipment in 2023:


($ millions)	Land	Buildings & improvements	Construction in progress	Machinery & other equipment	Total

Cost
January 1, 2023	35	2,091	955	3,694	6,775
Additions	2	98	474	129	703

Disposals and derecognitions(1)	—	(28)	(7)	(177)	(212)
Reclassifications for assets placed in service	—	109	(412)	303	—

Currency translation effects	1	24	13	40	78
December 31, 2023	38	2,294	1,023	3,989	7,344

Accumulated depreciation
January 1, 2023	—	(870)	(2)	(1,878)	(2,750)
Depreciation charge	—	(100)	—	(285)	(385)

Disposals and derecognitions(1)	—	28	—	158	186

Currency translation effects	—	(10)	—	(16)	(26)
December 31, 2023	—	(952)	(2)	(2,021)	(2,975)
Net book value at December 31, 2023	38	1,342	1,021	1,968	4,369

(1)Derecognition of assets that are no longer used and are not considered to have a significant disposal value or other alternative use.

As of December 31, 2023, commitments for purchases of property, plant & equipment were $283 million.

The following table summarizes the movements of property, plant & equipment in 2022:


($ millions)	Land	Buildings & improvements	Construction in progress	Machinery & other equipment	Total

Cost
January 1, 2022	36	1,987	790	3,547	6,360
Additions	—	10	554	123	687
Impact of business combination	—	10	2	15	27
Disposals and derecognitions(1)	—	(13)	(3)	(172)	(188)
Reclassifications for assets placed in service	—	127	(389)	262	—

Currency translation effects	(1)	(30)	1	(81)	(111)
December 31, 2022	35	2,091	955	3,694	6,775

Accumulated depreciation
January 1, 2022	—	(802)	(1)	(1,846)	(2,649)
Depreciation charge	—	(92)	—	(238)	(330)
Impairment charge	—	—	(2)	—	(2)
Disposals and derecognitions(1)	—	13	1	165	179

Currency translation effects	—	11	—	41	52
December 31, 2022	—	(870)	(2)	(1,878)	(2,750)
Net book value at December 31, 2022	35	1,221	953	1,816	4,025

(1)Derecognition of assets that are no longer used and are not considered to have a significant disposal value or other alternative use.

Disclosure of useful lives for intangible assets and location in combined income statement

The following table shows the respective useful lives for available-for-use intangible assets and the location in the Consolidated Income Statement in which the respective amortization and any potential impairment charge is recognized:


	Useful life	Income statement location for amortization and impairment charges
Currently marketed products	5 to 20 years	"Cost of net sales"
Marketing know-how	25 years	"Cost of net sales"
Technologies	10 to 20 years	"Cost of net sales" or "Research and Development"
Other (including software)	3 to 10 years	In the respective functional expense
Alcon brand name	Not amortized, indefinite useful life	"Other expense"