SECTOR PROFILE
Pharmaceuticals
CHEMICAL
REACTIONS
With much attention focused on ethical drug supply, the pharmaceutical
industry’s environmental performance can be overlooked. But green
steps are being taken. Melanie Brown and Lesley Chaplin report
C
orporate social responsibility (CSR) tion of a lagoon to collect water from fire CO
2
emissions by around 20% between 2000
considerations in the pharmaceutical hydrants in emergencies cost £300,000. Lonza and 2007 and was obtaining 16% of its energy
industry usually focus on the need to has incorporated EMS in safety management from clean sources by the end of 2007. It imple-
supply drugs at affordable prices to the devel- and is setting up a ‘community of practice’ to mented over 430 energy conservation measures
oping world. Many of the major pharmaceuti- share best practice across all sites. in 2007, resulting in an overall 6% improve-
cal companies are involved in programmes to Energy costs for pharmaceutical companies ment in energy efficiency for Pfizer-owned
improve access to medicines in developing are generally much higher than water charges facilities and a reduction of CO
2
emissions of
countries. According to the International due to air circulation needs, making reducing more than 130,000 million tonnes a year.
Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers energy consumption an important priority. Pfizer’s site at Sandwich in Kent produces
Association (IFPMA), there are currently Around 65% of the energy cost at Lonza is air more than 90% of its electricity and steam
more than 50 examples of partnerships handling. This is required to maintain a sterile through combined heat and power renewable
between pharmaceutical companies and inter- production environment and a constant technology. Plans are under way to make
national bodies worldwide working on drug humidity. The company has increased electric- lighting, heating and cooling systems more
programmes for the developing world. ity monitoring by installing sub-metering to energy efficient. In addition to energy savings,
Research and development is under way into identify where most energy is being used and conservation projects in 2007 at Pfizer
diseases prevalent in developing countries, par- has installed infrared movement sensors to reduced water usage by over 1.3M cubic
ticularly targeting HIV and Aids and malaria, switch off lights and office equipment when meters a year by recycling water at different
as well as health education and disease preven- process stages. Key areas in which water usage
tion programmes. This emphasis on ethical was reduced were the recovery of reverse
drug supply has diverted attention from the
industry’s environmental performance, which
can vary significantly between companies.
Regulatory requirements are making
‘
Energy costs for pharmaceutical
osmosis water to cooling towers, recycling of
companies are generally much
wastewater treatment plant effluent and
higher than water charges, increased boiler condensate recovery.
making reducing energy
Process modifications can also reduce water
pharmaceutical companies examine their consumption requirements. Massive cuts in
green credentials. Lonza Biologics, headquar-
tered in Basel, Switzerland, is a supplier of
services ranging from research to final product
’
consumption a priority water use have been made by using plastic
bag-based disposable fermentation systems
areas are not in use. A saving of £50,000 has that do not require cleaning or sterilising.
manufacture to the pharmaceutical and health- been achieved in energy costs for computers These systems are being used for produc-
care industries. The firm’s Slough facility alone since the sensors were installed. tion, particularly for human or animal cells, in
launched an environmental management Upgrading burners in steam boilers has also volumes of up to 2,000 litres. They reduce the
system (EMS) in 2008 with targets for waste significantly improved energy efficiency. risk of cross contamination as well as elimi-
recycling, reduction in energy and water usage, These measures have saved 8% of total energy nating the need for cleaning in place. Lonza
reduction in office paper usage and full com- use in one year with minimal investment cost. has reduced cleaning water consumption by
pliance with Environment Agency and Expenditure on capital projects such as com- more than 100 fold as a result of replacing
Thames Water requirements. Targets set by the bined heat and power, has a longer payback, hardware with disposable plastic alternatives.
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control but could provide security of energy supply as One recent study carried out by Rawlings
Directive (IPPC) have required companies like well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions. and Pora of Pall Life Sciences, a producer of
Lonza to reduce their waste and energy con- Pfizer is a leader in the environmental field disposable systems, compared the environ-
sumption by 20% between 2007 and 2010. among pharmaceutical companies. It has had a mental impact of disposable bioreactors with
Engineering manager, Nic Murrell, believes Corporate Energy Conservation Guideline that of stainless steel systems. They found that
that improving environmental performance is since 1996 and an internal energy and climate energy consumption for materials was higher
a necessity. However, it is costly. The installa- change programme since 2000. It decreased for disposable systems due to the higher mate-
28 February 2010 ❘ Sustainable Business
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