| Air
GlaxoSmithKline identifies, characterises and assesses emissions
to the air from our operations so that we can minimise or manage
them in a way that eliminates adverse impact to the public or the
environment. As part of our programme to reduce air emissions, especially
greenhouse gases, GlaxoSmithKline is planning the installation of
wind turbines at two of our manufacturing sites. In addition to
reducing greenhouse gas, these turbines will have the benefit of
generating renewable energy for our operations.
We have achieved significant reductions in solvent releases through
reformulation of final dosage forms using water-based technologies.
Our emission of volatile organic compounds declined over 9% on a
per unit sales basis compared to our 2001 baseline. During the same
time period, emission of all ozone depleting compounds (reported
as CFC-11 equivalents) was reduced by over 60% on a per unit sales
basis.
Read about our air emission performance.
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GlaxoSmithKline developed Tranilast as an in-licensed compound from Kissei Pharmaceuticals of Japan. R&D Chemical Development, in conjunction with manufacturing, refined the production process inherited from Kissei. They were able to make significant improvements across the entire synthetic route as well as in the technology transfer process, and reduce the environmental impact. In addition, the research & development and manufacturing organisations and the Irish Environmental Authorities worked together to effectively manage the chloroform used in the re-crystallisation step of the improved process. By employing an amylene stabiliser in the chloroform rather than the usual ethanol, a recycling process with better than 90% overall recovery efficiency of chloroform was attained. This exceeded the compliance benchmark set by the Irish Environmental Authorities without compromising the drug substance quality. This project received second place honours in Green Chemistry/Technology in the 2003 CEO's
EHS Excellence Awards. |
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Wastewater
GlaxoSmithKline is committed to ensuring that discharges to the
environment are kept to levels that avoid adverse impact and conserve
resources. We have developed detailed guidance to support the EHS
Standard that addresses wastewater management and have a target
to reduce chemical oxygen demand, a measure of water pollution.
In 2003, we achieved nearly 16% reduction in the amount of chemical
oxygen demand (COD) discharged on a per unit sales basis as compared
to our 2001 baseline.
Read about our wastewater performance.
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Research Triangle Park (RTP) is a 7,000 acre research park in the United States owned by the private, not-for-profit, RTP Foundation. The GlaxoSmithKline facility located in RTP led a committee of other RTP owners and tenants to address the issue of mercury in wastewater. Participants included representatives from several local and state organisations and several environmental consulting firms. GlaxoSmithKline also led in developing a database of commercial products used in such things as wastewater treatment, housekeeping, sterilisation, etc. The information on mercury content in the database helps companies to select products that will minimise mercury contribution. GlaxoSmithKline RTP also co-ordinated two seminars: one on potential impacts of mercury on wastewater and another on initiatives a company could take to minimise its mercury contribution. This project received third place honours in the EHS Community Partnership category in the 2003 CEO's
EHS Excellence Awards. |
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Waste
GlaxoSmithKline has targets to reduce the impact of waste from our
operation on the environment. Technical guidance had been developed
for our EHS standards on Waste Minimisation and Recycling and on
Waste Management. Sites identify and assess waste arising from site
activities and then minimise or manage waste through the following
measures:
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Eliminate or reduce waste generation whenever feasible
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Substitute with sustainable materials whenever feasible
to minimise overall impacts on air, water and land
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Re-use waste whenever feasible
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Recycle wastes in a manner consistent with local regulatory
requirements
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Use treatment and disposal options that minimise the overall
EHS risks and impacts on air, water and land
GlaxoSmithKline sites are implementing these measures as demonstrated
by waste management results in 2003 in comparison to the 2001 baseline.
Hazardous waste disposal was down 8% on a per unit sales basis,
non-hazardous waste disposal was down 22% on a per unit sales basis
although improvements in recycling did not contribute to this improvement.
GlaxoSmithKline has established a steering team to ensure effective
management of waste. Efforts have been based in the UK and Ireland
thus far and there has been a significant shift from high temperature
incineration of waste solvents towards beneficial reuse.
Read about our waste performance.
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GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, India is involved in the manufacture of malted food drinks and consumer products such as Horlicks, Boost, Maltova, Viva; Biscuits, the antacid ENO and Aquafresh toothbrushes. There are three manufacturing sites Nabha, Rajahmundry and Sonepat as well as ten contract manufacturing sites located in different parts of the country. Solid wastes generated at the shop floor, warehouses and canteens at Nabha and Rajahmundry, were burned in incinerators fuelled by diesel and electricity. This depleted natural resources and contributed to pollution and global warming. The cost of operation was also very high. In looking for a solution, a project team identified composting as an environment friendly method of disposal for biodegradable solid wastes. Nabha carried out a number of trial composting schemes until a viable bio-composting process was established. It was put into place at both Nabha and Rajahmundry sites. Nabha currently composts 300 kg of waste daily, Rajahmundry 100 kg. The programme is being extended to Sonepat, India and contract manufacturing sites in India where similar wastes are generated. This project received second place honours in the EHS Initiative category in the 2003 CEO's
EHS Excellence Awards. |
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Natural Resources
GlaxoSmithKline strives to reduce natural resource consumption by
our operations to minimise impact on the environment. We have adopted
global standards on Sustainable Development, Energy Efficiency,
Water Management and Biodiversity to ensure the sustainability of
our operations. The Corporate Environment, Health and Safety department
works with Procurement, Engineering Technology and Capital Management
and other corporate functions as well as the operational sites to
identify and implement natural resource conservation projects. CEHS
has developed an Energy Management Audit Protocol to assess energy
conservation at operational sites. Energy management tools such
as a model energy management programme for sites have also been
developed. In 2003, GlaxoSmithKline consumed almost 9% less energy
worldwide on a per unit sales basis than in 2001. Water consumption
was reduced by almost 17% on a per unit sales basis during that
same time period.
Read about our water usage.
Read about our energy usage.
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The GlaxoSmithKline plant in Rajahmundry, India, manufactures Horlicks and Chocolate Horlicks, a malted food under the nutritional healthcare category. At this site a cross-functional team identified opportunities to reduce water consumption and effluent generation. They successfully reduced water consumption by 40% in one year by optimising the number of water taps, reducing the size of water pipelines, inspecting for leaks daily, using self/gravity closing cocks on valves, using cooling tower water for vacuum pump seals and increasing the steam condensate recovery to 95%. They also reduced effluent generation by 38% in the same time. In addition, they installed a turbo-generator, which generates more than 30% of the electricity required by the plant, by making use of steam that had previously been lost through pressure reduction valves. The new generator resulted in annual savings of around £144,000 GBP. This project received first place honours in the EHS Initiative category in the 2003 CEO's
EHS Excellence Awards. |
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