Metered dose inhalers

Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) were first introduced in the 1950s and are used as one of the main forms of treatment for asthma sufferers. They are pressurised, hand-held devices that use propellants to deliver doses of medication to the lungs of patients. CFCs were traditionally used as the propellant because they are non-toxic, non-reactive, non-flammable and odour and taste free.

When a patient uses the MDI, the propellant is released into the atmosphere. In 2004, 464 thousand kilograms of CFC propellant were released when patients used our products in the EU and US. A much smaller proportion of CFCs - 59 thousand kilograms - escaped during production (see ozone depleting substances in manufacturing).

Although the Montreal Protocol bans the production of CFCs, it does recognise a number of "essential uses" which are exempt from the ban. MDIs fall under the essential use exemption and are therefore still allowed to be manufactured.

We plan to eliminate the use of CFCs from our product portfolio by 2010. We now offer a selection of alternatives to CFC-containing MDIs in most countries. The main alternative propellant we use is HFC 134a. We have also invested heavily in dry powder delivery systems that do not use CFCs. We estimate that the total amount we have spent on new plant and R&D on CFC-alternatives is over £550 million ($1 billion) since we identified this as an issue in the 1980s.

We are also researching alternatives to HFC 134a, which has a high global warming potential.

We are on track to meet seven of our ten targets. These cover some of our most important environmental issues, including energy and water consumption, ozone depleting potential, global warming potential, wastewater quality, volatile organic compound emissions and non-hazardous waste. We may not achieve the three targets on hazardous waste, recycling and ozone depletion potential of ancillary equipment by the end of 2005. A fuller explanation of our performance is provided on the relevant pages of this report. Next year we will set new targets for 2010.

Our group targets are based on improvement plans and forecasts from our sites. During the year, we asked all our sites to reconfirm their commitment to the 2005 targets they set in 2001. See more on our approach to setting targets.

This is a summary of our environmental performance per unit of sales. The graph shows the overall improvement (%) since 2001 and our 2005 targets.

Ozone depletion potential from patient use of metered dose inhalers