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Transport

We estimate that transport accounts for 9% of our total global warming impact. In 2005 we emitted approximately 232 million kilograms of CO₂ from transport.

Business air travel accounts for almost half (48%) of our travel-related CO₂ emissions. In 2005, employees travelled a total of almost 800 million kilometres by plane (a decrease of 2% since 2004) – resulting in 112 million kg of CO₂ emissions. This includes transatlantic flights between the US and UK, and flights within the EU and US for routine business activities, as well as travel originating in the UK related to large group events such as sales conventions.

In 2005, our global sales fleet drove a total of over 850 million kilometres on business travel – resulting in 102 million kg of CO₂.

In addition to business travel, we also transport products ­from our manufacturing plants to distributors. In 2005, GSK products were transported a total of 195 million kilometres - the majority (82%) by air freight. We estimate that the air freight resulted in 19 million kg of CO₂. This 37% increase in 2005 is due to:

• improved data collection
• continued business growth
• increased sourcing from China
• a rise in clinical trials conducted outside the US and UK

We have launched a number of initiatives to reduce the impact of transporting products. They include consolidating freight shipments so pharmaceutical and consumer products are transported together, consolidating shipping points, and making more use of round tripping (managing inbound freight trucks so they do not return empty). We also convert air transport to sea transport where possible.

We have "green travel plans" at a number of sites to encourage employees to reduce the environmental impact of their travel to work. For example, at GSK House in Brentford, UK, privileged parking spaces are given to car-sharers and drivers of fuel efficient cars, buses run to and from the local train station, while changing rooms and showers are provided for cyclists as well as discounts for bicycle equipment and repairs.

We encourage employees to use video and teleconferencing where possible to reduce air travel. Virtual meeting software is available to employees for making presentations and collaborative working. On average, GSK employees conduct 450 video meetings, 30,000 teleconferences and 29,000 virtual meetings per month.

Performance

Total global warming potential from transport increased by 13% in 2005 and 98% since 2001. The increase since 2001 is mainly because we have improved our reporting systems to collect more comprehensive transport data. For example, the 2001 data did not include business air travel within the EU and US, and it did not include the UK and international sales fleets. We believe we are still underestimating our global warming potential from transport because we do not have a robust system to collect group air travel not originating in the UK.

Note to transport chart
Data for business air travel includes transatlantic flights between the US and UK, flights within the EU and US for routine business activities, and flights originating in the UK to large group events such as sales conventions.

Data for business travel by road is primarily our global sales fleet. We do not collect data for other modes of business travel including rail and bus.

The CO₂ from air freight covers all global routes. We do not calculate CO₂ emissions from road, rail or sea freight transport because our central data collection system is not as robust in these areas and the impacts are small when compared to those of air freight transport.

We use conversion factors from the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs to calculate CO₂ from business air travel and air freight.

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