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Wastewater

In 2005, we generated 17 million cubic metres of wastewater from our manufacturing processes and various site operations. This is 1% less than 2004 (20% since 2001). The decrease is mainly due to consolidating primary manufacturing sites following the merger in 2000, and outsourcing some fermentation processes. We reused, recovered or recycled 6% of total wastewater.

GSK’s EHS Standards require sites to reuse water whenever feasible and ensure that all wastewater is treated and discharged in a way that minimises adverse environmental impacts. Most sites discharge wastewater to municipal treatment facilities either with or without prior treatment. Some large sites, especially primary manufacturing sites, have their own on-site wastewater treatment systems. Some sites are permitted to discharge wastewater direct to sea.

All five of our sites in India have implemented “zero wastewater” discharge programmes – reusing and recycling all wastewater. They use processed wastewater for watering plants and trees, which help provide shade, improve the appearance of the site, and are also a source of food for employees. They do not discharge any wastewater to water bodies or to municipal sewers.

Our site in Xochimilco, Mexico uses processed wastewater for watering gardens around the site, washing vehicles and windows and other uses not requiring drinking water. Our sites in Turkey and the Philippines also re-use all wastewater.

We assess the quality of our wastewater by measuring the chemical oxygen demand (COD) - the oxygen required to chemically oxidise organic and inorganic compounds present in the water. (The lower the COD, the cleaner the water.)

Total COD decreased by 7% compared to 2004 (30% since 2001). Most of the reduction is due to our site at Ulverston, UK, outsourcing fermentation processes. COD per unit sales decreased by 13% since 2004 and 34% since 2001 – meaning we have achieved our 2005 target of a 30% reduction per unit sales since 2001.

Chemical oxygen demand

Note to wastewater and COD charts
Wastewater volume includes all manufacturing and site process wastewater as well as sanitary and food service wastewater.

Wastewater quality is measured by Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) which is a measure of the oxygen required to chemically oxidise organic and inorganic compounds present in the water.

The COD is measured when wastewater leaves our sites, following any on-site treatment.

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