Pfizer meets targets on greenhouse gases
pharmafile | August 16, 2012 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | GHGs, Merck, Pfizer
Pfizer says it has fulfilled its goal of cutting environmentally-harmful emissions from its facilities by 20%, a year ahead of schedule.
The firm was aiming to meet a five-year target to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) next year, but has already achieved the objective, saying the project also allowed it to offset costs through annualised savings of around $85 million.
Reducing GHGs is one pillar of a wide-ranging programme at Pfizer that also includes increasing energy efficiency, minimising releases to air and water, decreasing water use and waste, and increasing recycling.
Measures implemented by Pfizer include reducing emissions from its fleet of nearly 40,000 vehicles worldwide, and upgrades to its manufacturing facilities including the introduction of biomass boilers at its pharma production facilities in Sanford, North Carolina and Freiburg in Germany, as well as a nutritional products plant in Singapore.
The boilers use wood chips from local sources to generate power, helping Pfizer to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels for energy production.
The Freiburg site burns 5,000 tonnes of wood pellets every year but prevents 5,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere, according to Michael Becker, director of engineering at the site.
Freiburg also makes use of geothermal systems which use heat stored in the earth to warm offices during the winter, and works in reverse to provide a cooling effect in summer, with the only energy requirement being the electricity used to operate the system. This technology is also being examined for wider roll-out across the Pfizer network.
Other measures introduced by Pfizer include a green buildings programme, which included the installation of solar panels on the roofs of Freiburg and a number of buildings – notably Pfizer’s global operations unit in Groton, Connecticut and research unit in La Jolla, California – as well as upgrades to lighting and insulation. Solar systems are also planned for facilities in Puerto Rico and Italy.
Other firms making efforts in this area include Merck & Co which in 2010 said it had successfully cut GHG emissions by 50%, and was aiming at another 12% reduction by this year.
“Environmental sustainability is aligned with Pfizer’s strategic business imperatives, including making the right capital allocations”, said Steve Brooks, the company’s vice president of global environment, health and safety.
Brooks also noted that it makes good financial sense. “Every dollar that we have invested in the programme gets paid back in two years,” he added.
Phil Taylor
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