As a pharmaceutical company, we advance good health not only through the innovation, production and distribution of medicines, but also through our commitment to protecting the environment, health and safety (EHS) of our colleagues and the communities where we operate around the world. As we renew our commitment in our work every day, we also seek to identify emerging EHS issues relevant to our industry and stakeholders and lead efforts to address them through innovative policies and programs.
Pfizer in Ireland is acutely aware of the need to care for and preserve our natural resources. In particular we bring our environmental awareness to all stage of planning, set-up and operations of our manufacturing plants.
As a business we recognise and welcome the greater responsibilities that come with scope and scale, and consider Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) a key pillar of good corporate citizenship. Committed to seeking continuous improvement in EHS performance, Pfizer’s achievements at the 2006 Sustainable Energy Ireland awards built on its successes over previous years, and reflects its ongoing focus on maintaining safe and environmentally sound manufacturing operations, integrating EHS considerations into research and product development, contributing to the common effort to protect the natural and workplace environment, and fostering openness and dialogue with colleagues and the public.
Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals in Little Island won the Large Industrial Category at the 2006 SEI awards for its Co-ordinated Energy Management Programme. The site has an active energy team with support from plant leadership for the implementation of energy saving projects. The site recently committed to achieving the IS:393 energy management standard within the next two years.
The energy team have successfully implemented 64 projects over the past 5 years leading to significant energy savings in electricity, natural gas and mains water consumption. Year on year the site has achieved its target to reduce site energy consumption by 5%. This has been achieved while product volumes have significantly increased and therefore the real reduction in energy consumption is far in excess of the 5% target. This is demonstrated by the LIEN energy performance index (EPI) which yielded 48% results in 2005.
Little Island’s energy conservation programme is ongoing and further projects have been identified and are progressing. Active awareness campaigns are run during Energy Awareness Week which encourage colleagues to be energy aware both at home and at work. A comprehensive M&T system is operational throughout the plant. This system has in excess of 70 metres covering Electricity, natural gas, mains water, chilled water, nitrogen, compressed air and waste water. This is a key tool used in the day to day monitoring of the sites energy usage and facilitates monthly reports on consumption. The system also facilitates in the identification of new energy initiatives.
In addition in 2006, the Pfizer plant at Ringaskiddy joined a select number of Pfizer sites worldwide to have achieved the prestigious Voluntary Protection Programme (VPP) Star Safety Award. The initiative, which was launched in Ireland in 2004 as a pilot scheme by the Health & Safety Authority, has been running in the US since 1982. According to US research, VPP sites report fewer worker fatalities, injuries and illnesses and are generally better places in which to work.
The VPP programme was developed by the United States Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) to encourage companies to go beyond their legal obligation in protecting workers’ health and safety. Through a partnership agreement with the OSHA, the HSA in Ireland was the first country in Europe to operate the programme outside the United States.
With rising fuel costs, the opening of electricity and gas markets and the implementation of new climate change policies, there has never been a greater imperative for organisations to manage energy wisely. Evidence shows that the adoption of strategic management system practices can result in significant savings. These sixty four projects reflect Pfizer’s commitment to environmental excellence but also clearly send home the message that sustainable energy practices are good for business and good for the environment, and that all employees have a role to play in making a difference.