Corporate Magazine 2012 - Boehringer Ingelheim

usiness year 2012group management reportfacilities and the environment, the sustainable use ofnatural resources and the promotion of environmentalawareness are key components.Observing social and ecological concerns is the only wayto ensure that we enjoy sustainable business success. Tothis end, Boehringer Ingelheim has demonstrated itscommitment to responsible action by participating in theResponsible Care® initiative of the World Chemicals Associationsince 1995.Binding standards for environmental protection, healthand occupational safety have been implemented throughoutthe group of companies. These internal guidelines reflectthe respective country-specific legal requirementsand significantly exceed them in many cases. The Environment,Health and Safety (EHS) department is responsiblefor introducing and reviewing the internal environmentaland occupational safety guidelines. Compliancewith our standards and the status of environmental protectionand occupational safety are examined as part ofregular audits in order to allow for the continuous identificationof potential areas of improvement. A total of nineinternal EHS audits were performed throughout the groupin the 2012 financial year. In addition, projects and performanceat individual locations were systematically reviewedon the basis of defined key figures. The interactionbetween these various measures and the fact that they arefirmly established in our business processes serve as thebasis for our high standards in the areas of environmentalprotection, health and occupational safety.One example of the ongoing improvement in the area ofenvironmental protection is the new exhaust air treatmentsystem at the Ingelheim site, with an investmentvolume of more than EUR 8 million, which will supplementand respectively improve the existing exhaust airtreatment system at the Ingelheim production facilities.A new wastewater treatment system with a total investmentvolume of EUR 3.8 million also went operational inItaly in 2012. In several process steps and using state-ofthe-arttechnology, wastewater is pre-treated and posttreatedbiologically, chemically and physically in orderto ensure that it is cleaned to a standard that exceedsthe statutory requirements. In the past financial year,Boehringer Ingelheim also intensified measures for surveyingand renovating old waste deposits around theworld. In Ingelheim, where active ingredients and drugshave been produced for more than 125 years, the companylaunched a comprehensive examination and decontaminationof the ground on and adjacent to the plantpremises, and this will continue in 2013. Technicalprogress and improved information mean that problemsof this nature can now be analysed more efficiently thanwas previously the case. Experts in the fields of geochemistry,environmental toxicology and engineeringwere consulted in implementing the measures.Boehringer Ingelheim has set itself the ambitious targetof cutting its CO 2 emissions by 20% in the period from2010 to 2020. This will be achieved by including potentialenergy savings and reductions in emissions, promotingthe exchange of expertise between the company’slocations and coordinating projects at an internationallevel. After realising significant CO 2 reductions at thesites in Germany and Petersburg, USA, in 2011, last yearsaw measures such as the launch of a project in SantCugat (Spain) involving the extensive installation of energy-savinglighting, which will cut annual CO 2 emissionsby around 150 tonnes.The health and safety of our employees enjoys the highestpriority at Boehringer Ingelheim. This is reflected inour high global safety standards and guidelines as wellas the implementation of our safety culture. An initiative,which was launched in 2010, is aimed at further reducingthe number of accidents at work and was rolledout in Brazil in 2012 in addition to countries, such asGermany, the USA, China and Russia. Management andemployees play an equally important role within the initiative,proactively taking responsibility for their ownsafety and that of their colleagues. With 2.1 accidents permillion hours worked in 2012, we were able to furtherimprove in this respect compared with the previous year.Business and operating environment 29