THE FUTURE, - Solvay

Sustainable
development
and citizenship
52
Sustainable development and citizenship > INNOVATIONS 09
209829 209833
SOLVAY GROUP SUSTAINABILITY TARGET NO
18: INFLUENZA PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS
PROJECT
Ready for tomorrow
THE PROJECT. The negative effects of a
pandemic on Solvay people and businesses could
be considerable. A Pandemic Preparedness
Project recognizing the necessity of robust
contingency planning to mitigate the effects of a
global pandemic on Solvay personnel and
the businesses has been established. Essential
businesses are prioritized to give best chances for
continuity. Hygiene kits help reduce the risk of
spreading and contracting infl uenza. Good quality
information prepares people to protect themselves
and their families. Stockpiled antiviral medication
can reduce the severity and health consequences
for those getting fl u. Country plans and local
pandemic champions are added tangible
manifestations of Solvay’s commitment to the
health and wellbeing of its people.
PHARMACEUTICALS SECTOR
> Roger Bickerstaffe; Christiane Baleux;
Carole Berthelot; Jean-Paul Bindelle;
Ann Faseur; Hans-Jürgen Korte; Claes Martenson;
Claude Michel; Belinda Schatteman;
Sarah Shaw; Martial Tardy; Herman Van Heemstra;
Herbert Vanderstrate.
ZEBRAFISH IN PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH:
REDUCING USE OF RODENTS
Fish that are more useful
than rodents
THE PROJECT. In the neuroscience early
research area, one of Solvay Pharmaceuticals’
two main areas of research, selecting interesting
compounds for further study is diffi cult,
time-consuming and requires the use of large
numbers of rodents. Using zebrafi sh offers
possibilities for a signifi cant reduction in the use
of higher-order animals in early research and in
the quantity of compound required for early tests.
What’s more, the chances of success are
expected to be greater when conducted with
compounds that show effects in zebrafi sh. Using
zebrafi sh is also a great deal easier and more cost
effective than housing and handling rodents.
Finally, reducing and refi ning our use of animals is
integral to our animal-use policy.
PHARMACEUTICALS SECTOR
> Eric Ronken; Antoinette Degroot;
Wouter Kamphuis; Nanning Takes;
Susanne Thun-Battersby.
209904
TAVAUX PLANT BIOMASS PROJECT:
ELECTRICITY AND STEAM PRODUCTION
FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES
Tavaux turns to wood
THE PROJECT. The Tavaux (France) biomass
project has two specifi c objectives, both in line
with our strategy of sustainable development:
• diversifying our energy supply by disconnecting
from the market for fossil fuels;
• reducing CO 2 emissions by our industrial
activities.
Approximately 300 000 tons of biomass per year,
mainly of forest origin, will cover 15% of the
plant’s needs (20% after conversion of electrolysis
to membrane technology).
At the same time 70 000 tons of CO 2 less per
year will be produced, corresponding to an overall
reduction of these emissions by 20% compared to
the current situation, where energy is produced
from gas and coal.
This project, selected and approved by the French
government in 2008, is in response to a national
call for projects to promote the use of biomass,
launched in late 2006.
It owes its success to many factors including:
• team spirit among all participants in the project;
• support from the Competence Centres
concerned;
• excellent communication, in particular with
neighbouring communities and elected local
politicians, whose support has been gained in
this way;
• a strong external partnership with Dalkia, a
subsidiary of Veolia;
• unconditional commitment from plant
management and from the Management
Committee in particular.
SBU EDS
> Michel Frasca; Christian Clerc-Girard;
José Granercarbona; Alain Michel; François Morel.