Pfizer’s manufacturing site at Newbridge recently won the Irish 2011 Responsible Care Award, in recognition of its impact on environmental sustainability. Responsible Care is the chemical industry’s environmental, health and safety initiative to drive continuous improvement in performance of the pharmaceutical and chemical sector in all aspects. Pfizer Newbridge was also awarded the 2011 SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland) National Award for Energy Awareness.
Pfizer Newbridge is implementing an aggressive strategy to improve the environmental sustainability of the site, for the benefit of the business, its employees and the local community. This energy strategy encompasses both reductions in the energy and water consumed by the facility and also marks a move to renewable energy sources, in an effort to reduce the impact on the environment. The site is evaluating utilising Biomass heating using wood chip from sustainable forestry to reduce natural gas consumption and wind energy to reduce electricity imported from the grid.
A key element of the strategy is the creation of improved energy awareness in all employees, improving their energy consciousness, at home and at work. In order to promote environmental sustainability, a programme entitled ‘YOU Have the Power’ was designed, which educated employees in ways of saving energy and water and provided opportunities to gain access to expertise and equipment to help them achieve it.
Pfizer is one of Ireland’s leading employers and the largest pharmaceutical investor. One of the first pharmaceutical companies to locate in Ireland in 1969, Pfizer currently employs 4,300 people across eight locations based in Cork, Dublin, Kildare and Limerick. Pfizer’s business interests in Ireland are diverse. There is a manufacturing presence in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Solid Dose Pharmaceuticals, Nutritionals, Vaccines and Biopharmaceuticals; Global Financial Services centre and a global Treasury operation.
The Irish operations manufacture some of Pfizer’s best-selling and newest medicines including Lipitor (cardiovascular), Viagra (urology), Sutent (oncology), Enbrel (rheumatology) and Prevenar (vaccines). Ireland is a leading manufacturing base for Pfizer globally; exporting to global markets, Total investment by the company in Ireland exceeds $7 billion