Energy Consumption and Emissions into Air
The reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions represents one of our most important goals. We thereby contribute to preventing climate change and saving valuable resources.
We strive to minimise our carbon footprint and have set a new company goal to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 20% (relative to sales volume, excluding emissions from patient use of inhaler products) by 2020, using 2010 as our base year.
For many years, projects to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions have been locally implemented at our sites with the objective of improving our performance. We consider these measures a prerequisite to having a competitive advantage and being a sustainable company.
Boehringer Ingelheim's "Sustainable Use of Energy" team coordinates our energy and emission-reducing activities at an international level and fosters knowledge transfer between our sites. This team has been integrated in our new BE GREEN project, which was started in 2011 with the objective of coordinating and optimising all our environmental activities.
In particular, the "Sustainable Use of Energy" team is installing a knowledge exchange platform for energy-saving projects. This platform contains already projects from the past. Based on information contained in this platform we estimated that over the last 10 years we achieved savings of about 100,000 tons of CO2 emissions by implementing local energy efficiency and emission reducing projects.
Data
Energy consumption is reported monthly on a worldwide basis by all production and R&D sites. Our main primary energy sources are heavy and light fuel oil, natural gas, but we also employ renewable energy sources. Secondary energy sources are primarily electricity as well as heat and steam.
Boehringer Ingelheim reports on energy consumption for all production and research sites in million gigajoules (GJs). An energy consumption index (in %, relative to sales volume, base year 2010) was introduced for assessment and performance classification as well as to show how consumption has developed in relation to sales volume.
In 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim developed a revised concept for calculating its corporate carbon footprint using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, a multi-stakeholder initiative coordinated by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Resource Institute. Our greenhouse gas emissions are calculated as carbon dioxide equivalents, separately for scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Calculations are based on emission factors obtained via recognised databases, such as from IPCC and DEFRA greenhouse gas emission index (in %, relative to sales volume, base year 2010) was introduced showing how consumption has developed in relation to sales volume. Our reduction goal of 20 % (by 2020, basis year 2010) refers to this index.
Moreover, other emissions, such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, including ozone-depleting substances, are systematically collected.
Details on metrics are provided in the chapter Performance Indicators.
Energy Consumption and Emissions in 2012
In 2012, Boehringer Ingelheim consumed 6.56 million GJ of energy. This represents only an increase of 5 % compared to previous year. A positive trend is visible, given that the energy consumption index of 91 % indicates that our energy use in relation to sales has declined (2011: 97 %). This is mainly due to our continuous process improvements, modernisation of equipment and behavioural changes of our employees.
A positive development is also recorded in the usage of renewable energy sources: 1.06 million GJ, or about 1/6th of our total energy requirement, was covered by renewable energy sources.
Our greenhouse gas emissions were measured according to the Greenhouse Gas protocol, a globally recognised standard to calculate the company carbon footprint. Our direct greenhouse gas emissions produced by sources owned or directly controlled (scope 1) decreased to 334,000 tons. The emissions generated indirectly for energy supply, i.e. purchased electricity and steam/heat (scope 2) were at 302,000 tons in 2012, while all other indirect emissions (scope 3) associated with the company's activities were at 1,975,000 tons. These scope 3 emissions include those carbon dioxide equivalents, which originate in patient use of our inhaler products. Since we are continuously switching from CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) containing products to hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) containing ones, these emissions were reduced significantly from 2,934,000 in 2010 to 1,874,000 tons in 2012. This enormous reduction can also be attributed to the increased proportion of inhaler products based on our innovative Respimat Soft Mist InhalerTM technology containing neither CFC nor HFC substances.
The greenhouse gas emissions index was reduced from 96 % in 2011 to 83 % in 2012 (without considering emissions from product inhalers). This shows that we are moving in the right direction for reaching our reduction goal of 20 % by 2020. If emissions arising from the patient use of our inhalers are included in the 2011/12 comparison, the index shows a strong decrease of emissions from 80 % in 2011 to 60 % in 2012.
The amount of non-halogenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by Boehringer Ingelheim production sites decreased significantly from 316 tons in 2011 to 219 tons in 2012.
The amount of halogenated VOCs decreased to 15 tons in 2012 compared to 21 tons in 2011, including 5 tons of ozone-depleting substances.
While the amount of emitted nitrogen oxide decreased slightly compared to last year (2012: 152 tons, 2011: 155 tons), emissions of sulphur dioxide decreased significantly by 6 tons. Our sulphur dioxide index, i.e. in relation to sales volume (base year 2010), impressively demonstrates this positive trend, with a reduction from 97% in 2011 to 66% in 2012.
Measures and Activities in 2012
In 2012, various measures and activities were organised at our sites worldwide to reduce energy use and emissions into the air. Examples listed below are just a small part of all activities conducted by Boehringer Ingelheim.
At our Italian site in Milan, various innovations were introduced to site infrastructure in order to significantly reduce energy consumption. For example, the air compressors for the site were exchanged, resulting in energy saving of 15%. Furthermore, all sanitary facilities at the site were equipped with motion detectors to automatically turn lights on and off. Additionally, a facility automation system was also implemented to optimise infrastructure maintenance, leading to an optimisation of energy consumption.
Our San Cugat site in Spain undertook a comprehensive renewal of its lighting systems. The switch from conventional lighting to modern systems leads to an annual energy saving of some 194,000 kWh. This roughly corresponds to the annual consumption of 473 housing units. The energy saving is associated with an annual reduction of around 106 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Various optimisation measures in the operational technology of the Pharmaceutical Research and Development buildings at the site in Biberach, Germany, achieved an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of around 400 tonnes. This corresponds to an energy saving of some 20%. This only involved changes to operational procedures and no additional investment was made.
In the past few years, the US car fleet also has been changing in ways that have reduced its carbon footprint while continuing to provide vehicles with a high standard of safety. Sales Representatives are the majority of the US Fleet. Engine size for Sales Representative vehicles has been reduced from six cylinder to four cylinder engines. In addition, larger vehicles such as minivans are no longer offered to Sales Representatives; only sedans are available for the majority of the fleet. Although the larger vehicles are no longer offered, safety is not compromised as the available vehicles have outstanding safety ratings and offer many of the latest safety features.
Phasing out Ozone-depleting Substances
According to the Montreal Protocol, a multilateral and legally binding agreement to protect the ozone layer, we strive to replace ozone-depleting substances used at our sites or in our products with environmentally friendly substances. For this purpose, ozone-depleting substances are systematically recorded (see above).
In many countries established bronchodilator products have already been replaced and further replacement will take place. Boehringer Ingelheim is also promoting the development of propellant-free inhalers; the result is an innovative Respimat Soft Mist InhalerTM, a highly innovative approach to inhaler technology that is designed to meet patients´ needs and is also environmental friendly.