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Our primary production plant at Lindesnes, Norway, has reduced its
environmental impact and is working with customers and suppliers
on product life-cycle impacts.
Amersham Health in Lindesnes employs 370 people in the manufacture
of bulk contrast media and is situated on the coast of southern
Norway. The site aims to be a leader in environmental management,
both within Amersham and in the Norwegian chemicals industry. In
March 2002, the plant received external certification from Det
Norske Veritas* to the international environmental management
standard ISO14001. This management system addresses both direct
impacts at the site and indirect impacts connected with its suppliers
and customers. Lindesnes is also a member of the “Responsible Care™”
programme of the Federation of Norwegian Process Industries and
meets all of its requirements.
Reducing our direct impacts
Large quantities of chemicals and solvents are used in the manufacturing
process. Minimising the environmental impact of the site has been
a priority since the considerable increase in production would have
led to a corresponding increase in emissions. During 2001, discharges
of wastewater per unit of production were reduced – contrast media
residue discharges to the sea were reduced by almost 30%, while
solvent discharges were reduced by 6% (all calculated per tonne
of production).
The reduction in discharges to the sea has been achieved through
recovery and reuse of solvents, as well as the expansion of the
existing recovery and reverse osmosis systems. Additionally, solvents
that can no longer be reused are burned for energy recovery. Through
improvements in segregation of waste at source, recycling of cardboard
and glass also increased over the year.
Lindesnes’ environmental targets for 2002 are to reduce contrast
media discharges per tonne of production by a further 10% and solvent
discharges by a further 5%.The site aims to achieve this through
close monitoring and improving the reverse osmosis treatment system.
Working with customers and suppliers
The site has been working with our logistics teams, distribution
locations and secondary manufacturing locations to establish a scheme
to take back any unused or returned products for recycling – known
as the Return Chain Project. Products that cannot be recycled on-site
within the bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing process are sent to
a contractor in Japan where iodine is recovered for reuse by Amersham.
Lindesnes plans to recycle a further 30 tonnes of bulk substances
in 2002 and progressively to expand the project world-wide.
The environmental benefits include a reduction in solvent use,
energy consumption and site emissions and discharges.
The site has also incorporated environmental considerations into
its supplier assessment programme. In 2001, a survey was sent to
all raw material suppliers to ask about their environmental programmes.
This survey will also be sent to any new supplier before a contract
is signed.
* The Co-Chairman of Det Norske
Veritas is Johan Fr Odjfell, Deputy Chairman of Amersham plc. Mr
Odjfell has formally declared an interest in the work of DNVat Lindesnes,
which was managed locally by staff from DNV and Amersham Health.
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