Emissions into water
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Emissions into water |
Emissions into water (in t) |
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The COD load on the aquatic environment from Novartis operations decreased in 2008, from 4.0kt to 3.4kt. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) has remained relatively constant since 2002, at 0.65kt for 2008. COD loads for 2008 were attributable to Sandoz (77%), Pharma (17%) and Consumer Health (6%).
Emissions into water targets and outlook
Novartis did not set a Group target on emission into water. However, individual Business Units and sites at which effluent loads are a relevant indicator follow local targets for the reduction of their environmental impacts.
Pharmaceuticals entering the aquatic environment (PiE) are an inevitable consequence of current science-based healthcare practices. While most pharmaceuticals entering the aquatic environment stem from the excretions of treated patients, relatively small quantities come from the industrial activities of research, drug development and production.
By mid 2008, the Pharma Division reduced the emissions of active drug substances to water from its global production sites to less than 1.87t of its total production volume of 4,091 tons (i.e. less than 0.05%). Since these reductions are often associated with the incineration of significant amounts of liquid waste, the Division in 2008 has developed and globally rolled out an industry-leading approach to prioritize further reductions by combining harmonized, substance specific risk assessments, process efficiency metrics and the most stringent regulatory requirements worldwide. Sites have to realize further reduction measures if either a mandatory local risk assessment indicates a concern, substance emissions exceed 0.3% of the volume produced, or local environmental levels exceed defined and very low background concentrations.
