Pfizer 2014 Annual Report Download - page 74

PFIZER ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 www.pzer.com/annual 74
ANNUAL REVIEW 2014
ENVIRONMENT
MANAGING ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
Our World > Environment
Eco Restoration Transforming
Acquired Site for the Community
Pzer, working in concert with the local community, is restoring for
benecial use a contaminated site in North Haven, Connecticut,
that came to Pzer as part of the Pharmacia acquisition. The site
has not been in use since 1993, when all manufacturing ceased
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began investigating
the property for environmental damage caused by various chemical
plants prior to Pzer’s ownership.
The restoration includes 60 acres, 17 of which are for economic
development. The east side of the site is largely for public use as an
ecological preserve. An open space and ecological habitat will be
created on the banks of the Quinnipiac River, and an interpretative
trail will be built to allow school and community groups to study
the ecosystem.
At an event to commemorate the project, Senator Richard
Blumenthal praised Pzer and the town of North Haven for their
perseverance on this issue and called it a “teachable moment for the
entire country.” Deborah Szaro, Deputy Regional Administrator, U.S.
EPA Region 1, said: “There are few good neighbors left but Pzer
is one of them. The company put up $152 million to invest in a site
they acquired but didn’t contaminate.”
EHS professionals at Pzer support line management in the
identication, management and mitigation of environment, health and
safety risks and liabilities. Oversight of environmental compliance is
governed by our Environment, Health and Safety Steering Team.
PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP
Environmental responsibility embraces the full product lifecycle. To be
a true product steward, we seek to understand and effectively manage
the health, safety and environmental risks during the discovery,
development, manufacture, use and disposal of our products. This
includes efforts to assess and address the issues associated with
pharmaceuticals in the environment, encourage the proper disposal of
unwanted medicines, and ensure public safety through education and
awareness of sharps handling and disposal.
For more information on product stewardship, please see here.
PHARMACEUTICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
We are committed to minimizing potential impacts on human health
and the environment from the manufacture, use and disposal of our
medicines. Pzer works directly and in partnership with other member
companies on trade associations such as PhRMA and EFPIA to
ensure relevant science is understood and, where necessary, further
advanced to help mitigate such risks.
We encourage proper disposal of unwanted medicines. Actions
to reduce improper disposal of expired or unwanted prescription
and non-prescription medicines lessens the potential for diversion,
reduces the potential for improper use of medication, and helps
protect our water. Although studies have indicated that only a small
portion of medicines enter the environment through waste disposal,
it is important to consider environmental impacts from all sources.
Through education and awareness programs, Pzer works with
stakeholders to better understand the potential impacts associated
with the improper disposal of unwanted medicines.
The Pzer Responsible Disposal Advisor website debuted two years
ago, and has seen encouraging usage by institutions and health care
professionals. This online resource contains recommended disposal
practices in the United States for all Pzer products.