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Healthy Environment

We recognise the risk posed by global climate change and we are striving to find safer, smarter, more sustainable ways to run our business.

AbbVie’s Commitment to Sustainability, Health & Safety

AbbVie is advancing the long-term sustainability of operations, including our commercial and manufacturing facilities in Ireland, by reducing the energy we consume, reducing the water we use and reducing the waste we generate. Since its inception in 2013, AbbVie has invested more than €8+ million in sustainable and renewable energy programmes in Ireland.

AbbVie aims to reduce our carbon footprint as part of our overall commitment to operating responsibly. We have established absolute reduction goals, and we invest in technology and infrastructure to reduce our carbon footprint accordingly.

Globally, AbbVie has continued to make progress on our absolute environmental sustainability targets relative to our 2015 baseline, even as our business has grown. In 2018, the company reduced absolute total waste (hazardous and non-hazardous) by ten per cent, delivered a recycling rate of 32 per cent, and reduced absolute water consumption by eleven per cent.

Key performance indicators

*Figures exclude two R&D facilities which were not included in the 2015 baseline. **This key performance metric includes manufacturing and R&D, which account for the majority (>75%) or our operations. +Includes waste disposed of in the following manner: beneficial use, recycled, composted, treated, fuel blending, incinerated with energy recovery, and incinerated without energy recovery.

AbbVie environmental  targets

We’re making steady progress against these targets:

All of the three manufacturing sites in Ireland are ISO certified, with Standards for Energy (ISO 50001), Environment (ISO 14001), and Occupational Health & Safety Management (OHSAS 18001). Currently, sites have transitioned, or are in the process of transitioning to the new versions of ISO 5001: 2018 and ISO 45001: 2018.

Recognition of AbbVie’s commitment to environmental stewardship

  • 2019 American Chamber of Commerce Créafóg Award (North West)
  • 2019 Green Award in the Sustainable Energy Management category 
  • 2018 Pharma Awards ‘Biopharmaceutical Company of the Year’  
  • 2018 Green Pharmaceutical Company at the Green Awards 
  • 2017 ‘Responsible Care Award’ at the Irish Pharma Industry Awards
  • 2015 AEE Award for Corporate Energy Management in Western Europe 
  • 2015 SEAI Award in the Large Industry Category 
  • 2015 Green Award in the Sustainable Energy Management Category 
  • 2014 Chambers Ireland CSR Award for Heat Recovery Programme