Sanofi US Goes Green for Earth Day
(3BL Media) May 29, 2012 - In late April, employees at Sanofi US sites observed Earth Day in various ways from providing educational opportunities, to sponsoring environmental clean-ups.
“Earth Day 2012 was an outstanding success for Sanofi and our subsidiaries,” said John Spinnato, VP of North American CSR for Sanofi. “The levels of employee participation, as well as the number of new and innovative ideas presented, serve to illustrate that we are constantly adapting in order to be more environmentally safe and responsible. Reducing the environmental impact we have on the planet is among our Company’s key pillars for Corporate Social Responsibility, and Earth Day served as an important reminder of our commitment.”
Here’s a look at some of our efforts.
An Awareness Fair at 55 Corporate Drive
On April 20th, Corporate Social Responsibility and HSE partnered with other departments as well as some outside vendors to showcase the implementation of a variety of Earth Day initiatives. Some of the more significant projects included:
- An effort was implemented to transition the workplace at 55 Corporate Drive and Genzyme sites from using environmentally unfriendly Styrofoam cups, to 100% recyclable, plastic, BPA-free mugs. These mugs not only avoid risk to human and environmental health, but will also aid Sanofi in its endeavor to reach a corporate zero-landfill goal. These sites now join several other Sanofi US sites including Swiftwater and Tucson that went Styrofoam free last year.
- The Client Services organization and our food vendor, Sodexho, were responsible for introducing Alstede Farms to Sanofi 55 Corporate Headquarter employees. Alstede Farms is a member of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group, which supports a locally-based model of agriculture and food distribution. CSA involves a risk/reward relationship between farmers and customers in which, through monetary support, customers can obtain weekly baskets of vegetable and fruit crops. Alstede’s CSA effort also entails “greener” agricultural methods including Integrated Pest Management and Crop Rotation. The vegetables are delivered locally, reducing the CO2 emissions. The voluntary program is open to employees.
- The Global Information Systems organization educated employees on how to “Think Green when printing.” By following simple guidelines such as asking yourself, “Do you really need to print it?” or only printing the modified pages on an updated document, we can sustain the environment with reduced paper and energy consumption, as well as optimize waste management.
Earth Smarts at Sanofi Pasteur US
At our vaccine headquarters in Swiftwater, PA, approximately 30 presentations were given on topics such as green travel tips, customer surveys regarding sustainability efforts, packaging reduction and recyclability for our new vaccines, an alternative solid fuel initiative for non-recyclable plastics and paper, and a creek-side presentation on aquatic life and stream health.
Genzyme Makes a Difference in Massachusetts
An Earth Day fair was held at Genzyme's Cambridge location that was made possible by a coalition between local community and environmental groups including: Health, Safety & Environment (HSE), Veolia Environmental Services, TransAction Associates, and the City of Cambridge’s “Cambridge Energy Alliance” and “Community Development Department.”
At Genzyme's Allston location, over 100 volunteers, accompanied by their families, cleaned up trash along the historic Charles River, helping to restore the diverse ecosystem that neighbors the biomanufacturing site.
The Framingham Campus participated in multiple Earth Day events including:
- 84 employees volunteered for the 14th Annual Earth Day campus cleanup, refurbishing not only their business campus, but revitalizing the nearby Foss Reservoir and wetlands ecosystems.
- 8 employees worked to eradicate invasive plant species from the Sudbury Valley Trustees’ Turenne Wildlife Habitat bird garden including: burning bush, glossy buckthorn, and honeysuckle.
- Several employees took advantage of the opportunity to safely recycle unused electronics such as old televisions, printers, and small appliances at the Free Household Electronics Recycling Event, which was held on April 19th at Genzyme’s Framingham Recycling Center on New York Avenue.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
Sanofi is the holding company of a consolidated group of subsidiaries and operates in the United States as Sanofi US, also referred to as Sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. For more information on Sanofi US, please visit http://www.sanofi.us or call 1-800-981-2491.
About Genzyme, a Sanofi Company
Genzyme has pioneered the development and delivery of transformative therapies for patients affected by rare and debilitating diseases for over 30 years. We accomplish our goals through world-class research and with the compassion and commitment of our employees. With a focus on rare diseases and multiple sclerosis, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of the patients and families we serve. That goal guides and inspires us every day. Genzyme’s portfolio of transformative therapies, which are marketed in countries around the world, represents groundbreaking and life-saving advances in medicine. As a Sanofi company, Genzyme benefits from the reach and resources of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients. Learn more at www.genzyme.com.
About Sanofi Pasteur
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company's heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us
