Biodiversity, land and water use

MANAGING BIODIVERSITY

AstraZeneca recognises the importance of long-term sustainable development, based on good financial, social and environmental performance. These foundations are the same as those underpinning the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) signed in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

The CBD calls for a halt in biodiversity decline by 2010. Whilst there will always be a need for nature reserves and national parks where nature conservation is the prime objective, equally important is the integration of conservation with other land uses. AstraZeneca has started to develop local biodiversity action plans (BAPs) for its major landholdings, aimed at conserving, and if possible increasing, local biodiversity on and around the company’s properties worldwide. The maxim “think global act local” underlines the principle that conservation on a global scale is the sum of actions or projects implemented at a local or site level. Individual sites can contribute to the preservation and enhancement of local biodiversity by protecting natural habitats and creating or maintaining refuges and “green corridors” for flora and fauna. These activities are being integrated with everyday site activities, without compromising business operations or future site developments.  

AstraZeneca’s site at Alderley Edge in the UK occupies a 156 hectare parkland estate, which is managed using traditional methods involving, for example, livestock grazing rather than resorting to grass cutting or the use of herbicides. Such practices have encouraged and improved biodiversity and two areas of the site are recognised within the region as Sites of Biological Importance. All staff and visitors can also benefit from a series of guided walks and nature enthusiasts contribute to an annual wildlife report, which chronicles the success of biodiversity management alongside activities such as building developments on site. Across the Atlantic at Newark in Delaware, USA, “naturescaping” initiatives involving employees working together in partnership with the Delaware Department of Agriculture Urban Forestry Division created over three hectares of native woodland plantation in 2008 on a former redundant parking area and basketball court. The area has also been seeded with meadow ground flora and will provide a varied habitat for wildlife. The value of this work has been recognised and the site celebrated becoming a member of the EPA Greenscapes Alliance Partnership Program.

Elsewhere biodiversity surveys have been completed on production sites at Dunkerque in France and Gärtuna in Sweden, at Charnwood R&D centre in the UK and at Carolina and Canóvanas manufacturing sites in Puerto Rico, at Avishkar R&D and Yelahanka production sites in Bangalore, at production sites in Wuxi, China and Cairo, Egypt and at US manufacturing and R&D sites at Newark and Wilmington in Delaware and Waltham and Westborough in Boston. A wide variety of habitats and species have been recorded, including some rarer species of birds and mammals, such as Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) and American Woodcock (Scolopax minor).

Information gathered from these biodiversity surveys provides a baseline for environmental impact assessments to support future site development, and enables conservation measures to be targeted in areas where they will be most beneficial.  Consequently local BAPs are being developed for sites with extensive undeveloped areas, which support habitats and species of significant biodiversity importance.  So far plans have been prepared jointly by local staff and the regional Wildlife Trusts for three major sites in the UK including Alderley Park in Cheshire, Avlon in South Gloucestershire and Charnwood in Leicestershire. They take into account that each site is part of the wider local landscape and consider habitats and species of regional to national conservation importance, including those which may cross the site boundary. Similar plans are being considered for sites in other countries. Rather than being seen as a conflicting interest, biodiversity conservation is viewed as an essential element in maintaining a site’s “licence to operate”.

LAND USE

We strive to operate and manage our facilities in a manner that minimises impact on people and the environment. Our main impact on land is through our manufacturing and research activities and at some AstraZeneca facilities operations date back as long as 100 years. New facilities are selected and designed with care to minimise their environmental impact and promote sound land management policies.

In connection with development projects on major sites, soil surveys are carried out during pre-project planning. The results of these supplementary surveys form the basis of decisions concerning the construction of buildings and other facilities, as well as disposal methods for any surplus soil arising during construction.

WATER USE

All of our facilities use water and subsequently discharge wastewater to be treated either on site or by municipalities. We measure both the total volume used and the load that our effluents, primarily from R&D and manufacturing activities, place on the aquatic environment.

At the end of 2008 we had 24 manufacturing facilities located in 18 countries worldwide. Eight of these sites are located in countries classified as having ‘high’ or ‘medium’ water stress by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  About 12% of the total amount of water we use globally is from areas with water scarcity, but we recognise our responsibility to use water wisely at all our sites. For example, in 2008 our manufacturing site in Puerto Rico, following delivery of an extensive “reduce, reuse and recycle” water project, won the first place award in the category of Best Conservation Water Project sponsored by Puerto Rico Manufacturer Association. In the first year of operation (July 2007 to July 2008), the project delivered a 35% reduction of water consumption from Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority and a 29% reduction in wastewater emitted alongside cost savings and reduced risk of business interruption.

In 2008, our overall water use amounted to 4.3 million cubic metres, a decrease of 10% compared to 2007. The total cost of water used by the company in 2008 is estimated at $6.3 million.

The reference point for change is 2007  The figures in the table above have been rounded.  Please note that percentage changes have been calculated using the data prior to rounding.