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Environment

At Pfizer, we continue to work for a sustainable future, recognizing that embedding environmental sustainability into our business can bring significant value to our company, the people who use our products and the communities we touch.

Progress on Our 2020 Environmental Sustainability Goals*

Building on the successful achievements of our carbon emission reduction and green chemistry programs, we are working to contribute meaningfully to global efforts to reduce human impact on the environment. In 2015, Pfizer's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal was recognized as a Science Based Target by the initiative led by the Carbon Disclosure Project, the UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute and the World Wildlife Fund. This recognizes that Pfizer has established targets consistent with the level of decarbonization required by science to limit global warming to less than 2°C compared to pre-industrial temperatures. Throughout the lifecycle of our products, our aspiration is to further reduce our carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency, decrease dependence on limited resources and reduce waste in order to help ensure a sustainable future for our patients, our global community and our company.

Our longstanding efforts on environmental sustainability align with the UN's newly released 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which Pfizer has embraced.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions
TOTAL SCOPE 1 AND 2 GHG EMISSIONS
in MILLION METRIC TONS CO2EQ
WASTE DISPOSED
TOTAL HAZARDOUS AND NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE
IN THOUSAND METRIC TONS
WATER WITHDRAWAL
EXCLUDING NON-CONTACT COOLING WATER
IN MILLION CUBIC METERS

* Applies to facilities within Pfizer's operational control as compared with a 2012 baseline. Hospira environmental sustainability data is not included. Combined company data will be provided in the 2016 Annual Review.

Data are baseline adjusted, reported absolute, using reporting boundaries per the WRI GHG Protocol. The 2012–2014 GHG data was independently verified to the limited assurance level. The verification of the 2015 GHG data will be accomplished in 2016. Expanded environmental reporting will be posted on www.pfizer.com later this year.

Pfizer Issues Supply Chain Environmental Sustainability Goal

In 2015, Pfizer developed and approved the following supply chain goal that aims to result in meaningful environmental improvement across our key suppliers. By the end of 2020 our goal is that:

  1. 100% of key suppliers support Pfizer's Supplier Code of Conduct and are aligned with the Principles of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative

  2. 100% of key suppliers manage greenhouse gas emissions, water use and waste generation responsibly

  3. 90% of key suppliers establish reduction goals for greenhouse gas emissions, water use and waste generation

Key suppliers are defined as major contributors to our external environmental footprint, strategic collaborators with our global research and development organization and those suppliers we anticipate having continued involvement with.

Pfizer benefits from adopting such supplier goals as they strongly align with our strategic imperative of gaining respect from society. Environmental management of the supply chain is emerging as a concern of governmental tenders, retailer scorecards, hospital group procurement organizations and investors.

>1,000
Projects
Since 2010, more than 1,000 energy and water projects have achieved annualized savings of $38.7 million and 215,475 metric tons of CO2.
3.3
Megawatts added to our renewable energy capacity with a second wind turbine at our Puurs facility in Belgium and a solar thermal system at our Guayama facility in Puerto Rico
137
key suppliers identified as strategic collaborators and major contributors to our external environmental footprint

Our Green Journey

2015 marked the five-year anniversary of our Green Journey, an environmental sustainability program launched in 2010. Our environmental sustainability program is integral to Pfizer's larger purpose of working together for a healthier world and is guided by the following four key components:

  1. Optimizing processes to reduce our environmental footprint across our three goal areas (climate, water and waste)

  2. Responding to our customers' desire for innovative, sustainable packaging designs and materials

  3. Expanding sustainability efforts across our manufacturing supply chain

  4. Increasing our understanding of our impact on the environment

We also evaluate environmental, health and safety risks, including risks related to climate change, across our operations, as part of our ongoing risk review processes.

For a comprehensive view of our contributions to a sustainable future, see here.

Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PIE)

We are committed to minimizing potential impacts on human health and the environment from the manufacture, use and disposal of our medicines — across our supply chain and the lifecycle of our products. Pfizer works directly and in partnership with other member companies on trade associations such as PhRMA, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, and the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative to ensure relevant science is understood and, where necessary, further advanced to help mitigate such risks.

We encourage proper disposal of unwanted medicines, working with stakeholders through education and awareness programs. Actions to reduce improper disposal of expired or unwanted prescription and non-prescription medicines lessen the potential for diversion, reduce the potential for improper use of medication and help 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.

The Pfizer Responsible Disposal Advisor website has seen encouraging usage by institutions and health care professionals. This online resource contains recommended disposal practices in the U.S. for all Pfizer products.

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