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      • Commitments and Actions
      • Performance
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Reducing Our Environmental Footprint: Commitments
and Actions

Goals and Commitments:

• To phase out the use of Class I ODCs* in large heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), fire suppression, and industrial process equipment by:
  • December 31, 2005 at facilities owned prior to April 2003
  • December 31, 2007 at facilities acquired after April 2003
• To reduce our ozone depletion potential (ODP) from releases of ODCs* by the end of 2007 by 80 percent from our 2002 baseline
• To reduce our releases of VOCs by 40 percent on an absolute basis from the baseline year of 2002 by the end of 2008.
• To decrease the waste we produce by improving our recycling, reuse, and recovery methods.
• To effectively manage any waste we generate to reduce its potential impact on human health and the environment.
• To minimize the potential environment, health and safety impacts of our operations by preventing the contamination of soil and groundwater at our facilities or those owned by contractors hired to manage our waste.

Footnote (*):

Ozone Depleting Compounds (ODCs): Compounds that harm the ozone layer measured by its ozone depletion potential which is the relative amount of degradation a chemical causes to the ozone layer (R-11 trichlorofluoromethane = 1.0). Pfizer uses ODCs principally in chillers and refrigeration units and fire suppression systems.

Class I ODCs: Most harmful to the ozone layer and include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), carbon tetrachloride, halons, methyl bromide, and methyl chloroform.

Class II ODCs: Include the hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and are considered secondary in effect to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Programs and Actions:

• Use of ODCs: Discontinued the use of ODCs in the manufacture of any of our products.
• Efforts to reduce operational losses: Reducing releases from our operations through improved maintenance and management practices for equipment using Class II ODCs and for all systems using Class I ODCs prior to their retirement or retrofit.
• Process changes to reduce VOC emissions: Implementing green chemistry principles into the research, development, and manufacture of our products and exploring means to recover or recycle solvents.
• Installment and enhancement of emission control technologies: Installed state-of-the-art air control technologies and retrofitting others for additional emission reductions.
• Colleague Collaboration: Combining the knowledge and skills of our research chemists, production engineers, and EHS professionals to achieve significant reductions in the use of VOCS in the manufacture of Pfizer products.
• EHS Guidelines for Waste Minimization: Developed and implementing actions plans to capitalize on waste minimization opportunities throughout Pfizer as well as supporting the waste minimization efforts of others through the use of recycled, reusable, and recovered materials.
• EHS Guidelines on Waste Management: Maintaining accurate inventories of all wastes generated across our organization and managing those wastes through well-defined treatment and disposal methods and specialized training for any Pfizer colleague who handles or transports waste.
• Efforts to Ensure Effective Contracts for Special Waste: Ensuring contractor compliance by using only approved special waste vendors. Conducting pre-selection and periodic follow-up audits of waste vendors to assure standards are met.
• Environmental Remediation: Addressing contamination found at Pfizer sites and conducting onsite remediation activities with appropriate disclosure to and in cooperation with government agencies.

• View Performance Metrics

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