Environmental Management System

Sanofi Turkey's Environmental Management System Policy complies with Sanofi's Health, Safety and Environmental Policy in all regions of its operations. This policy provides a framework of the Company's practices for both employees and business partners. 

In this respect, Sanofi Turkey pays attention to the protection of the natural environment in the region where it operates. The Company aims to raise awareness among all stakeholders and the society to develop this sensitivity in its impact and continuously improve all processes by engaging in activities to increase raw material, material and energy efficiency. 

Sanofi Turkey is committed to displaying an exemplary approach by complying with all laws and regulations on protecting the environment for a sustainable future.

One of Sanofi's priority areas is the Environmental Management System. Within this framework, we are working towards energy and water efficiency, waste management, managing emissions and minimizing our impact on biodiversity. For this purpose, water and energy consumption values and waste amounts are recorded in the Green system (Sanofi’s global system) annually. These values are monitored by Sanofi and the necessary improvement activities are planned to reduce consumption levels. In addition, the fact that we attach priority to raising environmental awareness in our employees results in an increased efficiency of these activities. 

At the Lüleburgaz Plant, consumption goals include keeping water consumption below 0.64 liters per unit package and energy consumption below 0.17 kWh per unit package. Energy efficiency programs are created and monitored in accordance with the Sanofi Group targets to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions (Target: 0.070 kg CO2/unit package).  With the installation of 72 solar panels for preheating tap water, 40 tons of CO2 emissions are reduced annually.

At Sanofi Turkey, every year we make investments for our environment at the Head Office and the Lüleburgaz Plant on a regular basis. A total of TL 1,574,782 investment was made for the environment at our Sanofi Head Office and the Lüleburgaz Plant in 2018.

Our energy consumption values are recorded in the Green system (Sanofi’s global system) annually. These values are monitored by Sanofi at a global level. Data from each year is compared to that of the previous year and new activities are planned to ensure efficiency and prevent increases.  

Awareness activities have been carried out at our distribution center to reduce energy consumption in 2018. Warning labels are affixed on the light switches “to turn off the lights” when leaving the rooms. During lunch and tea breaks, the lights in the work areas are turned off by the relevant area managers. In order to prevent unnecessary energy consumption outside of office hours, the entire site is checked by security staff. Photocell light sensors are used on the parking floors.

We also aim to ensure energy optimization by encouraging ecological driving. For this purpose, we make announcements to our employees and strive to create awareness through face-to-face training sessions, distance learning and the use of communication materials. In order to increase energy efficiency, we measure how ecological our employees drive using our Safe Driving Assistant devices. Criteria such as high speed, idling the engine for too long, failure to use the start-stop feature, sudden braking and sudden acceleration reduce drivers' ecological score. Our drivers pay attention to these criteria while driving. 

Our field employees who have to drive long distances for work and our office employees who commute to the office and back every day cause CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, our vehicles are equipped with Safe Driving Assistants (SDA) to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and help contain logistical energy consumption. In order to limit our greenhouse gas emissions, we only consider to lease vehicles with CO2 emissions less than 120gr/km for our Company. Moreover, our vehicles are equipped with Safe Driving Assistants to measure ecological driving and prevent driving behaviors which increase emissions such as speeding, failure to use the start-stop feature, and long idling. This system allows monitoring by line managers and a written warning is given to employees who violate the environmental policy. A total of 2,810 man/hours of ecological driving training has been provided to our 595 medical representatives in 2018.

At the Lüleburgaz Plant, in order to reduce emissions, diesel vehicles with low emission values are preferred when selecting company cars. Routes of the company shuttles used to transport employees are optimized to ensure that the maximum number of employees are transported between the plant and their homes in the most efficient and effective manner by the least possible number of vehicles. Business trips of the employees are kept under control and business meetings are conducted via video or teleconferences whenever possible. For this purpose, an audio-visual conference infrastructure is installed in the meeting rooms at the plant.

We planted 50 pine trees to mitigate the negative impact of flue gases of the Lüleburgaz Plant on nature. Flue gas emissions are measured once a year and no out-of-limit readings were detected during the reporting period. Vehicles older than 5 years are not used as shuttles and vehicles with Euro5 engines are preferred. Transportation operations are organized to decrease the number of shipments. In addition, efforts are being made to reduce the packaging materials used for transportation.

Furthermore, Sanofi Code of Conduct terms and conditions are included in the newly signed agreements in the distribution category to provide stakeholders with guidance about reducing their environmental impact. These provisions include commitments about occupational safety, environment and ethical issues.

The IT department conducts environmental impact assessments and monitors implementations twice a year. All electronic waste (computers, printers, modems, etc.) is sent to licensed electronic waste recovery companies. In addition to efforts towards reducing paper use, measures are taken to minimize print-outs. Empty toner cartridges are refilled and reused, and those which expire are separated as hazardous waste and sent to the licensed hazardous waste disposal facility.

Since the design phase of the Lüleburgaz manufacturing site, its impact on the environment was thoroughly considered and cutting-edge technology was used in line with the structure of the pharmaceutical industry. Natural gas is used as fuel in the plant where modern storage systems are built. Sanofi strives to further improve the clean environmental conditions that play an important role in manufacturing quality. 

Highly effective dust catcher filters are used in the air conditioning systems to prevent the dust generated in the manufacturing areas from spreading into the atmosphere. Domestic and industrial wastewater generated during production arrives through different channels at the treatment facility, where it is treated in the chemical, biological and advanced treatment units before being discharged. Due to the precision of pharmaceutical production, only trace amounts of solid waste are generated. However, non-contaminated packaging materials used for carrying raw materials (paper, carton, barrels, wooden pallets, etc.) are solid waste. These wastes are collected separately at the source and sent to relevant industries for recycling. Hazardous wastes on the other hand are delivered to hazardous waste disposal and recovery facilities.

The site has a water treatment plant with 550 m3/day capacity, carrying out biological, chemical and physical treatment. Wastewater is regularly analyzed and the results are kept below legal limits. The plant’s operations do not have a negative impact on biodiversity. The site features green spaces including 110,000 m2 of grass lawns and over 1,000 trees and other bush varieties (Ligustrum, scarlet firethorn, tamarisk, etc.) on 20,000 m2. In addition, we support and contribute to the official projects and campaigns on the preservation and development of natural areas.