Waste
We have made advances in our commitment to reduce waste throughout all of our facilities worldwide. We are dedicated to identifying ways we can reduce waste even further.
Waste management
In support of the 2020 Sustainability goal to integrate green design and reduce waste throughout our product portfolio, Bristol Myers Squibb is conducting environmental life cycle analyses of Yervoy® and Orencia® product packaging using software that assists in identifying the environmental impact of packaging material.
Packaging waste or packaging tonnage reduction (our 2010-2015 packaging sustainability metric) was replaced in the 2016-2020 packaging sustainability metrics with reduction of CO2 greenhouse gases, which are reported in Kilograms CO2 (e). Packaging analyses already conducted include a focus on transportation environmental impact as well as packaging material tonnage and the amount of recycled material we use in our packaging materials. Comparison of alternative packaging designs has identified improvements that are being pursued.
We promote recycling as a preferred alternative to disposal, but our ultimate goal is to reduce waste generation through source reduction. From 2015 to 2018, we decreased the total amount of hazardous waste generated by approximately 73.6 percent. Non-hazardous waste generated decreased by approximately 40.1 percent over the same period. When combined, the total waste generated decreased by 52.8 percent and decreased 65.4 percent when normalized by sales.
In 2018, we completed a $1 billion, state-of-the-art LEED® silver biologics manufacturing site in Cruiserath, Ireland. The site established a zero waste-to-landfill policy from the very start of operations and developed an extensive waste management program to ensure the highest rate of reuse and recycling is achieved. Efforts in place to support the zero waste-to-landfill policy include:
- 35 separate waste streams with zero waste being sent to landfill
- Onsite inactivation of biohazardous waste
- 100% green electricity
- Free reusable cup and water bottle to all staff
- Paper towels removed from all toilet facilities
- Staff awareness and training of waste management issues
- Extensive signage, labeling & posters for all bins & waste containers
Waste recycling
The amount of nonhazardous waste recycled and/or reclaimed increased by 5 percent during the same period. We also decreased the amount of hazardous waste recycled by 87 percent due to decreased use of hazardous materials by ‘green’ substitution, better overall material use, better planning strategies and operational adjustments.
Bristol Myers Squibb tracks hazardous and non-hazardous waste sent off-site from our facilities worldwide for recycling, reuse, treatment (including waste-to-energy) and disposal. Data does not include hazardous waste generated as a result of onsite remediation activities. The vast majority of hazardous waste is incinerated, with only the residual ash disposed to land. Hazardous waste is defined by local, state or country regulations.
For more information, see our Sustainability Goals.