Water Consumption and Emissions into Water

In addition to the efficient use of fresh water, all Boehringer Ingelheim sites have to ensure that wastewater discharges are kept at levels that avoid adverse environmental impact and conserve natural resources. Our sites have to ensure the efficient functioning of wastewater treatment plants in order to minimise emissions to water and to guarantee a proper water quality.

For Boehringer Ingelheim sites not maintaining an own waste water treatment facility, proper disposal routes need to be verified. 

As part of our BE GREEN initiative, all major activities and measures to improve water quality and to reduce water use will be coordinated worldwide.
Boehringer Ingelheim reports on water consumption for all production and research sites in million m³. A water consumption index (in %, relative to sales volume, base year 2010) was introduced for assessment and performance classification, as well as to show how consumption has developed in relation to sales volume.
In addition, various wastewater indicators e.g. chemical oxygen demand (COD) are reported locally to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Water use and emissions to water 2010-2017

Boehringer Ingelheim´s worldwide water consumption is stabile since 2010 with approximately 6,5 Mio m³ including the newly acquired Animal Health sites.

The world’s water users like industry recognize the acute need to manage more sustainably the water resources on which they depend. In parts of the world, water scarcity is threatening social, environmental and economic health. BI started in 2017 with a pilot implementation of a water stewardship system in one of the production sites located in a water scarcity area.

The aim is  to achieve four outcomes:

• good water governance
• sustainable water balance
• good water quality status
• healthy status of important water-related areas.

Details on metrics are provided in the chapter Performance indicators.