Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company: The World's Largest Pharmaceutical Company

Protecting Our Water

The availability of clean potable water is one of the most important health issues of our time — and one that may be further exacerbated in coming years by our changing climate. Pfizer's commitment is not only to advance good health through our medicines but also to advance good health in the communities in which we operate by protecting our water.

While Pfizer's use of water in its research and development and manufacturing facilities is relatively small compared to some other industries, our responsible management of water is an important element of our global EHS program. We understand our impact and aim to protect our water through our EHS Guideline on Water Conservation which requires facilities worldwide to:

  • Review and quantify their water use
  • Identify and prioritize water conservation measures
  • Develop, implement and report on water conservation action plans and targets
  • Support community efforts during drought conditions

Pharmaceuticals and their by-products have found their way into the environment by way of patient use for as long as medicines have been used to treat disease. However, our awareness of this issue has increased with the development of new analytical technologies that detect trace amounts of pharmaceuticals and other organic chemicals in the environment.

Because Pfizer is committed to adhering to principles of responsible environmental stewardship, we are working in close cooperation with the scientific community, regulatory agencies, patient groups and NGOs to develop and advance the body of knowledge related to pharmaceuticals in the environment and their potential impacts.

Goals and Commitments:

  • To conserve water throughout our organization.
  • To preserve water quality in the communities in which we operate.
  • To assure that our manufacturing processes minimize wastewater and that discharges are controlled appropriately.
  • To actively participate in efforts to advance the understanding of the potential impacts of pharmaceuticals in the environment.
  • To engage key stakeholders globally on managing any potential risks associated with the disposal of unused medicines.

Programs and Actions:

  • EHS Guideline on Water Conservation: Understanding and quantifying our water use; implementing water conservation projects; developing water conservation action plans and targets; and supporting community efforts during drought conditions.
  • Efforts to Ensure Patient and Environmental Safety of our Pharmaceuticals: Using environmental risk assessment data collected during the development of new products to verify that trace levels of pharmaceuticals that make their way into rivers, streams and other surface water will not have a significant human health or environmental effect.
  • Partnerships to Find a Science-Based Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment: Working with partners in the pharmaceutical industry and academic community to better understand the science behind pharmaceuticals in the environment.
  • Disposal Options: Partnering with other pharmaceutical companies and government agencies to further explore unused medicine disposal options.
  • Take-Back Programs: Participating in product take-back programs in countries that have initiated them.
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Learn how Pfizer’s Water initiatives are making a difference.

Did You Know?

Pfizer was an active participant in the pharmaceutical industry's development of the PhATE model—a scientific tool that can be used to more realistically estimate the concentration and distribution of active pharmaceutical ingredients discharged into U.S. surface waters.