1998 Environmental Health and Safety Report

Summary of Strategic Objectives and Initiatives

Establishment of Global Management Systems

Waste Management

Eli Lilly and Company recognizes source reduction as our primary waste management strategy and makes it a focus of our new product development process as we explore alternative manufacturing routes. In the absence of source reduction options, Lilly follows the waste management hierarchy which includes recycling, energy recovery, and treatment. In those applications where the above steps are not endpoints, we dispose of the waste. The utilization of the waste management hierarchy begins in the development cycle of every new drug product and continues through the manufacturing phase of the approved drug substance.

Waste Management Hierarchy

During the development of new drug products, associates with environmental experience are assigned to each product team to identify environmental concerns and to focus on waste minimization opportunities. During the development of raloxifene, this approach resulted in the elimination of methylene chloride from the proposed route of manufacture and a 60% reduction in solvent usage when the final manufacturing route was defined.

Lilly's development laboratories in Indianapolis have implemented a chemical stores inventory management system that monitors inventory levels at several locations. Prior to ordering chemicals from outside vendors, available stock is checked to determine whether the request can be filled from other Lilly stores locations. This inventory management system allows researchers to use chemicals no longer needed by other laboratories. The system has substantially reduced the amount of expired and unused reagents sent for treatment.

Lilly's Cleaning Technology Center (CTC) was formed in 1996 and has been exploring aqueous cleaning techniques that could replace existing solvent cleaning applications in our manufacturing operations. Traditionally, cleaning applications have relied on solvents to dissolve residues in equipment between product campaigns or between batches. Our Cleaning Technology Center has been screening aqueous cleansers for performance characteristics such as residue penetration (wetting) and removal, dispersion, emulsification, and chemical reaction. Wetting agents called surfactants are used to help remove the residue so that it can be carried away while rinsing the equipment with water.

The CTC's focus on aqueous based cleaning has resulted in a significant pollution prevention story as well as reduction in changeover time and in costs of cleaning. In 1997, five product clean-ups were switched to an aqueous-based cleaner, which resulted in cumulative savings of $32,900 in cleaner raw material, elimination of 297,200 liters of solvent (94% by volume SARA-reportable solvents) and a reduction of 33 days in cleaning time when compared to the previous solvent-based clean-ups. As a result of its work, the CTC received the 1998 Indiana Governor's Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention. This is just the beginning of the waste minimization activities for the CTC. We anticipate additional reductions when the effort is expanded to facilities around the globe.

With these efforts and successes, the company is reducing the amount of waste generated in our research facilities and in our manufacturing operations. By doing so, we are helping the communities in which we operate to reach their goals in the reduction of air emissions and waste generation.