CSR selection: Caring for our world
The Vidro Vira Vida ('Glass becomes life')
The Vidro Vira Vida ('Glass becomes life') campaign is a permanent recycling initiative developed by the AH unit Brazil's Fortaleza site in collaboration with the glass-making industry, the Ceará State Cancer Hospital and the neighboring community.
It is a project that benefits all of those involved. The industry saves natural resources, the local community is being stimulated through environmental education, money from glass sales is donated to the hospital, and Intervet fulfils its social and environmental responsibilities.
Elephant rescued after bush fire
In September 2005, a large bush fire raged across parts of the Pilanesberg National Park. A group of elephants became trapped between one of the park fences and the fire. To save themselves, the elephants ran through the fire, sustaining severe burns.
The South African Animal Health colleagues played a key role in saving the injured animals, donating medicines and assisting in the intensive veterinary treatments required during their rehabilitation.
Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign
Across the United States of America, the weakened economy, high fuel and feed costs, coupled with government bans on horse slaughter, have escalated the need for unwanted horse care. No organized national system exists to account for, fund, or provide care for unwanted horses. Working with the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Merck Animal has created the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC), a nonprofit program that provides equine vaccines to qualified equine rescue and retirement facilities around the country. Through the UHVRC, Merck Animal Health will donate equine vaccines to qualifying equine rescue and retirement facilities to provide healthcare to rehabilitate, revitalize and re-home America's unwanted horses.
New waste handling and disposal systems
In 2006 UK Animal Health site in Milton Keynes implemented major changes in handling waste from production, biological services and site maintenance.
The installation of a compactor for the non re-usable waste resulted in a 75% volume reduction, a reduction in waste collections and corresponding transport journeys by almost 90% and a substantial financial gain. In addition waste data collection is now more accurate.
A glass implosion machine was installed. The glass volume of the media bottles used for the sterility testing and for the regular calibration of production and filling lines was reduced to 5%.
Water audit - measures to save and recycle water
Facing the worst drought in living history, Intervet Australia discussed with the local water provider ways to preserve its current water reserves and to develop a plan for longer term water security.
A detailed audit of water usage at the Bendigo site was undertaken in 2007. This indicated that supplement of the current water cooled system for freeze driers with air cooled condensers could reduce water usage by at least 50%.
The grant awarded by the State Government is a credit to a core team of staff committed to achieving maximum efficiency of water use on site.
Paper re-use in strips for packaging products
Large amounts of paper are used in our offices and, for the moment, the concept of the ‘paperless’ office remains one for the future.
Looking through an eco-efficiency lens, Intervet Portugal decided that the ‘one time only’ use of paper should be abandoned. A procedure to re-use the shredded paper for packaging was developed and implemented in 2006.
An additional benefit of this project is a substantial reduction in plastic packing materials, which are characterized by a very slow bio-degradability and persist for a long period in the environment.
