Meet Celgene International ll - 2019 Facility of the Year Sustainability Category Winner
Celgene International II is the 2019 ISPE Facility of the Year Category Winner for Sustainability for their Green Fairy (La Fée Verte) in Couvet, Switzerland.
Projects selected in this category recognize the application of novel approaches, tools and techniques intended to improve effective use of energy, minimize waste, reduce carbon footprint, incorporate green manufacturing techniques, reduce environmental impact, and result in more efficient processing, utilities support, and business advantage.
Celgene, headquartered in Switzerland, is a preeminent global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for patients with cancer, immune-inflammatory and other unmet medical needs. Operating in more than 60 countries, Celgene has production units in the US and Europe and employees more than 8,000 people worldwide.
Their new Couvet production site, constructed between 2016 and 2018, was built to develop its production activities in Switzerland in order to meet the current business needs and would also have the capacity and space for future expansions. Another major objective for the new facility was to implement an environmentally responsible and sustainable site in line with the company’s corporate principles. The project focused during its definition and implementation with meeting and exceeding the Swiss Building Minergie® label requirements and to provide a site with effective use of energy. On October 24, 2018, the Swiss Energy Agency granted the Minergie® label certification to Celgene International II Sàrl for their new site at Couvet.
Many studies were carried out to determine the best environmental and sustainable practices based on the site’s geographical location, climate, solar exposition, ground soil properties, ground water, river proximity, etc. This resulted in a site that was conceived, designed, and built with a superior energy concept based on energy recovery from different heat sources which are normally lost to the environment. This includes heat recovery from underground foundation geothermal piles, air compressors, chillers, steam boilers, air handling units, etc. Approximate 60% of the energy required for heating at the site comes from heat recovery; and approximate 48% of the energy required for cooling at the site comes from cooling recovery (heat pumps and geothermal cooling). The Site Energy Concept gives a reduction in gas emissions equivalent to 1,473 metric tons of CO2-eq per year. That’s roughly the equivalent of the average CO2 emissions of 250 automobiles over one year! This also represents a 70% reduction in CO2–eq emissions compared to a standard building construction.
The site reduces electrical consumption by utilizing electricity from renewable sources and by using high-efficient equipment or electrical components (i.e., project provides solar electrical energy generation by using photovoltaic panels, which accounts for 13 to 14% of the total electrical annual consumption at the site; the site also uses 100% LED lighting throughout and high-efficient electrical dry transformers at the main power station).
The site at Couvet was the first pharmaceutical site in Switzerland to utilize underground geothermal technologies for energy heat recovery. This novel sustainability approach sets a new benchmark in the pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland. With the prominence of pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland, this method could serve as a model for others to follow and serves as an inspiration to explore unique ideas thus raising the sustainability efforts of the entire industry.
ISPE congratulates the Celgene. team for their achievements and their FOYA award winning entry for Sustainability. Learn more about the 2019 FOYA Sustainability Category winner.
Has your company recently designed, built or renovated a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical or biotechnology facility that is best in its class? ISPE is now accepting entries into the 2020 ISPE Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) Program, and your facility may be eligible to apply. Learn more about the Facility of the Year Awards submission process and your company could be the next Facility of the Year Awards Category winner.
Facility of the Year Awards Banquet
Join ISPE and prominent industry leaders as we recognize the 2019 Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) Category Winners for their innovation and creativity in pharmaceutical and biotechnology facility design, construction, and operation, at the FOYA Banquet on the evening of Sunday, 27 October 2019 in Las Vegas, NV during the 2019 ISPE Annual Meeting and Expo.
