Environment | ALK

Environment

Climate change

Climate change poses a direct threat to respiratory health by increasing the potential for allergen exposure. For example, climate change can extend pollen seasons and/or alter the distribution and abundance of allergenic plants. As a company focused on improving the lives of individuals with allergies, we recognize our responsibility to contribute to a healthier planet. Thus, we are committed to mitigating climate change in a manner that safeguards both the environment and people with allergies.

CO2 action plan

In order to reach our goal of 42% CO2 reduction by 2030, a number decarbonization levers are either planned or underway:

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Pollution

Controlling chemicals used in the cultivation, purification and production of our medicines constitutes a crucial aspect of our operational framework.

Avoid pollution
• Chemical management process at production sites • Nature-derived, biodegradable active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) • Implementing refrigerant chemical leak prevention • Buffer zone to protect native flora and fauna from fertilizer and pesticides
Reduce
• Sustainable farming practices that minimize pesticide and fertilizer inputs • Replacing R-22 chemicals with less harmful refrigerants • Pollen filters and PPE
Restore
• Soil liming to restore pH

Water

We work continuously to reduce our water usage, despite increasing our production and will be integrating water risk planning across our sites to effectively mitigate future water-related impacts and risks.

Biodiversity and Ecosystems

From farm to pharma

A majority of our allergen source materials are cultivated at our farm in Post Falls, Idaho, USA. Here, systemic sustainable agricultural practices are implemented to minimize our impact on nature.

Species Diversity
• Variety of crop species to provide diverse pollination times
Minimize pesticide and fertilizer inputs
• Integrated pest management principles, GPS technology and weather data utilized to optimize fertilizer and pesticide application • Composting area for reuse of grass clippings, leaf litter, and waste nutrition content from dust mite cultivation
Protect native flora and fauna
• Buffer zone to protect adjacent farms and riparian areas from runoff and erosion • Control of invasive species • No deforestation of natural forest on our property
Minumum soil disturbance
• Liming of acidic soils to optimize pH • Investigating cover crops during the winter • No- or minimum-till soil practices when appropriate

Resource use and circular economy

Resource inflows

We strive to ensure that our resource inflows prioritise efficiency and renewability. For example, our facility in Madrid has replaced plastic foam with recycled paper for filling empty volumes in product shipping boxes to avoid approx. 300 kg/year of plastic.

Read more about this story on LinkedIn

Resource outflows

Recognizing the impact of packaging materials, we are dedicated to minimizing waste of our product packaging. For example, since 2022, our allergy immunotherapy drop, OSIRIS has been packaged with biodegradable cardboard instead of plastic.

Read more about this initiative in our 2022 sustainability report

Waste streams

At ALK, we prioritize the reduction, reuse, and recycling of waste, and promote responsible disposal practices where waste cannot be recovered.

Partnering for sustainability

The challenges of climate change require commitments and partnerships
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Last updated: 2024.02.12