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Success Stories - Biotechnology
Success Stories
Organization Type
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Organization Size
Amgen, Inc.
A WasteWise Partner since 1994, Amgen has maintained and expanded its waste reduction program. The growing company has overcome many obstacles with its program, including 300 percent staff growth in 12 years. In 2005, Amgen internally reallocated and reused more than $1.7 million of lab equipment and donated unwanted lab equipment to local schools and nonprofits. Amgen also donated nearly 13 tons of computer equipment to the Ventura County School District. In addition, the company donated approximately 19 tons of leftover food to a local food bank. Amgen also demolished a lab, recycling more than 90 percent of the materials, including concrete, asphalt, metal, and wood.
Amgen knows that educated employees are the backbone of a good waste reduction program. In honor of its 25th anniversary, Amgen published “25 Ways That You Can Make Every Day Earth Day at Amgen!” This fact sheet offers employees tips on preventing waste, recycling, buying recycled, and other environmentally friendly activities. With the company collecting more than 13,500 tons of material to recycle and preventing an additional 101 tons from entering the waste stream at the source, it’s easy to see that Amgen’s employee education program is a success.
Genzyme Corporation - MA
In 2003, Genzyme Corporation, a biotechnology company, furthered its commitment to waste reduction by implementing the Genzyme Environmental Management System (GEMS). Among other waste reduction and recycling initiatives at the site, Genzyme’s shipping department works with distributors to arrange the return of custom-designed injection molded polyurethane boxes for reuse, saving the company $34,000 annually. In addition, by converting from paper to polystyrene cups for coffee service, launching an educational campaign, and distributing free, reusable ceramic mugs to employees, Genzyme reduced the weight of disposable cup waste at the site by nearly 80 percent in 2003. Finally, Genzyme created a partnership with the Youville House, an assisted living facility in Cambridge, to donate the hundreds of cold gel packs it receives with temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products (rather than disposing of them as trash). The majority of these initiatives stemmed from activities developed for three Genzyme buildings located in Framingham.
Genzyme Corporation—Cambridge Campus, MA
Genzyme Corporation–Cambridge Campus joined the WasteWise program in 2005 and knew immediately it needed full employee participation in order to reach its goals. The Cambridge Campus implemented an extensive educational program requiring environmental awareness training for all employees, including a PowerPoint slideshow and a 10-question quiz. The Cambridge Campus also uses its intranet to educate employees about waste reduction, recycling, and environmentally preferable purchasing. In addition, employees who take the Genzyme Recycling Pledge commit to waste reduction activities, such as using less paper and purchasing recycled-content products. These employees receive a Genzyme Recycles mug in recognition for their efforts. Thanks to its employee education efforts, the Cambridge Campus recycled more than 100 tons of material in 2005.