Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA’s poultry vaccine manufacturing facility has achieved carbon-neutral status.
Germany-based technical inspection association TÜV certified the Gainsville, Ga. animal health facility for its successful efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
“Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to making the company, surrounding communities and the world more environmentally sustainable, now and for future generations,” said Randolph Legg, president and head of commercial business at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA. “Our Gainesville site's achievement inspires our entire worldwide team as we make progress toward our goal to become carbon neutral in all company operations by 2030.”
As part of the company’s Sustainable Development for Generations initiative, the facility decided to take steps to reduce its carbon emissions after employees realized that the plant’s emissions were equal to that of more than 1,000 homes.
Most of the initiatives are focused on conserving energy consumption, such as:
- Incorporating the Georgia Power renewable energy programs that would eliminate nearly 80% of carbon emissions,
- Installing solar panels,
- Replacing all lighting with energy-efficient LED bulbs,
- Installing dimmer switches and occupancy sensors,
- Purchasing an electric vehicle for facility use,
- Installing smart meters to measure electrical consumption
- And replacing insulation on equipment to reduce heat and energy loss.
“We are excited that the updates we've implemented at this facility and the support from our employees have earned us the certification for carbon neutrality,” said Andy Brehm, site director at the Boehringer Ingelheim Gainesville facility. “It's important to us and everyone at the site that we work toward a more sustainable future, for our communities and the people and animals we serve.”
The facility also purchased environmental project carbon credits from Climate Seed and invested in the Noles South Avoided Conversion Forest project in North Carolina and a reforestation project in Kasigau Corridor in Kenya.
“This move to carbon neutrality helps protect the environment we live in," said Lara Sheeley, head of the U.S. swine and poultry divisions at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. “And when the environment is healthy, people and animals are healthier.”
