Lek recycles 92% of all waste generated

In 2018, Lek improved its energy efficiency by 3% resulting in an increase in energy use of 1.3% despite a 4% volume increase in production. They have successfully introduced the active energy management project to monitor all energy systems in Ljubljana and Mengeš to achieve their optimum performance, which is also being introduced at the Prevalje and Lendava sites in 2019.

Additional measures were taken to improve energy efficiency, generating energy savings of 16.5 TJ and reducing CO₂ emissions by 560 tons, which is equivalent to planting 28,000 new trees.* They increased their efficient use of water by 9% and reduced their non-recycled waste by 12%. “Lek now recycles nearly 92% of all waste generated. This is a 1% increase compared to the previous year”, said Mojca Bernik, Environmental Manager at Lek. “Despite a 4% volume increase in production, the total amount of waste generated remains at 2017 levels.”

By the proliferation of digitized processes they contribute to make treatments more affordable and to achieve long-term, sustainable pharmaceutical production. However, digitization is entering the drug development segment as well. At the Development Center Slovenia, they have been implementing modeling in drug development for a decade and are now applying it across all areas of development, not just in vitro/in vivo correlations. By using state-of-the-art digital technologies, researcher Jerneja Opara, PhD, developed a scientific methodology for predicting the results of bioequivalence studies, which significantly contributes to the superior performance of these studies conducted at Sandoz. Sandoz has also established itself as a pioneer in health digitalization and as a leading manufacturer of digitized medicines. This year, Sandoz’ digital therapeutics reSET and reSET-O (containing the active ingredient buprenorphine) became the first FDA-authorized prescription digital mobile medical application to treat Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

The construction of new laboratories at the Development Center Slovenia in Ljubljana nears completion. This extension will further increase the capacity of pharmaceutical and analytical development. In addition, it will consolidate its position as the leading Sandoz development center specializing in technologically demanding development projects.

In 2019, Lek has released an overview of environmental impacts for the tenth time and a sustainability report for the ninth time in a row. It has been created according to international standards EMAS, POR, GRI GS and in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is available at https://www.lek.si/en/corporate-responsibility/reporting/.

* The impact of reducing electricity consumption to reduce CO₂ emissions is equivalent to the impact of tree planting; assuming a single tree absorbs 20 kg of CO₂ per year.