Millipore’s greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2009 over the previous year, though they remained below its baseline level of 2006. According to Millipore’s second annual corporate sustainability report, overall greenhouse gas emissions increased 2 percent above 2008 levels, with a 10 percent increase in the Americas, which the company attributed to increased product demand and the gases used in its safety testing procedures. Millipore says it is evaluating its manufacturing procedures to reduce the use of those gases in the short term, buying offsets for those gases it can’t eliminate, while working on a long-term solution for their complete elimination.
Indirect emissions decreased by 24 percent from 2008, and overall emissions were reduced by 20 percent and 3 percent in Europe and Asia, respectively.
Millipore’s global water use continued to decline by 22 percent, led by a 33 percent reduction in the Americas, though water use increased by 3 percent in Europe. The company is now reusing or recycling 32 percent of the water it uses.
Global energy use and waste generation continued to decline for the company from the previous year by 6 percent and 5 percent respectively, though it saw slight increases in both in Europe.
In alternative energy developments, Millipore installed a 310-kilowatt on-site solar installation at two Massachusetts facilities, and a wind turbine in Cork in 2008. The company plans to achieve an additional 7200 gigajoules of energy savings in 2010 and install at least one additional renewable energy project while conducting comprehensive energy audits at five more facilities.
The company also expanded its composting program at its corporate headquarters and initiated a green cleaning program at its St. Charles facility.
Hazardous waste generation dropped 21 percent from 2008, including a whopping 68 percent decrease in incinerated waste from 427 metric tons to 135 metric tons. Non-hazardous waste generation increased by 3 percent, however, although recycling increased by 10 percent over the previous year.
