Ozone depletion was recognised as a key environmental issue during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Substances with Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) are generally very stable in the lower part of the atmosphere (the troposphere) and only degrade when they eventually reach the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere). Here, under intense ultraviolet light, they are broken down and release chlorine or bromine atoms. These atoms contribute to reactions that deplete ozone levels in the stratosphere. This is undesirable because ozone acts as a filter for harmful UVB radiation. An increase in UVB reaching the earth’s surface will result in an increase in its harmful effects – skin cancers, cataracts, damage to materials such as plastics and harm to crops and marine animals. The growing international consensus on the immediacy of this issue resulted in ratification of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer in 1997.

Although we have a programme to eliminate their use, we still have residual amounts of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and halons in fire protection and refrigeration systems. In addition, we currently use some substances that contribute to ozone depletion, primarily in connection with metered-dose inhalation products prescribed to asthmatics. However, we are working to reduce our use of these materials by substitution and through innovative new product designs that do not require propellant gases.

CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs
CFCs and HCFCs are known to be capable of depleting the ozone layer, but they are also very potent 'greenhouse gases'. More information can be found in the Global Warming section.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have in general lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to the CFCs and HCFCs and have no potential to deplete the ozone layer.

Our emission of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODP) falls into two main categories:

Inhalation products
By far the largest component of our ODP emissions is from patient use of our Metered Dose Inhalers. Information on this issue can be found in the Products & Packaging section.

Use at facilities
A much smaller fraction of our ODP emissions, less than 1%, arises from our use of these substances at facilities, primarily in connection with the manufacture of inhalation medicine products and in air conditioning, cooling and refrigeration. While current emissions are extremely small, in accordance with our policy on refrigeration, we are gradually replacing all CFCs and HCFCs used in refrigeration with gases that have no ODP and substantially lower or no GWP. For example, at our manufacturing site in Yelahanka, India energy-intensive HCFC based HVAC systems in the pharmaceutical production area were replaced with Vapour Adsorption Machines (VAM) during 2007. These do not contain substances with ODP or GWP and utilise steam that is readily available on site from biofuel-fired boilers. The learning from this project was shared across our engineering community as an example of good practice. 16.6 tonnes of CFCs, 1.8 tonnes of HCFCs, and 59.5 tonnes of HFCs were used at our facilities during 2007. (Third parties manufacture some of our pMDI products and their use of CFCs is not included). Our use of CFCs and HFCs has increased from last year; 12.4 tonnes CFCs and 32.1 tonnes of HFCs were used in 2006. HCFC use is reduced from the 3.0 tonnes of HCFCs used in 2006.

Emissions in 2007 were 0.2 tonnes of CFCs, 2.7 tonnes of HCFCs and 6.0 tonnes of HFCs. The ozone-depleting potential (ODP) of all the substances emitted from facilities in 2007 was equivalent to 0.3 tonnes of CFC-11. The majority of this emission arises from the manufacture of metered dose inhalers for the treatment of respiratory disease.