The total environmental load resulting from the production, sale, distribution and disposal of products can usually be approximated at the research and development stages. With regard to the production and sales of pharmaceutical products, it is necessary to obtain government approval for each product. Since government approval also covers production methods and packaging specifications, when there are changes in either approved production methods or packaging, new approval must be obtained even if the changes are related to work safety or reducing the environmental impact. This entails substantial time and costs.
Therefore, Astellas has introduced an environmental and safety assessment system as a tool that requires efforts to minimize the environmental load at all stages, including research and development, production, distribution, and disposal.
Under this assessment system, we examine issues such as the reduction of air pollutant emissions and the excessive use of packaging and various safety measures prior to the commencement of commercial-scale production.

Operation of the environmental and safety assessment system

An assessment team conducts environmental and safety assessments in stages for the development of products. The results determine whether development of the product can move on to the next stage, a facility should be built, or land purchased.

Specifically, the assessment must identify raw materials or processes that might have a negative impact on the environment or employee health. The progress on remedial measures must be assessed, and action plans evaluated. Countermeasures being considered are evaluated in the subsequent stages of the assessment.

The assessment system also covers the installation of facilities of certain size and the purchase of land, and evaluates items such as measures to prevent global warming, ensuring safety during construction and measures taken to curb the emission of chemical substances into the atmosphere.

Diagram of environmental and safety assessment system