Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA announced that its Gainesville poultry vaccine site has been certified as carbon neutral, based on the company’s 2021 energy usage.
The company has been working towards this goal since 2017 according to Randolph Legg, the president and head of commercial business for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA. Boehringer Ingelheim hopes to reduce carbon emissions even further and become carbon neutral in all operations in 2030.
“When we started the investments required to meet the certification process, we determined that the Gainesville site was producing carbon emissions that were equal to that of about 1000 homes,” Legg said. “That was eye-opening for us. As we looked at the impact on our planet, and the impact in Gainesville and in Georgia, that really motivated us to move forward quickly. Not only in Gainesville, but also our sites around the United States and around the world.”
According to a press release from Global Health and Marketing Communications, Boehringer Ingelheim is the first major animal health company to announce it has received carbon neutral certification for one of its facilities.
Legg said that a major step in establishing the facility’s carbon neutral status was converting traditionally generated electricity to green and solar electric sources. Boehringer Ingelheim participated in renewable energy programs through Georgia Power to offset energy use.
In addition to Georgia Power’s solar power, Boehringer Ingelheim gains more energy through a solar canopy that sits above the Gainesville facility’s parking lot.
“That alone eliminated 80% of our emissions at that site,” Legg said. “We eliminated the remaining portion of the emissions through a transition to an electrical vehicle on campus, with electric charging stations for employees.”
A press release from Global Health and Marketing Communications stated that Boehringer Ingelheim addressed remaining emissions by investing in carbon reduction initiatives in the U.S. and Kenya. According to the press release, these carbon-offsetting projects significantly reduced emissions.
Additionally, the animal health company upgraded its lighting system. Boehringer Ingelheim switched from fluorescent bulbs to LED lights and included occupancy sensors and light dimmers. These sensors will reduce utilized energy if they detect an unoccupied room.
Legg said that he is proud of the company’s strides to reduce carbon emissions, and will continue to meet certification requirements.
“I'm happy that an organization like Boehringer committed to reducing the impact on the planet in our operations,” Legg said. “And as the first site in the United States for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health to achieve this certification, we're thrilled that this will provide the path forward to other sites in the U.S..”
