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The above indicators on materials use include the substances and materials used by the supply chains for pharmaceuticals, active pharmaceutical ingredients and diagnostic tests (manufacturing, storage and transport to wholesalers) and R&D.
Fermion’s manufacturing operations consume almost all of the reported production solvents, inorganic acids and bases and organic chemicals. In addition to production volumes, materials use is also affected by manufacturing process improvements and the amount of intermediates delivered by suppliers.
In 2009, some 3 per cent or 208 tonnes of the total volume of solvents consumed were used in the manufacture of tablet masses and in tablet coating. Orion has reduced the consumption of solvents and aims to reduce it even further by developing processes where water can be used instead of solvents when possible.
Packaging consumes a lot of materials at Orion. Most commonly used packaging materials include plastic, glass, board, corrugated cardboard and aluminium. Plastic and glass are most often used as so-called primary packaging materials, i.e., they are materials in direct contact with the medicine. Board and corrugated cardboard are most often used as secondary packaging materials which encase the primary package. Aluminium is used most in blister packages. It is also used in the collars of injection bottles and some cream tubes. A very thin aluminium film layer is contained in the bag protecting the Easyhaler inhalator in its retail package.
The materials used by Orion include a small amount of radioactive materials, which are used in pharmaceutical R&D and certain hormone and collagen products manufactured by Orion Diagnostica. STUK, the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, has granted Orion a permission to use and trade these materials. The level of radioactivity in the final product is so low that the customers can handle the product and also dispose of any leftover products without taking any extra precautions. |