Environment

A small, but nevertheless integral part of GSK Foundation’s (Philippines) programs are the cleanliness projects along Chino Roces Avenue (through the CONCERN COY Chino Roces organization) where GSK Philippines business address is located, as well as in select provincial areas around the country.

Recycling, water saving tips and the preservation of endangered wildlife are just some of the topics discussed during the annual GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Earth Week celebration. The annual activity, which is a global program by the Company, aims to educate and promote Earth conservation methods to its employees and other stakeholders.
GSK employees and contractors are encouraged to practice solid waste management and recycling. A talk on water conservation or “Home Economics” among GSK employees and contractors are also held at the GSK manufacturing plant in Cainta, Rizal. It is always stressed that doing tasks at home or at the workplace as efficiently as possible is important.
Kids are also asked to join the Company’s environmental campaign during the “Kid’s Day for the Environment.” The World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) “Project LIFE” (Learning Interdependently For the Environment) team would teach kids about the different endangered marine mammals and fishes under the protection of the WWF.
Aside from the series of environmental talks, GSK’s week-long activities include an environmental photo contest, a trash art competition, a car pool day and an organic food choices activity. Employees, their immediate families and relatives would submit “trash art” entries or art works made from recyclable materials like paper, glass and cartons to communicate environmentalism. An environmental photo contest, with the theme “Preserving a greener environment,” challenges participants to capture thought provoking images of the Earth and its depleted resources.

Earth Week participants are further encouraged to adopt a “greener” lifestyle through an organic food sampling activity.

GSK has always been a strong supporter of environmental conservation methods. According to Mr. Ruzen Castañeda, GSK GMS-Cainta Compliance and EHS officer, the company continuously ensures that “business does not have any adverse environmental impact.” Our manufacturing sites monitor environmental parameters such as waste generated yearly.” This can also be seen in the introduction of new products. The pharmaceutical company made sure that there is an adequate facility to manage waste before they produce it at a new location. “It’s not just about coming out with new products and introducing it to the market. We make sure that byproducts from our operations are managed properly.”

Castañeda also said that the company hopes that its employees and contractors adopt the same environmental standards and practices applied by the company even at home. “We hope that our employees and contractors take the environmental practices they learned to heart and use them even at their own homes.”