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Voluntary Environmental Programs
Boulder Mayor Shaun McGrath, left, presents the Partners for A Clean Environment (PACE) certificate to Don Fitzgerald, President and Site Manager of Roche Colorado.
City of Boulder Environmental Programs
Roche Colorado is excited about its certification under the Partners for A Clean Environment (PACE) program. PACE businesses must meet a stringent list of criteria, demonstrating a sincere commitment to a company-wide pollution prevention program and the implementation of projects that have a quantifiable benefit to the environment. The most recent goal that Roche Colorado achieved under the PACE program was the implementation of offsite recycling of a solvent used in Fuzeon production. Roche Colorado partnered with an outside vendor to recycle the stream offsite for re-use at Roche Colorado. In 2003, approximately 70% of the material was sent offsite for recycle.
Learn more about the PACE program here.
Responsible Care® Program
Roche Colorado is a proud participant in the Responsible Care® program, an industry initiative designed to promote the implementation of positive environmental, health, and safety measures with a focus on community cooperation.
Learn more about Responsible Care® here.
In keeping with its commitment to the principles of Responsible Care, Roche Colorado has pledged to operate its business according to the following:
Guiding Principles
Our industry creates products and services that make life better for people around the world — both today and tomorrow. The benefits of our industry are accompanied by enduring commitments to Responsible Care® in the management of chemicals worldwide. We will continuous progress toward the vision of no accidents, injuries or harm to the environment and will publicly report our global health, safety and environmental performance. We will lead our companies in ethical ways that increasingly benefit society, the economy and the environment while adhering to the following principles:
- To seek and incorporate public input regarding our products and operations.
- To provide chemicals that can be manufactured, transported, used and disposed of safely.
- To make health, safety, the environment and resource conservation critical considerations for all new and existing products and processes.
- To provide information on health or environmental risks and pursue protective measures for employees, the public and other key stakeholders.
- To work with customers, carriers, suppliers, distributors and contractors to foster the safe use, transport and disposal of chemicals.
- To operate our facilities in a manner that protects the environment and the health and safety of our employees and the public.
- To support education and research on the health, safety and environmental effects of our products and processes.
- To work with others to resolve problems associated with past handling and disposal practices.
- To lead in the development of responsible laws, regulations and standards that safeguard the community, workplace and environment.
- To practice Responsible Care® by encouraging and assisting others to adhere to these principles and practices.
Responsible Care® Management System Verification
Roche Colorado recently volunteered for an evaluation of its adherence to the principles of Responsible Care®. The evaluation, referred to as a Management System Verification (MSV), was conducted by a team of verifiers consisting of three members of the Roche Colorado Community Advisory Panel as well as industry representatives and MSV consultants. In summary, the verifiers found that many of the environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management systems at Roche Colorado could be considered "industry examples of Responsible Care® excellence" and/or "strengths." The verifier also suggested a few opportunities for improvements that Roche Colorado already has begun to address.
We invite you to review the entire MSV report here.
Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative
Roche Colorado is registered as a charter member of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative. The Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative commits companies to providing their employers with a menu of benefits as incentives for using alternative transportation modes in their commutes to work. The Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative also sets a specific alternative transportation goal for each participating company, mandating that at least 14 percent of each company's employees commute to work through some form of alternative to the single occupant vehicle. With the range of alternative transportation incentives that Roche Colorado currently offers its employees, including free Eco-Passes, on-site shower facilities, and protected lockers for bikes and personal belongings, approximately 38 percent of Roche Colorado employees are using alternative transportation modes in their work commutes one or more days per week. In addition, RCC is an annual participant and financial sponsor of the City of Boulder's Bike-to-Work Week activities.
Governor's Pollution Prevention Challenge
Roche Colorado was an active participant in the Governor's Pollution Prevention Challenge from its inception in 1995 through its conclusion in 2001. The Governor's Pollution Prevention Challenge encourages Colorado businesses "to set voluntary, beyond compliance, measurable goals to prevent pollution." RCC was honored with the 2002 Governor's Pollution Prevention Challenge Award at the Colorado State Executive Residence. RCC was recognized at the 2002 awards ceremony as the "poster child" for pollution prevention.
Environmental Leadership Recognition
In 2003, Roche Colorado received the highest environmental honor that the State of Colorado bestows, the title of Environmental Leader. Environmental Leadership certification recognizes companies that voluntarily perform above and beyond the existing mandated environmental regulations. Environmental Leaders, like Roche Colorado, must have a comprehensive and operational environmental management system and a pollution prevention plan that commits the company to a program of continuous environmental improvement. In its letter announcing the Environmental Leader certification, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment thanked Roche Colorado for the "effort and dedication" it brings to environmental issues.
EPA Climate Leaders Program
In 2004, the Roche Group affiliates in the US became an EPA Climate Leaders Partner. Climate Leaders is a voluntary industry-government partnership that encourages companies to develop long-term comprehensive climate change strategies and set greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Roche Group affiliates in the US set an aggressive goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent by the end of 2008, against a base year of 2001.
