Protecting Our Water

The availability of clean potable water is one of the most important health issues of our time — and one that may be further exacerbated in coming years by our changing climate. Pfizer's commitment is not only to advance good health through our medicines but also to advance good health in the communities in which we operate by protecting our water.

While Pfizer's use of water in its research and development and manufacturing facilities is relatively small compared to some other industries, our responsible management of water is an important element of our global EHS program. We understand our impact and aim to protect our water through our EHS Guideline on Water Conservation which requires facilities worldwide to:

• Review and quantify their water use
• Identify and prioritize water conservation measures
• Develop, implement and report on water conservation action plans and targets
• Support community efforts during drought conditions

Pharmaceuticals and their by-products have found their way into the environment by way of patient use for as long as medicines have been used to treat disease. However, our awareness of this issue has increased with the development of new analytical technologies that detect trace amounts of pharmaceuticals and other organic chemicals in the environment.

Because Pfizer is committed to adhering to principles of responsible environmental stewardship, we are working in close cooperation with the scientific community, regulatory agencies, patient groups and NGOs to develop and advance the body of knowledge related to pharmaceuticals in the environment and their potential impacts.

• Read Pfizer's Position Paper on Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PIE)