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Jan 8 2008 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

A TEESSIDE pharmaceutical plant is boosting energy awareness across its workforce.

Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals at Seal Sands is putting staff through environmental awareness training to help reduce its carbon emissions, reduce waste and cut its annual seven figure energy bill.

Ten staff from across the business have signed up for the national Vocational Qualification in Environmental Management.

The newly qualified eco ‘champions’ will then present details of their training to colleagues to spread the environmental message across the business.

The site has also received a full resource efficiency audit by energy consultancy TNEI Services, through its management of the Midas programme - which is funded by regional development agency One NorthEast.

Lundbeck’s Teesside plant employs 60 staff and works on research and manufacturing of new drugs for treatment of disorders including depression and Alzheimer’s.

It has recently come under new Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regulations and is about to sign a Climate Change Levy Agreement - meaning the control of environmental impact and the reduction of carbon emissions are growing priorities.

Tony Thomas, environment controller at Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals, said: “Our team training aims to make staff more focussed on environmental issues within their department and to see if we can enhance the way we currently work from an environmental management standpoint.”

Team members across all disciplines from engineering and laboratories to production, administration and warehousing are undergoing training.