Industrial Emissions to the Environment

All manufacturing sites monitor compliance with established limits on emissions to air and water, as set in their respective operating permits. Sites must also comply with Global HSE requirements and related standards in line with the Sanofi HSE management system. HSE requirements reinforce emissions control including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and emissions in wastewater such as chemical oxygen demand (COD). Action plans are in place at local level to further prevent and control emissions to both air and water, where needed.  

Our strategic approach covers the entire life cycle of our medicines, from production to their use by patients. We have adopted a proactive approach to minimize the potential impacts on ecosystems of pharmaceuticals in the environment.  

In 2025, Sanofi implemented a risk-based approach to managing pharmaceutical emissions to wastewater across all manufacturing sites¹, with monitoring and reduction plans in place wherever risks were identified. Sanofi is reinforcing this through the deployment of best available wastewater treatment technologies at targeted sites. 

Controlling volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from drug substance synthesis and manufacturing activities is a priority for Sanofi. We apply an integrated approach at each stage of product development, from research to production, to: 

• avoid the use of solvents by substituting chemical processes for biological processes;  

• encourage the recycling of solvents;  

• select the least toxic solvents; 

• reduce emissions at source through specific adjustments to manufacturing processes and maximum containment of solvent use including spill and release prevention measures; and 

• capture and treat residual VOC emissions at special treatment facilities using the best available techniques for the specific physicochemical properties of the emitted VOCs (cryogenic capture, gas scrubbers, thermal oxidizers, activated carbon). 

The use of solvents (primarily in the production of active ingredients and their transformation into pharmaceutical products) follows Sanofi's recommendations on their good use. Since 2013, an internal “Solvent Guide” document has been used as an internal standard when choosing solvents. Solvents are classified according to HSE and regulatory criteria and less hazardous solvents are promoted. 

Sanofi continues to see significant reductions in emissions to air even though manufacturing volumes continue to grow.

Sanofi strives to reduce the impact of its emissions on water bodies by limiting chemical emissions from its manufacturing activities into wastewater and aquatic environments. Industrial effluents (wastewater) are treated either at the sites’ wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and/or at external facilities in accordance with operating permits before final discharge into the environment.  

Sanofi also invests in technologies to improve wastewater treatment plants (e.g., quaternary treatment) and minimize potential emissions of active pharmaceutical ingredients in effluents. Where feasible,  Sanofi additionally seeks to limit effluent discharge upstream of the WWTP for reducing effluents at the source. Our treatment plants undergo continuous maintenance, monitoring, and performance optimization, including equipment upgrades and flow-management improvements. Environmental impact management programs address emissions of chemicals in wastewater, with requirements on emissions characterization, environmental impact assessment, and reduction. Our sites are responsible for checking discharges against relevant licenses and agreements. This includes minimization strategies, including reduction at source, and discharge quality monitoring and mapping on chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc. for treated water discharged directly to a surface water body.  

All manufacturing sites must implement a plan to monitor, manage and, at priority sites identified through risk-based screening (e.g. based on the nature of their activity being API manufacturing vs. Formulation & packaging), reduce emissions of pharmaceuticals in wastewater to reduce their potential impacts on ecosystems. The global environmental risk management program focuses on pharmaceuticals in wastewater. Each site implements an emissions management plan. This program includes the following elements: estimation or measurement of pharmaceuticals in wastewaters and receiving water bodies; setting of substance specific safe discharge targets based on available data and standard methods; characterization of risks for aquatic ecosystems and other environmental compartments where relevant; implementation of case-by-base risk mitigation measures from source reduction to end-of-pipe treatment solutions. Emissions reduction measures are tested and implemented as needed. 

• 100% of all manufacturing sites engaged in specific programs to monitor, manage and, where relevant, reduce emissions;  
• We continued to proceed with the implementation of our risk-based program for managing emissions of active ingredients in wastewaters from pharmaceutical manufacturing plants.  

1. Sites with chemical & gel formulation synthesis