We’re Minimising Our Environmental Impact.

Making medicines requires the use of valuable resources including energy, water and raw materials. We’re committed to continually improving our environmental impact across our product life cycles and supply chain – with a focus on addressing climate change, waste and water security.

Our Commitment to the Environment in Ireland

Manufacturing Campus, Kinsale

Since we arrived in Kinsale in 1978, the company has been committed to respecting our local environment. To deliver on our commitment, we’ve established environmental programmes to monitor the quality of the ambient air, the flora and fauna and the local marine habitat.

Climate Action

In July 2021, we were proud to open what was at that time the single largest solar farm in the Republic of Ireland. Lilly partnered with the Irish renewable energy company Enerpower to construct the solar farm and the 16-acre installation will help power a significant proportion of the Kinsale manufacturing facility with sustainable energy. Comprising 12,600 individual panels, the ground-mounted solar farm will produce up to 5.6MW of power allowing Lilly to reduce its annual carbon footprint at the site by 2,350 tonnes.

This investment is a key part of Lilly’s global commitment to make its operations carbon neutral by 2030. You can read more about Lilly’s ambitious 2030 environmental goals here.

Below, you can watch a video of the official opening of the Dunderrow/Kinsale solar farm by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, T.D., with Lilly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David A. Ricks and you can learn more about the development of the project from concept through to delivery.

Water Quality

At our request, a study of the Kinsale Harbour has been independently maintained by the National University of Ireland, Galway for over thirty years. It is now one of the longest-term studies of marine coastline and habitat conducted anywhere in the world and it demonstrates that our manufacturing operations have not adversely impacted on marine life over that period. 

Employee-led Sustainability Initiatives

The Kinsale ‘Live4Life’ programme - which focuses on Safety, Fitness, Health and Wellbeing - relies on employee involvement and leadership for its success. Based on employee feedback, 2019 saw the addition of environmental sustainability to the Wellbeing pillar of the programme. A dedicated group of employees have now established an environmental sustainability team that is focused on conserving and enhancing biodiversity, reducing the use of commodities and minimising waste, promoting green travel and building awareness on more sustainable living.

Global Business Solutions, Little Island

GBS Cork remains dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint. Through the provision of subsidised public and private transportation schemes and car-pooling initiatives, and the recent addition of EV charging stations, we're continuing to take steps towards cleaner and greener motoring to and from our Little Island campus.

As our campus has grown, so too has our usage of renewable solar energy, while single-use plastic cups are no longer permitted onsite. Instead, employees and visitors are presented with reusable cups-for-life and all takeaway food containers are biodegradable.