Expanscience inaugurates its new High Environmental Quality (HEQ) production unit dedicated to active principles from natural sources

The new pharmaceutical production unit has an HEQ approach and offers Laboratoires Expanscience economic development opportunities while improving the environmental impact of its activities. Putting the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) principles into practice, the goals of the new building are upgrading for compliance with regulatory standards, prevention of pollution risks, increased production capacity and the constant development of environmental management.

« We have committed €23 million to this project, demonstrating that a French company can continue to invest in France », declared Jean-Paul Berthomé, Laboratoires Expanscience CEO, yesterday at the inauguration of the new pharmaceutical production unit dedicated to active principles from natural sources. « And we have remained faithful to the Epernon site established in 1957; » which is located some 65 km south west of Paris, where 70% of Expanscience production is concentrated.

The aims of this investment are threefold.

• -Firstly, economic: with the commissioning of the new installations during 2012, site production capacities will increase by 30% while reducing production time by two days a week. And the company will be able to install another production line, increasing the sales units produced.
• -The second aim is regulatory. The site now complies with new international regulations (AFSSaPS – the French health products safety agency for site quality, and REACH for containment of hazardous substances, etc.). This will also help to obtain ISO 14001 certification, Expanscience’s goal for 2012.
• -The third and last aim concerns corporate social responsibility (CSR), particularly in terms of the environment. Between 2010 and 2015, as Jean-Paul Berthomé recalled, « the Epernon site will have to reduce its water and energy consumption, as well as its waste production, by 20% ».

The visit organized on 9 November was designed to present the entire project to a wide range of Expanscience partners: local institutions such as the police and civil authorities, scientific experts, journalists from the local press, financial advisers, and suppliers of raw materials - some of whom came from abroad.

In small groups, the 100 guests visited the new building along a route scattered with entertaining stands including an origami maker, a juggler and a hip-hop dancer. But it was the conjurer who won the most applause during the lunchtime cocktails and snacks that followed.