Prosecutions and environmental incidents

We had no Category 3 incidents (ie spills/pollution which are not contained within the outer boundary of company premises) which is the most serious category of incidents. There was however one prosecution which related to an incident in 2006/07.

Prosecution – Health & Beauty Division

  • This relates to an incident reported in 2006/07 where an underground effluent main leaked resulting in contamination of a small brook which runs within the boundary of our Nottingham site in the UK. Clean up and remediation work started immediately, however a fine of £13,000 including costs was imposed.

In total there were seven different environmental incidents during 2007/08. Below are details of these, all of which are mentioned as part of GRI methodology:

Contract Manufacturing

(Low impact (Class 1) – Spills/pollution incidents which are confined to the immediate area)

  • A 9000-litre batch of product spilled on to one of our manufacturing factory floors. The spill was part recovered as waste and part washed into effluent drain which is allowable under our discharge consents.

Health & Beauty

(Low impact (Class 1) – Spills/pollution incidents which are confined to the immediate area)

  • Escape of paper and liquid substance from a waste contractor’s vehicle on one of our UK sites. Spill contained.
  • Hydraulic system on a compactor failed, oil spill in dock well. Spill contained.
  • Excavator damage to onsite effluent pipe spilling small quantity of effluent into new pipe trench; Spillage contained.
  • Effluent pipe failed beneath service trench; spill contained in local area.

Health & Beauty

(Medium impact (Class 2) – Spills/pollution incidents which are not contained within the immediate area but do not go over the outer boundary)

  • A lorry on one of our UK sites was in collision with a concrete block causing a rupture to its fuel tank. The fuel leaked until the lorry was stopped before leaving the site. Spillage cleaned up and contained on site.
  • Sediment found in surface water drain following site excavation work drain re-routed to foul sewer until sediment was clear.

Environmental incidents

for the year ended 31 March 2008

  Health & Beauty Pharmaceutical Wholesale Contract Manufacturing & Corporate
High impact (Class 3) – Spills / pollution incidents which are not contained within the outer boundary of the company premises – – –
Medium impact (Class 2) – Spills / pollution incidents which are not contained within the immediate area but do not go over the outer boundary 2 – –
Low impact (Class 1) – Spills / pollution incidents which are confined to the immediate area 4 – 1
Prosecutions / fines – Spills / pollution incidents which resulted in a prosecution or fine during the financial year (even if the incident occurred in previous years) 1 – –

About this report

All figures are on a pro forma basis as if the two former groups had always been combined and the acquisition of Alliance Boots plc by AB Acquisitions Limited had taken place prior to 31 March 2006.

The data included in this report comprises all our businesses in which we have a controlling interest. Associate businesses or joint ventures are not included. The data is consistently grouped in three areas; Health & Beauty, Pharmaceutical Wholesale and Contract Manufacturing & Corporate.

Registered office
Alliance Boots GmbH
Baarerstrasse 78
CH-6300 Zug
Switzerland