Sales reps in environmental action

Director of the Social and Environmental department at Pharmexx Brazil, Angélica Leone Rossetti, talks about the initiative that invests in the carbon emission compensation Program.

Stopping the global warming increasing rates, a phenomenon that has altered the world geography, decimated species and increased natural catastrophes is one of the humanity´s greatest challenge.

One of the best strategies already adopted is the Carbon Free program which aims to enhance the efficacy of the environmental processes and products, by implementing the principle #R+C in their actions and production methods, that is, consumption reduction, reuse of materials, waste recycling and CO2 emission compensation.

Pharmexx Brazil, a company committed to offer highly trained sales teams to Healthcare and Well-being companies, has provided since 2007 the compensation and reduction of CO2 emitted by all contributors and Sales reps managed by the company by making use of the "Plant this Idea" Project.

"Each Sales rep drives around 70km daily, so we make them aware that the ethanol manufacturing process has zero emission level due to the sugar cane processing and the bagasse reuse. The aim is to motivate professionals to use alcohol power vehicles", explains Angélica. "Besides, we discuss the endemic forests issues where there are unique species on fauna and flora. If those regions are deforested, plants that could be used for treatment of diseases may be endangered", added the Director.

Consultancy agencies and NOGs are the main partners of companies that want to adopt programs with such principles. Pharmexx has established partnership with the "Florestas do Futuro" (Future Forests Project), held by SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation, and we have already seen great results. Between 2007 and 2010, 2112 plant seeds have been planted in the countryside of São Paulo and Minas Gerais.

Sustainability is much wider and deeper and it comprehends aspects of knowledge, understanding of social-environmental, cultural, organizational and scientific processes to unite and form a basis for such segments. It also includes human, cultural and historical values. "Planting trees is something anyone can do, but being aware that the deforestation may harm the world we live and the area we act, in our case the pharmaceutical industry, is what really makes the difference", stated Angélica.

Ecosfera 21 is another Pharmexx partner, which makes the inventory of how much CO2, is emitted by the company. "At the end of the year we receive a report of all professionals of the company which shows how much fuel, paper, water, electricity they have consumed, even while travelling on business, like the planes fuel used. Then we receive a proposal of compensation by planting trees in reforestation projects or acquisition of carbon credits in the voluntary market, but we often opt for planting trees".

The Sales reps attend speeches on sustainable development and other issues like energy and water consumption as well as waste recycling, which are discussed by our professionals. "We show the sales reps the importance of being multipliers of such information. It is every single person´s role as a citizen, once we are responsible for the attitudes we daily take".

In order to reinforce environmental actions, Pharmexx also develops the internal bulletin which approaches sustainable development issues. "If our planet is sick, what can we expect for the people´s health" We must remember that we act within an area which is in charge of taking care of the human being´s health, but for that we need to take care of the planet´s health first. Thinking differently would be a contradiction", concludes Angélica.

Pharmexx has received over the last years several certificates showing the number of trees planted and geographic coordinates of the planting locations.

Anyone can and should compensate CO2 emissions. Environmental sites and NGOs make available tools to calculate such emission, by pointing out the need of compensation. Thus, a family may compensate, for instance, all the emission generated by consuming electricity, gas, water, waste, by planting trees.